Jason Lovell
I have no intention of entering into any political debate on this issue and totally reject any assertion that political influence has been brought to bear in this matter.
– Tasmania Police Commissioner Richard McCreadie, discussing the decision to sue Weld Angel Allana Beltran for the wages of the police officers who arrested her.
If Tasmania Police are fair dinkum on this, why have we not seen every person who is convicted of a crime in Tasmania being charged for police time and costs?
– Tasmanian Greens MHA Nick McKim
I don’t think it is right to compare a murder with a carefully constructed media event. They are quite different because protests can be avoided … – Commissioner McCreadie.
This was not a peaceful protest. – Ken Jeffreys, General Manager of Corporate Communications for Forestry Tasmania, speaking on JJJ’s Hack.
She was arrested for sitting silently on a giant tripod in the Weld Valley, dressed as an angel. – Mark Worley, Journalist, The Mercury.
Those wings took me two years to make – I collected each individual feather and then I washed and sorted them into categories, before sewing them onto the wings.
– Allana Beltran, Weld Angel.
I cannot see the logic in a section of the community being above the law. The law is the law, the alternative is anarchy. – Ken Jeffreys of Forestry Tasmania, Hack.
I’ve faced the law and pleaded guilty. – Allana Beltran.
This protest action did not prevent access to forestry operations. It blocked a tourist access road, preventing visitors to our state from experiencing the Airwalk.
– Ken Jeffreys of Forestry Tasmania, press release.
I knew the Tahune Airwalk was nearby, but Forestry Tasmania were using that tourist road to transport logging equipment to the Weld Valley. And at least 100 tourists, at least 100, walked through to the Airwalk while I sat on the tripod – they were very supportive. They took lots of photos and one even shared her food with me. No tourists turned back from the protest, not that I know of. – Allana Beltran.
During the day we discounted each admission ticket to the centre by 30%, to compensate for the inconvenience, and to maintain goodwill with our customers. We estimated that that amounted to over $400 in lost revenue. – Part of statement provided by Forestry Tasmania in lawsuit lodged against Allana Beltran.
We firstly stationed two of staff [sic] at the beginning of the Arve road [sic], near Geeveston, to advise visitors of the situation and give them the option of turning back, and perhaps save them having to drive an hour an [sic] not have their expectations met. We kept a record of persons who turned away after being informed of the protest action which amounted to a further figure of $170. – Parts of statement provided by Forestry Tasmania in lawsuit lodged against Allana Beltran.
Thirty-nine tourists were turned away from the Tahune Airwalk. – Bob Gordon, Managing Director, Forestry Tasmania
Tickets to Tahune Airwalk cost $17 for an adult, $8 per child, or $38 for a family. – Tasmanian Tourism Information Centre
The applicant further states that the actions of the defendant in the erection of a Tripod on Arve Road at Tahune … has caused a loss economic loss [sic] to Tasmania Police and Forestry Tasmania. Tasmania Police claim the amount of $2870.14 being for the cost of time lost on the operation. Forestry Tasmania claim the amount of $6198 being for lost revenue in the commercial enterprise of the TAHUNE AIRWALK [sic], and the cost of removal of the illegally erected structure on Arve Road. – Part of statement provided by Tasmania Police in lawsuit lodged against Allana Beltran.
I definitely think they’re trying to intimidate me. But these forests contain huge amounts of carbon, they are essential in the fight against global warming. It is my duty to try and preserve them, to make sure the carbon stays where it is. – Allana Beltran.
Police Commissioner Richard McCreadie wants the State Government to change the law after the acting Solicitor-General advised him to dismiss the [lawsuit] against Weld Valley protester Allana Beltran. – Mark Worley, Journalist, The Mercury.
I hope that they might support me with legislation . – Commissioner McCreadie.
I’m prepared to look at any submission the commissioner may make … – Tasmanian Police Minister David Llewellyn (ALP).
Ken Jeffreys from Forestry Tasmania has praised the idea. – ABC Online. [Ken Jeffreys was head of government communications under former ALP Premier Jim Bacon.]
Forestry Tasmania will now be going ahead with a reduced lawsuit for just over $2000. – Bob Gordon, Manager Director, Forestry Tasmania. [Bob Gordon stood as an unsuccessful ALP candidate in the 1990 federal election.]
We don’t know what is going to happen. But we do know how much those ice-caps have melted. What is happening to Tasmania’s forests and to the future is far more unjust than protesting. – Allana Beltran.
