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Lawyers For Forests president Lucy Turner said yesterday that the group had been inspired by the strong performance of anti-logging candidates in February's Western Australian election. "There is absolutely no doubt that there is a renaissance going on. The environment is an issue that will not go away," she said. Ms Turner said the group had no plans at the moment to field its own candidates in state or federal elections. But she said members would campaign on behalf of other candidates with pro-environment policies.
The group plans to lobby politicians for law reform, provide legal advice to demonstrators involved in blockades and other forms of protest, and urge consumers and shareholders to penalise companies with woodchipping interests.
Ms Turner said many lawyers preferred to form their own group instead of joining an existing green organisation because they had special skills to contribute. "We have been aware of the Liberals For Forests and other groups, but the thing is a special group is able to provide more focus for legal analysis, policy reform and skills that we can bring to bear.
"The emergence of our group shows the strength of public feeling about this issue. It's not just the traditional radical ferals but professional groups and also community groups ... who are wanting to get involved."
The Federal Court's Justice Murray Wilcox formally launched the group
at a function in Melbourne last night. Ms Turner said that if the Victorian
group built a large membership and was successful, the organisation might
expand into other states.
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