Victoria’s anti-protest laws targeting forest protectors were contested through a state-wide survey action for threatened flora and fauna on Saturday.
Under new laws that came into effect on Saturday, people conducting surveys within a safety harvest zone may receive fines up to $11,095, which they could receive in the mail anytime within the next 12 months.
All surveys were conducted in areas where a ‘Timber Harvesting Safety Zone’ (public exclusion zone) is either already in place or where one could be applied any day.
The new laws also increase the maximum penalty to $22,120 or one-year jail term if found with a prohibited device within a THSZ.
Wombat Action Group spokesperson Amy Calton said protest must be protected, especially within a climate crisis.
“The government must repeal these outrageous laws and take meaningful action to protect the environment,” she said.
“The day’s action sent a very strong message to the government that their attempts to criminalise our efforts to protect our environment will not stop us showing up.
“This is just too important to ignore.”
Flora and fauna surveys took place at five sites across Victoria: in Wombat State Forest, Toolangi, Alberton West, Powelltown, and Colquhoun forest in East Gippsland.
Surveyors found endangered greater gliders, koalas, endangered tree geebungs (an old-growth understorey plant) and a critically endangered leadbeater’s possum.
More than 130 plant and fungi observations were recorded on the iNaturalist app.
Four Greens MPs were among those who illegally entered a THSZ in Wombat State Forest to survey for plant species.
Ms Calton said there were no authorities present on the day, however protesters had been regularly issued infringement notices after being identified in photographs.
“We are waiting to see whether or not we will receive fines and are very much still at risk of an $11,000 fine, including the MPs,” she said.
“These new protest laws are very much in line with the heavy handed approach being taken by authorities in the repeated fining of activists for entirely legal activities, which are almost always revoked in court.”
