Protesters blockade timber workers in East Gippsland

Protesters have been targeting a timber-harvesting site for over a month, preventing loggers from earning money and putting lives at risk.

Caller Brett is employed with nine other workers and logs native hardwood in East Gippsland near the town of Orbost. He told Neil Mitchell that the protesters will blockade the site with wood, ram vehicles and camp out in trees.

‘They blockade the roads with wood to try and cause vehicles and trucks to crash into them,’ Brett said.

‘Myself and another bloke were nearly killed. One of their protesters was almost killed in that incident. We don’t want to see anyone get hurt.’

Brett said that protesters will tie themselves to machinery high up in trees.

Brett said the worksite had been surveyed and approved.

‘It’s a legal worksite. We are just simply guys going to work, mate.’

‘We haven’t earned any money in over a month now and we certainly haven’t moved a stick of wood since Christmas.’

Listen in full as Brett speaks to Neil Mitchell