[Huon Forests] 20 people arrested outside parliament

[Adam Burling]

MEDIA RELEASE - Thursday 27th August


20 Tasmanian's Arrested Outside Parliament House


Call for a Royal Commission into Pulp Mill Corruption




Twenty Tasmanian's were arrested today as they peacefully protested outside
the State Parliament House in Hobart. They had assembled to demand the
establishment of a Royal Commission into the corruption surrounding the Pulp
Mill process.


Lucy Landon-Lane, one of the arrestees, is one of three Tamar Valley
landowners who recently challenged the State Government in the Supreme Court
over the Pulp Mill Assessment 2007-Act (PMAA) said:


“We’re here to express our outrage that the Government continues to ignore
the community’s concerns about Gunns’ proposed pulp mill, and the lack of
redress the community has under the Pulp Mill Assessment Act.”


The peaceful assembly by members of the community took place outside
Parliament House on Thursday 27 August, at 1.15pm.


Ms Landon Lane said “Potential Joint Venture Partners and State and Federal
Governments can expect civil disobedience unless:


1. The PMAA is repealed and
2.  A Royal Commission into the corruption surrounding the pulp mill process
is established


Ms Landon-Lane’s father, retired judge Edward Butler was also among the
fifty people who peacefully assembled. He said it was empowering to see the
determination of the mostly middle-aged group, who felt their concerns were
consistently being ignored by the State Government.


Those who chose to stay on Parliament House steps were arrested and charged
for failing to comply with the police directive to move. They were released
shortly afterwards under bail conditions which include not returning to
Parliament House for 24 hours.

Non-violence is the first article of my faith. It is also the last article
of my creed.
(Mahatma Gandhi)

see photos here: http://bit.ly/PMczh
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