Tuckey lashes states as protesters halt logging

By Brett Foley and Meaghan Shaw, Lorne, The Age (article), 13/3/2000

The latest clash came as federal Forestry Minister Wilson Tuckey said state governments weren't doing enough to stop protesters disrupting logging operations around the country.  He said the states were "frauds" if they did not act on laws and support police officers caught between foresters and protesters."We are demoralising the police force," he told ABC radio. "We are not giving them the support they need.  "But unless you are prepared to properly prosecute the laws you put in the statute book then, of course, you're a fraud."

A small group of protesters and local residents entered the logging coupe at Callahan's Creek for several hours yesterday.  A log loader appeared to drive towards a protester before dropping a large load of bark metres from him as officials from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment looked on.

Departmental officials were called in by loggers when protesters entered the coupe just before 9am. Protesters agreed to move their vehicles to allow work to resume. The officials called police when the protesters reentered the coupe and halted work until 4pm.

The clash follows several violent incidents between protesters and loggers, most recently last Sunday week, when loggers attempted to retrieve equipment that had been blockaded at the Middle Spur coupe near Colac. During the scuffle, 10 members of the Otway Ranges Environmental Network were treated by ambulance crews and five were taken to Geelong Hospital for treatment. Police are are yet to lay charges.

A spokesman for The Wilderness Society, Gavan McFadzean, said Mr Tuckey's comments were unfounded and he called for action to stop violence against protesters. "He is talking about arresting people for exercising their right to protest," he said.

One of the loggers disrupted yesterday, Paul Munro, said loggers wanted more support from the department and police to ensure that they could work safely.  The timber industry and conservationists yesterday agreed to hold talks to try to stop the escalating violence.  The State Government arranged for professional mediation between environmentalists, unionists, industry representatives, police and the department.

A spokeswoman for the Victorian Environment and Conservation Minister, Sherryl Garbutt, said the talks aimed to establish some common understanding in relation to the rights of all parties involved.  Ms Garbutt's spokeswoman said the government denied Mr Tuckey's claims.  "The Department of Natural Resources and Energy has certain powers under the Forest Act in relation to these issues and utilised them lawfully when necessary, and the police have powers under the Crimes Act," she said.