Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson
The Greens condemn all violence in, and surrounding, Tasmania’s forests. We acknowledge this is a heated issue, but no life should be at risk, nor physical harm come to any individual - on either side of the forestry debate.
The Tasmanian conservation movement has a long and proud history of peaceful protest. It has never resorted to tree spiking.
We are highly suspicious that this is another attempt to blame and demonise people who are standing against forest destruction.
The last time tree spiking was alleged, in 2012, it was found to be the work of a disgruntled industry worker. Then Premier, Lara Giddings, who jumped readily on the blame bandwagon was subsequently forced to apologise to conservationists.
Every time tree spiking has come up in Tasmania, it has been from those opposing forest protesters. It has come from within the mendicant native forest logging industry.
Given his role in the Tasmanian Forest Agreement, FIAT’s Terry Edwards knows this better than almost anyone. How far he has fallen in making the desperate, unsubstantiated claims he made on statewide radio today.
Throwing around dangerous allegations publicly without factual information risks inciting conflict on protest sites. This is how peaceful protestors get hurt.
We support the calls from environmental groups for a full Tasmania Police investigation of the alleged incident at a Tasmanian logging mill. That investigation must include contractors and employees of the businesses involved.