Forestry Tasmania has settled a case brought by nineteen Tasmanians issued with unlawful prohibition notices at protests against native forest logging in Meunna over January and February 2024. The prohibition orders effectively banned them from all FT-managed public forests or FT-managed roads for an indeterminate period. The settlement includes a concession that the orders were invalid and an agreement to pay the applicants’ costs.

“Forestry Tasmania has been forced to concede that it acted unlawfully in issuing punitive prohibition orders to protesters at Meunna over January and February this year. This is an embarrassing backdown by the state logging agency who have taken six months to come clean,” said Bob Brown Foundation Takayna Campaigner Scott Jordan

“That Forestry Tasmania, a government agency, acted in such an unlawful and clearly intimidatory manner is a symptom of a government that will do anything to prevent public protest against logging of our precious native forests.”

“These orders against peaceful protesters had the effect of criminalising entry to public forests, including preventing people under orders from entering their workplaces and, in at least one case, being able to step outside their front gate. This level of illegal intimidation cannot be accepted. Minister Eric Abetz must take action to hold this rogue agency to account,” said Scott Jordan.