Vic: Court gives Gunns lawsuit go-ahead

AAP General News (Australia)
04-03-2007
Vic: Court gives Gunns lawsuit go-ahead

By Simon Mossman

MELBOURNE, April 3 AAP - Green campaigners opposed to logging activities in Tasmania
are facing an uphill battle after timber giant Gunns was given the go-ahead to proceed
with a lawsuit against them.

Victoria's Supreme Court lifted a stay of proceedings imposed last August, clearing
the way for the company to sue 14 environmentalists over their anti-logging protests.

Gunns first launched legal action against 20 environmental groups or individuals -
including two Green party politicians - in December 2004, citing their ongoing damaging
campaigns and other activities against the company.

But the Victorian Supreme Court threw out the original statement of claim, as well
as two subsequent attempts to sue the protesters.

Today, Greens leader Bob Brown warned the case could stretch on for several more years,
exacting a heavy toll on the defendants.

"The saga with this court action against good-hearted environmentalists trying to defend
Australia's great forests and wildlife goes on," Senator Brown told reporters.

"It is a traumatic episode for all the environmentalists involved and it is going to
be an immense burden on them, both on their ability to get on with their lives and on
their wellbeing."

Justice Bernard Bongiorno said Gunns had capitulated in its bid to sue Senator Brown,
Tasmanian Greens leader Peg Putt and four other defendants.

But he gave the go-ahead for the company to continue with a revised statement of claim
against 14 remaining defendants, which campaigners fear could ultimately cost them hundreds
of thousands of dollars.

"The manifest unfairness of this process - as Gunns continues to maraud, to cut down,
burn and create havoc with both the wildlife and the great forests of Tasmania - continues,"

Senator Brown said.

"Gunns should be in the dock, along with (Tasmanian premier) Paul Lennon and (Prime
Minister) John Howard, not those who defend the forests - logging of much of Tasmania's
forests is illegal.

"But instead of the logging industry being arraigned, it is those who want to uphold
our national environment legislation who are in court."

Gunns was ordered to pay the costs of the six defendants, while the 14 remaining campaigners
were told to file their defence statements by May 4.

A spokeswoman for Gunns said the company would not comment because it was a legal matter
which was now before the courts.

AAP sjm/gfr/maur/de

KEYWORD: GUNNS NIGHTLEAD (PIX AVAILABLE)

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