John Barrenger, retired Emergency Medicine specialist, is today tree sitting in forests that have had logging destroying them just to the north of Mount Field National Park. There are multiple areas of active logging operations in this area, and this logging is endorsed by the Albanese Government and Premier Rockliff, who have no interest in protecting our precious and unique native forests.

Peaceful forest defender John Barrenger is this morning perched in a treesit attached to logging machinery, preventing logging operations. At the same time, Sue Abbott, a 65 year old grandmother, is attached to one of these machines. Both are willing to be arrested for standing up for the forest. Instead of sending in police to evict the community members, Bob Brown Foundation is calling for the loggers to be moved to plantations and all native forests granted secure protection.

Elsewhere in forests near Lake St Clair, Forestry Tasmania has retreated from logging controversial forests and logging machines were removed earlier this week. After four weeks of non-violent protests, we found the logging coupe deserted by the machines, and most of the forest still standing.

“Whilst celebrating the departure of machines from logging coupe CZ022A earlier this week, we are continuing our campaign of disruption against native forest logging,” said Lisa Searle with the Bob Brown Foundation.

“I’ve had enough of all the corruption,” said Ms Abbott from the forest, “because that’s the only reason why this logging continues. Yes, I will continue to take action until the destruction stops, and to continue facing arrest if that’s what it takes. This is our only option, and we must keep doing this. Come and join us.”

“Forests need to be firmly on the agenda in the upcoming state election. We need our future leaders to understand that they represent the people, and what the people want is long-lasting protection for all native forests across this island. They are too precious to lose, and once lost, they will be lost forever. We encourage Tasmanians to use their vote wisely when the time comes,” said Searle.

“The ongoing destruction of Tasmanian native forests has all been at the taxpayers’ expense. Right now, our government chooses to waste more public money on investigating more areas of precious forests for logging. It is time for Tasmania to end all native forest logging and provide secure protection to the forests across our island,” said Jenny Weber, Campaign Manager for the Bob Brown Foundation.