Conference debates Gunns lawsuit

Wednesday, July 20, 2005 - 10:00

BRISBANE — The 16th annual Ecopolitics Conference was held at Griffith University on July 4-6, on the theme of "transforming environmental governance for the 21st century". More than 100 participants from the activist community, academia and environment groups attended.

The keynote address was given by Tricia Caswell, formerly of the Australian Council of Trade Unions and the Australian Conservation Council, and now CEO of the Victorian Association of Forest Industries. She claimed that the timber industry had recognised that it had to change or be forced to change, and that it was working towards a sustainable future.

The conference also featured a lively debate about the recent legal action initiated by Tasmanian logging and woodchipping company Gunns Limited against 20 individuals and environment groups. Gunns is seeking $6.4 million in damages for alleged economic loss and damage to its reputation.

David White

From Green Left Weekly, July 20, 2005.

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From GLW issue 634