Ballina, NSW, 9 August 2024 – In a striking court ruling today, it was revealed that Forestry Corporation NSW had been engaged in illegal logging operations within the Doubleduke State Forest, yet the company has so far avoided any punishment for its actions. The revelation came during the sentencing of two environmental activists in Ballina Local Court, who were found guilty of interfering with logging activities at the site in early 2023.
Environmental advocates Kashmir Miller and Valerie Thompson were charged with multiple offenses after they took part in separate protests aimed at halting logging in the ‘Gully of the Giants,’ a significant remnant forest known for its unburnt canopy and vital habitat for threatened species.
Ms. Miller’s charges were dismissed without conviction following a conditional release order, while Ms. Thompson was convicted on three counts and fined $1,800. Bob Brown joined the forest protectors, scroll down for their video.
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Forestry Corp Escapes Punishment for Illegal Logging in Northern NSW
While the court penalized the activists, it also noted the illegal activities of Forestry Corporation NSW, which had failed to properly map giant trees in the area before commencing logging operations. Despite this finding, the corporation has faced no legal repercussions, a fact that has sparked outrage among environmentalists and the legal community.
Outside the court, Valerie Thompson expressed her anger over the lack of accountability for Forestry Corp.
“Doubleduke is a shocking reminder of why we need to end native forest logging in NSW. The fact that they were logging the Gully of the Giants at all, much less without proper mapping of giant trees or fauna, shows that Forestry Corp cannot be trusted to manage our state forests. They have lost absolutely all credibility,” she stated.
Thompson also criticized the swift destruction of the forest, contrasting it with the slow-moving court process. “While these charges inched their way through the court system, the iconic forest we stood up for had no such luxury of time. Instead, those ancient trees—many hundreds of years old—were smashed at break-neck speed by enormous forestry harvesting machines.”
Kashmir Miller, who also protested against the logging, highlighted the broader implications for the climate crisis.
“Native forest logging is accelerating the climate crisis. As a young person growing up in the Northern Rivers, witnessing consistent climate catastrophes destroying our communities, I am terrified for my future. The Labor state and federal government is more concerned with charging protestors doing what they can to stop irreversible damage to our forests and climate than they are with taking action on ending native forest logging.”
Eddie Lloyd, the lawyer representing the activists, condemned the legal system for punishing those who acted in the public interest while allowing Forestry Corporation NSW to avoid consequences for its illegal actions.
“Today’s case showed that responsible citizens like Kashmir and Valerie, who sat in a tree to protect the forest from unlawful logging by Forestry Corp, will be punished, while Forestry Corp NSW, which was found to be unlawfully logging, did not even receive a slap on the wrist. Kashmir and Valerie were acting in the public interest, but the current law only protects the interests of Forestry Corp and endorses the continuation of the destruction of our forests,” Lloyd said.
The court’s acknowledgment of illegal logging by Forestry Corp has intensified calls for legal reforms and greater accountability. Environmental advocates are urging the NSW and Australian Labor governments to take immediate action to end native forest logging, eliminate subsidies for the industry, and fund a transition to sustainable forestry practices.
As logging activities continue to escalate across the state, including in the Great Koala National Park, this case has highlighted the growing tensions between environmental defenders and government-backed logging operations.
Despite the court’s findings, Forestry Corporation NSW has so far escaped punishment, raising serious concerns about the enforcement of environmental laws and the protection of Australia’s remaining native forests.
For more information, see North East Forest Alliance NEFA facebook page.
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