Splinter groups

By Kath Gannaway
Timber Communities Australia, VicForests and VAFI (The Victorian Association of Forest Industries) have accused the protesters of aggressive behaviour and a lack of respect after claims some banged on windows and shouted.
However, My Environment Director, Sarah Rees, and Louise Matthieson from The Wilderness Society have rejected claims the protesters were aggressive, saying it was a peaceful protest.
About 50 protesters, including Toolangi and Healesville residents opposed to the Toolangi logging, and members of environment groups including The Wilderness Society, My Environment and Warburton Environment, had gathered for a planned protest at the gates of the exclusion zone on Sylvia Creek Road.
Their protest fell on absent ears when logging was halted for the day and the expected resistance by DSE and police didn’t eventuate. Some of the protesters then moved on to VicForests.
Andrew McGuire, VicForests’ Operations Manager for Central Highlands said police were called when protesters “repeatedly banged objects on the office windows”.
“These staff are people simply trying to perform their everyday jobs,” he said, saying that staff held fears that the windows would be smashed.
“While we recognise and respect the right of protesters to express their opinions, the behaviour we saw this week borders on intimidation,” he said.
Trevor Brown, TCA regional co-ordinator and VAFI CEO Lisa Marty said the actions went beyond peaceful protest and accused the protesters of being more interested in creating conflict than solutions.
Ms Matthieson said the claims were an over-reaction to what was a peaceful protest.
“Some people knocked on the windows wanting someone to come out and talk to them; they were singing songs … it was not aggressive,” Ms Matthieson said.
“It was certainly not our intention to intimidate and we are disappointed that no-one from VicForests came out to speak to the group.”
Ms Matthieson said police attended and spoke to the group, but there were no arrests or action taken.
Ms Rees said nothing was said in a negative way to the people inside the VicForests office and that no more than 30 people were involved. She said members of the Toolangi community and My Environment had been involved in action on the Gun Barrel coupe for six months.
“We have followed due process every step of the way and the community are tired, angry and upset,” she said.
She said DSE directed them to take their concerns to VicForests. “They are not engaging with the community so the community is compelled to engage with them,” she said.
“The action on the street is just one more important step in expressing the concerns of the community which are being ignored by the government.”
The Mail was unable to get a comment from police who attended.