Tasmania’s forest workers, their families and communities are tired of the emotional and financial stress caused by professional activists who continue to disrupt their workplaces, according to Forest and Wood Communities Australia. Source: Timberbiz
The FWCA says that protest action on Monday by the Bob Brown Foundation, which the FWCA claims has ramped up its fundraising activity to recoup hundreds of thousands of dollars from its failed Federal Court action, regional Tasmanians were subjected to another attack on their mental wellbeing.
Eight Bob Brown Foundation protesters were arrested after an early morning sit-in at McKays sawmill in Brighton. The protestors locked themselves to machinery and entrance gates.
Resources Minister Guy Barnett said the incident highlighted the need for the latest version of the state government’s anti-protest laws.
“Enough is enough — I call on the Labor Party to support our workplace protection legislation,” Mr Barnett said.
Opposition primary industries spokesman Shane Broad said Labor condemned the protest, describing the action as “despicable”.
And Britton Timbers managing director Shawn Britton also weighed in on Monday to admitting to being a bit battle weary but also declaring “enough is enough”.
“The impact of this relentless assault on the mental health and wellbeing of the people who have been targeted by these eco-terrorists cannot be underestimated,” said FWCA director Kelly Wilton.
“They lose income, worry about the future of their careers and are sick to the back teeth of being abused and made to feel guilty for actually doing something positive for the environment by helping to provide renewable wood products.
“Corporate activists only conduct these actions to generate outrage and income through donation streams.
“You only have to look at their campaign appeals and financial reports to see it’s all about the money. When you see how much money they need to pay their executives, campaign directors and professional activists it goes way beyond the spirit of charity.”
Ms Wilton said timber production in Tasmania had Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), which is the world’s most highly rated environmental standard. Leading climate scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have also recognised forest management as critical to mitigating carbon stocks.
“The BBF and other corporate activists fail to acknowledge these facts as well as the simple truth that the six trees in 10,000 used to provide natural wood products are regenerated and have additional environmental benefits as they regrow,” Ms Wilton said.
“Instead, they continue to abuse their charity status privilege and attack hard-working regional Tasmanians who just want to get on with the job without having to tolerate money-hungry activism.”
