The Tasmanian Greens stand in solidarity with Dr Colette Harmsen and offer our sincere thanks for her commitment and the sacrifices she has made in defending lutruwita/Tasmania’s wild places.
A Tasmanian devil expert and nature champion, Colette has spent the past three months in prison for the so-called ‘crime’ of protesting against native forest destruction in Tasmania. Her passion and determination in the face of these harsh and unjust consequences has set a powerful and inspiring example.
Colette is the first environmental activist jailed in Tasmania for more than a decade, but she will not be the last if the Liberals – egged on by Labor – continue to encourage the appalling destruction of this island’s globally unique forests.
As shown by the dozens of forest defenders arrested in recent times, more people than ever understand the importance of protecting these beautiful, biodiverse, carbon-rich wild places. Tasmanians from all walks of life have made it clear they will not be deterred by the Liberals’ anti-democratic attempts to crackdown on peaceful protest.
Unlike the Liberals and Labor, the Greens are proud to stand with and support Colette and every other person who is doing what they can to put a stop to the senseless logging and burning of vast tracts of forests.
Today we welcome Colette with open arms, and express our deepest gratitude for all she’s been through in the name of protecting this beautiful island, its many threatened species, and its ancient, carbon-rich forests.
We wish Collette well as she rejoins family and conservation colleagues.
