LOCAL forest protestors left Coffs Harbour District Court with no convictions recorded and no fines, after successfully appealing charges related to a protest in Orara East State Forest in June, 2025.
They were among approximately 30 people who took part in a community “walk-on” opposing logging out of concern for the impacts on water catchments, cultural significance, fire resilience and critical habitat for threatened species.
When police arrived last June, protesters were detained and later issued with penalty infringements of $1400 each – despite, they say, complying with directions to move on.
The appellants were initially charged with three forestry offences but police later offered to withdraw two of the charges if the group pleaded guilty to a single signage-related offence.
The compromise plea was accepted on the understanding that similar matters involving peaceful protest and first-time offenders have historically resulted in dismissals with no conviction recorded.
However, the magistrate imposed criminal convictions and $650 fines against the defendants, prompting the appeals.
Bellingen Environment Network spokesperson Zianna Fuad, said, “Direct action has always been a necessary response when state institutions and corporations not only fail to act in time, but actively cause harm to public forests and endangered species.
“We acted after years of warnings from scientists, ecologists and local communities were ignored, while critical habitat was being destroyed.”
This case is about more than a fine.
“It is about whether peaceful environmental protest is treated as a legitimate part of democracy or something to be punished [and] silenced.”
By Andrew VIVIAN
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