Protesters clash as tensions rise in TasmaniaFriday 17 Feb 2012 Rival protesters have clashed as tensions rise in Tasmania a day after the latest job losses in the forestry industry were announced. Pro- and anti-logging groups came together in Launceston while employees of timber company Ta Ann, which on Monday said it would shed 40 jobs, marched on the headquarters of environmentalists in the south of the state.Liberal candidate Andrew Nikolic and pro-forestry group Code Red member Brett Lucas confronted members of anti-logging group Code Green in a mall in Launceston, where a crowd and police looked on, the ABC reported. In Huonville, south of Hobart, furious Ta Ann workers marched on the Huon Valley Environment Centre, one of the green groups accused by the company of causing the job losses with a campaign targeting Japanese customers. Action continued with the group Still Threatened Still Wild, whose member Miranda Gibson has been atop a tree in a southern Tasmanian forest for 65 days, saying protests would take place in more than 40 locations worldwide. The Prime Minister came out strongly criticising some environmental groups saying they have waged an irresponsible and inaccurate campaign against the Tasmanian timber company Ta Ann. Ms Gillard told Caucus members that some environmental groups had been waging an irresponsible campaign in international markets, and that has led to the job losses at Ta Ann and the groups were putting at risk the forest deal struck by the Tasmanian and Federal Governments. |
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