I am attaching some press clippings re the forest industry. The story in which Graeme Stoney is quoted is partially a result of the roster system CV set up to assist contractors in guarding their equipment and Graeme's diligence in raising the matter in Parliament. In other news a NSW logging contractor has been successful in getting a Supreme Court injunction against protestors (see below) who have been blockading his workplace for months. As usual the protestors are crying foul and saying that free speech is threatened. We need to let our supporters know that what is being prevented is the activities intended to stop a contractor and his employees earning a living. Basically it is unlawful to plan and act to stop one company from trading with another. It always has been the law but logging contractors have not previously exercised their rights to seek injunctions. After decades of being the subject of regular blockades people are saying enough is enough.

Bob Richardson

Court order halts anti-logging protest
ABC On-Line November 11th 2005

A New South Wales logging company has succeeded in legal action to stop activists protesting against its operations on the state's far south coast.

Bruce Mathie and Sons has obtained a New South Wales Supreme Court order for eight activists not to interfere with or obstruct its access to state forests around Eden.

The Nature Conservation Council (NCC) says the order also prevents some of the activists from directing other protesters to hinder access to logging areas.

Council's director Cate Faehrmann says the legal action was unnecessary.

"The right to peacefully protest in this country is under attack increasingly and this could be another example of that," she said.

"We will be urging the State Government to try and introduce laws to outlaw this kind of questionable, these questionable court cases and we'll see how we go with that."