March 31, 2009

A great day for our forests and freedom of speech

I have to share this and to save time, i'm just going to take this extract directly from the Wilderness Society Website...

$3.5 million damages claim turns into $350,000 payment to The Wilderness Society (WOOHOOOOOOO!)

The tables have turned on woodchip company Gunns Ltd and its four-year long legal action in the Victorian Supreme Court against The Wilderness Society is over. Its claims for $3.5 million in damages have turned into a $350,000 payment to The Wilderness Society.
In a settlement finalised on 16 March, 2009, Gunns will pay The Wilderness Society $350,000 in costs and discontinue its legal action against The Wilderness Society and individuals either currently or formally with The Wilderness Society – Alec Marr, Leanne Minshull and Heidi Douglas.

"This is a significant win for free speech in Australia. The fact that Gunns now has to pay money to The Wilderness Society after claiming for the past four years that The Wilderness Society owed it $3.5 million demonstrates that the legal action was an empty case from the beginning," former defendant and The Wilderness Society's Executive Director Alec Marr said.