It was announced today that Gunns have settled its legal action, commenced in 2004, against the Wilderness Society, Heidi Douglas, Leanne Minshull and Alec Marr. In a remarkable twist Gunns have agreed to pay the Wilderness Society $350,000 to settle the case.

Gunns Ltd has launched another law suit in the long-running controversy surrounding the woodchipping of native forest in Tasmania. This is a separate suit to that launched against the Gunns20 in December 2004. At present there remain 11 defendants in the original Gunns 20 case. Dr Frank Nicklason (one of the original Gunns20) is also being sued by Gunns for defamation in a separate action.

The text of the speech is set out below.

Senator BOB BROWN (Tasmania—Leader of the Australian Greens) (1.19 pm)—I thank the Senate for allowing me to have these few minutes.

This week Gunns Ltd pleaded guilty in a Tasmanian court to the

The Supreme Court of Victoria has ordered Gunns to pay $91000.00 in legal costs to Senator Bob Brown, Peg Putt and Helen Gee. This follows these three defendants being dropped from the case in April 2007.

The Victorian Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by Gunns following the court’s earlier rejection of Gunns’ application for further documents from The Wilderness Society. Justice Kaye ordered Gunns to pay The Wilderness Society’s costs of the appeal. The judgment is attached.

Defendant number 2, Geoff Law was today discharged from the Gunns case following settlement for an undisclosed sum relating to a protest in the Styx Valley in 2003. The Hobart Mercury has quoted Mr Law as stating the settlement was “less than 10 per cernt of $180,000 Gunns was seeking”. The Wilderness has issued a media release which is attached. Geoff Law is the Wilderness Society’s Tasmanian Campaign Manager.

Master Evans of the Victorian Supreme Court today dismissed Gunns' application for an order that The Wilderness Society(TWS) release more documents to Gunns. The documents sought included contact addresses, phone numbers and other details of 128 conservationists. No decision was made on costs.

[from Haydn Walters - outgoing President Tasmanian AMA.]
I wish to make an appeal for a friend and valued colleague. Many of you will know Frank Nicklason as a committed physician and geriatrician and will respect his vigorous commitment to the public good, at least as he sees it. Frank has the unenviable accolade of being No, 19 of the "Gunns 20". Frank is being sued for speaking out publicly about health issues raised in Burnie over their woodchip pile.

The ACT Parliament today passed legislation to protect public participation. This is Australia's first "anti-SLAPP*" legislation. It aims to discourage civil proceedings that interfere with public participation. Public participation is defined in the legislation as meaning action taken to influence public opinion, the government or corporations. (*SLAPP - Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation)

On 19 and 20 August 2008 the Supreme Court of Victoria ordered Gunns pay Bob Brown and Peg Putt's legal costs for the Gunns20 case in the sum of $52,622.00.

This follows Gunns dropping Putt and Brown from the case in October 2006. On 4 April 2007 Judge Bongiorno ordered Gunns pay their costs on a party/party basis.