Former federal Greens leader Bob Brown has been arrested in Tasmania, apparently for participating in a protest against logging operations in Lapoinya, a tiny town in the state’s north-west.
Bob Brown has just been arrested at Lapoinya in NW Tas, site of community protests over logging. Being taken to Burnie Police stn. #politas
— Bob Brown (@BobBrownFndn) January 25, 2016
Reports are coming in that he and three other people walked into the Lapoinya Forest exclusion zone this morning; Brown and one other were arrested, while the other two were fined.
Rally at Tas parl to protest destruction of Lapoinya forest, home of world’s largest freshwater crayfish. #politas pic.twitter.com/WDNepbToPF
— Bob Brown (@BobBrownFndn) January 21, 2016
The area has been embroiled in conflict with logging companies for a while, but anger flared up when Forestry Tasmania announced just before Christmas last year that logging was scheduled for January 2016, a move which campaigner Michael Buky said was “to limit any action with the media and lawyers” over the holiday period.
“The local community of Lapoinya have been trying to protect their local forest, home to the world’s largest freshwater crayfish, from destruction by clear fell logging,” a statement on his Facebook page read. “Last week, 2 members of the Lapoinya community were arrested. Bob was visiting Lapoinya to support their campaign and stand with them against this needless destruction of their forest.”
Bob will likely speak with media later today after being processed and released from police custody at Burnie Police station. #politas
— Bob Brown (@BobBrownFndn) January 25, 2016
He’s scheduled to address media later today, but we’ll say this for now: what a fucking legend.
Updated at 1:37pm.
Greens MPs / Senators are tweeted their support:
Well done to @BobBrownFndn, arrested at Lapoinya Forests where community are protesting logging. Still fighting. Thanks Bob.
— Senator Lee Rhiannon (@leerhiannon) January 25, 2016
Respect. https://t.co/kzZ04wOjr1
— Jeremy Buckingham (@greensjeremy) January 25, 2016
More to come.
Photo: Twitter.
