Gunns vs. The Wilderness Society: A Brewing Legal Dispute

The Tasmanian timber company, Gunns, has filed a Supreme Court writ against The Wilderness Society and 19 other defendants, alleging a campaign of interference with its business and trade. The writ, filed by EMA Legal on behalf of Gunns, claims that The Wilderness Society and others engaged in a conspiracy to injure the company by unlawful means, including promoting adverse publicity, protests, and consumer boycotts.

Gunns claims that the campaign was conducted with the goal of forcing the company out of business or to cease harvesting timber in native forests in Tasmania. The writ outlines specific actions taken by The Wilderness Society, including placing propaganda on its website and attempting to get ANZ Bank to withdraw a $250 million loan facility. The campaign also allegedly included protests and other forms of unlawful action at or near the banks' premises in Australia and England.

Key Takeaways:

• Gunns has filed a Supreme Court writ against The Wilderness Society and 19 other defendants, alleging interference with its business and trade.
• The writ claims that The Wilderness Society and others engaged in a conspiracy to injure Gunns by unlawful means, including promoting adverse publicity, protests, and consumer boycotts.
• The campaign allegedly included attempts to force Gunns out of business or to cease harvesting timber in native forests in Tasmania.
• Gunns claims that The Wilderness Society placed propaganda on its website, stating that Commonwealth Bank owned 17% of Gunns and was "effectively responsible for about one-sixth of the export woodchipping, clear felling, burning, poisoning and old-growth logging carried out by the woodchip giant."
• The writ outlines specific actions taken by The Wilderness Society, including attempts to get ANZ Bank to withdraw a $250 million loan facility.
• The campaign allegedly included protests and other forms of unlawful action at or near the banks' premises in Australia and England, including the entry of Commonwealth Bank premises in various cities without lawful authority.

Statistics:

• The writ claims that Gunns suffered $6,360,483 in damages as a result of the campaign.
• The campaign allegedly included protests and other forms of unlawful action at or near the banks' premises in Australia and England.
• The writ states that The Wilderness Society's propaganda on its website stated that Commonwealth Bank owned 17% of Gunns.
• The campaign allegedly included attempts to force Gunns out of business or to cease harvesting timber in native forests in Tasmania.

Sources:

• Supplied
• The Australian