Anti-logging Activists continue to be dragged through four year legal battle with Gunns

Environmental activists are still struggling in a legal battle against the timber giant Gunns that has been going on over four years now.  Gunns have been been suing the remaining 14 activists from the original 20 over their anti-logging protests citing their activities as damaging to the company.
In the latest development Gunns made an offer to settle the case April 3 2009 but the remaing 14 rejected it as it would require the defendents to pay Gunns’ legal costs and to give extensive undertakings restricting their activities and movements in Tasmania.
The timing of the offer by Gunns has been questioned given the recent increase in speculation about Gunns’ proposed pulp mill in Tasmania.  In recent days there has been media speculation Gunns will make an announcement on the future of the mill including the date to commence construction.

Gunns Ltd, Australia’s largest logging company, is proposing to build a chlorine bleaching, native forest fed pulp mill in Tasmania. Stopping the pulp mill is crucial because it will be a disaster for climate change. It will be 80 per cent native forest-based, consuming an area of forest equivalent to 100,000 Melbourne Cricket Grounds.

Louise Morris, defendant number 8 supported the speculation saying, “It’s no accident, in my opinion, that Gunns are trying to curtail my ability to
protest at the same time as media speculation on the construction of the pulp mill in Tasmania increases.    
 
In any case I have no alternative but to reject this sham of an offer.  They must know I can’t afford to pay their legal costs which would be in the hundreds of thousands, possibly millions of dollars. Also they are asking me to undertake not to go to large tracts of Tasmania, including public land without their consent.  It’s a joke of an offer and if this is the best they can do its looks like we’re off to trial.”

Adam Burling defendant number 6 is determined not to back down after the four year case.
“This current offer from Gunns is offensive. After 4 and a half years of being
dragged through court, Gunns now wants us to pay a bucket of money and give up our right to protest. Forget it,” said Adam Burling
 
“If anyone wanted proof that Gunns were interested in more than money when
they started this case, this offer is the proof. The restrictions that Gunns want to place on us is nothing less than an attack on our freedom of speech,” said Mr Burling

Originally when the case began in December 2004 the Victorian Supreme Court threw out the original statement of claim, as well as two subsequent attempts to sue the protesters, but then the go-ahead for the company to continue with a revised statement of claim against 14 remaining defendants was given.
Greens leader Bob Brown warned the case could stretch on for years, exacting a heavy toll on the defendants.
"The saga with this court action against good-hearted environmentalists trying to defend Australia's great forests and wildlife goes on," Senator Brown told reporters.
"It is a traumatic episode for all the environmentalists involved and it is going to be an immense burden on them, both on their ability to get on with their lives and on their wellbeing."
 "The manifest unfairness of this process - as Gunns continues to maraud, to cut down, burn and create havoc with both the wildlife and the great forests of Tasmania - continues," Senator Brown said.

Read more at http://www.gunns20.org

And watch the John Butler video supporting NGO's and activists in the fight to save Tasmanian forests from illegal logging