Today members of the Bob Brown Foundation attended Equal Opportunity Tasmania for the conciliation of a complaint to the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner by a member of the Tasmanian logging industry. The complaint bizarrely relates to a film screening in the Huon Valley and allegations of political discrimination. While the Equal Opportunity Tasmania process continues, the conciliation failed and the Bob Brown Foundation regards the claims as vexatious.
Ms Tammy Price has complained to the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner she was prevented from entering the theatre on the political grounds that she is an ‘avid Liberal supporter’.
In June a group of Bennetts loggers tried unsuccessfully to disrupt 250 people from seeing the film ‘The Giants’ at the Palais Theatre in Franklin near Huonville. A week earlier the same people, including Tammy Price, had stood in front of the Palais Theatre screen for more than an hour, until police arrived, to stop 100 locals from seeing another, unrelated film about giant trees.
“Our family film afternoon had a huge attendance with 250. The large crowd enjoyed the beautiful and engaging new documentary, The Giants. The film has received critical acclaim and support from across Australia, so it was good to bring it home to the Huon to share Bob Brown’s life story and the giant trees he works so hard to protect,” said Steven Chaffer, Bob Brown Foundation CEO.
“The Giants is a long overdue biopic of environmentalist Bob Brown, a National Living Treasure, the first openly gay member of parliament in Australia and leader of the world’s first Green party. It’s also about the life of Trees, which scientists are only starting to understand. The film goes from Bob’s story to the trees’ story – revealing just how closely intertwined they are. It’s a joyous exploration of the forest delivered in a new, creative and awe-inspiring way,” Steven Chaffer said.
“The event did have some pro-loggers turn up and attempt to disrupt the screening. There were some tickets booked under false names so they were cancelled and refunded. The individuals who turned up could not enter as they did not have valid tickets. The same group held up a film showing at the Palais two weeks ago, blocking the screen and forcing the audience to wait an hour until the police arrived,” Steven Chaffer said.
“The small group attempted to block the business of the Franklin Palais Theatre. They shoved volunteers as the group pushed to get through the door. They could not enter without valid tickets. In the end, the film went ahead without any disruptions,” Steven Chaffer said.