Triabunna 13 launch defence against Gunns

The 13 forest activists sued over the protester-led shutdown of Gunns Ltd's Triabunna woodchip mill in December, lodged their defence in the Launceston Supreme Court on February 3.

The activists will base their defence on the right to communicate information about government policies and political matters.

@9point ="The peaceful action at the Triabunna woodchip mill was conducted in direct response to the federal government's climate change White Paper, and to the ongoing destruction of Tasmania's ancient forests — a political issue if ever there was one", Huon Valley Environment Centre spokesperson and Triabunna 13 co-defendant Warrick Jordan said on February 4.

The forest activists have also served a counter-claim on Gunns and the sawmill corporation Calton Frame, which states that representations regarding the use of old growth logs in Gunns' proposed pulp mill are misleading and deceptive.

"Gunns have consistently claimed that their proposed Tamar Valley pulp mill will not use old growth logs.

"Our counterclaim states that Gunns have used misleading and deceptive representations, which constitutes a breach of Section 52 of the Trade Practices Act", Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson and Triabunna 13 co-defendant Ula Majewski said.

From GLW issue 782