Media release – Bob Brown Foundation (BBF), 21 February 2024
Forest protesters return to Styx Valley
Following the arrests of Bob Brown, Dr Colette Harmsen and Ali Alishah on Monday, forest defenders are taking action in a highly-contested and stunningly beautiful forest in the Styx Valley again today.
Deep inside the forest, 5km behind a locked gate, a group of Bob Brown Foundation (BBF) protesters have entered the logging coupe and halted logging operations.
Tameka Baylis said from high in a tree sit, “I’m taking direct action because I don’t want my generation to be the last to experience the joy of being in an ancient forest. I don’t want the children of our generation to miss out on seeing giant trees and a rich diverse ecosystem. Our children should never hear the words ‘you should have seen the forests’.”
“While fellow forest defender Ali Alishah is in jail today, we are defending these forests from destruction. The fact that peaceful protesters are being gaoled and face severe penalties for standing up against this destruction will not deter us. It is the native forest logging that is criminal in a climate emergency and extinction crisis,” said Dr Lisa Searle, Campaign Organiser with BBF.
“This logging of ancient forests in southern Tasmania is absolutely disgraceful. The government should be ashamed for sanctioning this devastation. We will continue to take action and defend these precious forests until we see a commitment from our leaders to end native forest logging. There is an opportunity right now for Tasmanian voters to make a choice: vote for protecting forests and wildlife or more logging destruction,” she said.
Media release – Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Leader, 21 February 2024
Forest Protester Imprisonment Deeply Disturbing
The news a forest protester will be detained in prison for the next two months is deeply disturbing. This should not be happening in a free and open democracy.
It’s 2024 and the world is heating dangerously. Despite this, Liberal and Labor politicians are still encouraging the logging and burning of native forests, which release millions of tonnes of emissions each year, and put Tassie’s iconic wildlife at risk.
Across the mainland and around the world governments are acting to protect forests for their biodiversity and carbon stores. Rather than follow this pathway for a safer future, both major political parties are pushing to go harder on native forest logging.
Instead of protecting Tassie’s forests, Liberal and Labor politicians are happy to see Tasmanians jailed for engaging in peaceful protest.
The Liberals’ anti-protest laws are a blight on our democracy. These laws also stand in stark contrast to the values Labor formed around. We call on Labor to commit to repealing them if they form government after this election.
Media release – Bob Brown Foundation (BBF), 20 February 2024
Styx forest protester Ali Alishah remanded in jail; Brown applauds his stand
Bob Brown’s fellow forest defender, Ali Alishah, has been remanded in jail until the 29 April 2024, after he would not commit to staying away from the Styx Valley of the Giants while logging continues. Alishah told the court that this prohibitive bail condition was written by Forestry Tasmania and was ridiculous.
Brown and Colette Harmsen have been bailed on condition of not entering any state forest until 29 April, but this condition will be challenged in the court in coming days.
“Ali is a prisoner of conscience,” Bob Brown said outside the court today.
“He is a very intelligent observer of human affairs and is appalled by the needless destruction of what is left of nature. I applaud his stand but am also appalled that he is in jail while those destroying the forests continue to rob future generations of their birthright.”
In the Hobart Magistrates court this afternoon, the prosecution claimed that the need for police to cut ‘lock-on’ equipment created a danger to himself, this was disputed by Alishah’s counsel and, in the absence of police officers involved could not be resolved.
“It’s appalling that Ali Alishah is going to be held for twice as long as the Tasmanian state election. People should vote against forest destruction,” Jenny Weber, Bob Brown Foundation’s Campaigns Manager said.
