While everyone has a right to protest, recent law-breaking and disruptive demonstrations against renewable timber harvesting in Northern NSW are causing widespread harm and the NSW Government needs to take action, Clarence Nationals MP Richie Williamson has told Parliament.
"I’m speaking both in support of the timber industry and everyone's right to a peaceful and lawful protest," Mr Williamson told the NSW Legislative Assembly earlier this week.
"However, some of the behaviour on display in State Forests in Northern NSW right now and over the recent past is shameful and unlawful. Continual attacks on this lawful industry by protesters illegally entering an active harvest site are disgraceful and should be denounced.
"This selfish behaviour by a hardcore few is taking its toll on good hard, working men and women."
Mr Williamson said there were widespread consequences to the radical activities of the extreme green minority.
The livelihoods of timber workers and their families were being jeopardized, the safety of regional communities was being put at risk as police had to divert huge resources in remote areas, and protesters themselves were risking their lives with increasingly dangerous covert activities.
"You can’t have a right to protest without a responsibility to firstly do it safely and lawfully, and secondly not infringe on another person's right to work and provide for his or her family," Mr Williamson said.
The irony, according to the Clarence Nationals MP, is that the NSW timber industry is not only sustainable and environmentally responsible, it is the most highly regulated forestry industry in the world.
"With, among other measures, one million hectares of State forest estate is set aside for conservation forever, sustainable forestry through responsible management significantly improves not destroys biodiversity in a forest, including supporting and improving koala habitat," Mr Williamson said.
"Mr Speaker, this unlawful behaviour must stop and I urge this Government to provide the legislation and support to our police to ensure it does," Mr Williamson concluded.
** A full copy of Mr Williamson’s contribution to the debate can be found here - https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/permalink?id=HANSARD-1323879322-134461
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