Forest protester jailed for not paying fines
By Alex Bainbridge
HOBART — Environmentalist Karen Weldrick was jailed for 31 days on February 24 for refusing to pay a fine of $3094.50 imposed for her involvement in a 1998 action to stop logging of Mother Cummings Peak in the Great Western Tiers. Weldrick chained herself to a log truck.
The efforts of Weldrick and many others delayed logging considerably, adding to the costs faced by North Forest Products, dissuading other companies from logging in the area and even preserving some coupes from logging. Thousands were involved and 138 people were arrested during the course of the campaign.
"Three thousand dollars is way out of proportion for what I did, compared with fines you get for crimes of violence or drink-driving," Weldrick said. "They should be giving me a medal, not locking me up."
Four days later, on February 28, a magistrate refused to jail activist Tim Cadman for not paying fines of $1200 imposed after his involvement in the same campaign. The magistrate gave Cadman another six months to pay, despite Cadman's vow not to pay then either.
There are 16 other protesters who are refusing to pay fines imposed for their participation in anti-logging actions.