Tasmanian Forest Products Assocation slams Bob Brown Foundation protest of Artec woodchip mill
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UPDATE 11:10PM
A protest that caused disruption at Artec woodchip mill this morning has been slammed as an "unfair and unjust" by Tasmania's peak body for forest products.
About 20 protestors linked to the Bob Brown Foundation claimed to have shut down the woodchipping mill in the state's north.
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Tasmanian Forest Products Association chief executive Nick Steel said it was "ironic, but unsurprising" that the foundation resorted to "allegedly illegal workplace invasions" after having sought and failed to stop the renewable forestry industry in the courts.
"As we have repeatedly stated, we support free speech but it is unfair and unjust to invade workplaces, causing loss of income and stress to your fellow Tasmanians trying to make a lawful living, simply in order to make your point," he said.
"We urge the government and Labor party to sit down together and find a way to pass through the parliament stronger protections for hard-working Tasmanians seeking to make a lawful living in our renewable forestry industry."
EARLIER
Protestors have claimed to have shut down Artec woodchip mill in Tasmania's north this morning.
It comes in the Bob Brown's Foundation's latest campaign against the company's ongoing woodchipping of Tasmania's old growth and native forests.
Campaign organiser Erik Hayward said this morning's action was allegedly met with violence.
"[The employees] not only completely disregarded their safety protocol but proceeded to assault protesters and slash tyres on all their cars," he said.
Mr Hayward said that an empty woodchip ship arrived near the site to allegedly take away product from native forest harvesting in Wentworth Hills.
"The safe haven of the critically endangered swift parrots Eastern Tiers and from the tall giants of the Styx Valley. We need to protect our last remaining native forests and woodlands," he said.
Police are on the scene at our Woodchip mill shutdown. Every woodchip exported by Artec represents wildlife habitat loss, carbon storehouse destruction and destruction of some of the most critical native forests left on Earth. #politaspic.twitter.com/wQebbjOXal
— Bob Brown Foundation (@BobBrownFndn) February 11, 2021
"Our forests are not safe, our future is not secure and still Artec is woodchipping our global carbon stores. It Is time to end native forest logging. We will not cease our defence of the last remaining native forests and wilderness."