Activists have stormed Ta Ann Tasmania’s Smithton veneer mill for the second day in succession, as the Bob Brown Foundation intensifies its week‑long “Forest Resistance Tour” across Tasmania.
So far, more than 100 participants are involved in coordinated actions at multiple sites, with the foundation declaring that “the resistance is only growing” as the campaign enters its third day.
It comes as Treasurer Eric Abetz questioned why activists were targeting operations that use plantation and regrowth timber:
“Why are the extreme greens campaigning against the use of plantation and regrowth timber?” he said. “How else are we going to get wood supplies that are renewable and biodegradable?”
Protesters, however, claim Ta Ann is logging high‑conservation‑value native forest – a claim industry flatly rejects. Ta Ann Tasmania general manager Robert Yong dismissed the allegations, arguing they were “based on the wrong information”.
“Once again, green protestors are disrupting a fully complying, lawful business that adds value to sustainable supplies of hardwood logs, turning them into veneer and plywood products to supply much‑needed building materials,” Yong said. He added that Ta Ann was “the only company to contractually protect the conservation outcomes of the Tasmanian Forest Agreement”.
The Tasmanian Forest Products Association condemned the demonstrations as targeted and dangerous, accusing activists of showing “complete disregard” for workers who depend on the industry. “Let’s be clear, trespassing on active worksites whilst using hostile tactics is not peaceful protest,” chief executive Nick Steel said. “It is reckless, unlawful and completely unacceptable.”
Steel argued that protesters could not obstruct “hard‑working Tasmanians” from conducting lawful business, adding that “there is deep hypocrisy in campaigning against well‑regulated, regenerated Tasmanian forestry while continuing to consume timber and paper products every day”.
He also warned that shutting down local supply would only increase reliance on imported products “often sourced from countries with deforestation, illegal logging and minimal environmental oversight”.
The disruption follows arrests on the first day of action, with Pulse Tasmania reporting that a 70‑year‑old South Australian woman and a 23‑year‑old Western Australian woman were taken into custody on trespass charges. Despite this, activists returned in greater numbers today.
Among them was retired schoolteacher and grandparent Anna Markey. “I am disgusted and terrified that the government here subsidise this foreign company to destroy and profit from our beautiful native forests,” she said. “Every tree counts. All forest life matters at a time when fires, floods and heatwaves are destroying our homes. These companies must leave the forests now.”
The Bob Brown Foundation said today’s action marked day two of a planned week of protests, with participants travelling from across Australia. Two tree‑sitters spent the night in the canopy near Lake St Clair, while others continue to occupy forests in the Central Highlands.
Yong reiterated that the protests were putting workers at risk. “Their attack on Ta Ann puts the employment and health and safety of employees going about their business at risk,” he said. “They are misguided because their campaign is based on wrong information. Protestors are showing poor judgment and should support companies like ours that value and use regrowth and plantation log supplies.”
Please note: Wood Central will have additional coverage from the protest in the coming days.
