Aboriginal activist takes on logging company staff during trespass court case

Ruth Langford attended court in person for the first day of the hearing. (ABC News: Monty Jacka) Aboriginal activist Ruth Langford/Tipruthanna has faced a Hobart hearing to defend a trespass charge, after attending an anti-logging protest in Tasmania's northern midlands in January. Ms Langford/Tipruthanna, a Yorta Yorta/Dja Dja Wurrung woman who was born in Tasmania, said the case was an opportunity to show that "our law has always been in this land". Ms Langford/Tipruthanna is yet to give evidence, and the hearing has been adjourned to July 8. Link copiedShareShare articleAn Aboriginal activist has interrogated forestry company staff over their knowledge of Aboriginal cultural heritage as part of her defence against a trespass charge. Yorta Yorta/Dja Dja Wurrung woman Ruth Langford/Tipruthanna, who was born in Tasmania, appeared before Chief Magistrate Catherine Geason in the Hobart Magistrates Court over allegations she trespassed in a logging coupe during a protest. Ruth Langford at the anti-logging protest at Snow Hill. (Supplied: Bob Brown Foundation) Her request to have the entire court matter heard on country was refused by Magistrate Geason in April. Appearing via video link from the Tasmanian Aboriginal Community Centre at Piyura Kitina/Risdon Cove on Thursday, Ms Langford/Tipruthanna called four witnesses to give evidence, also via video link, in support of her case that she had a reasonable, lawful excuse to remain on the land. Ms Langford/Tipruthanna was part of a group of activists who attended an anti-logging protest at Snow Hill in the northern midlands in January 2025. Ruth Langford had initially requested to have her hearing held on country at Hobart's Risdon Cove, the site of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre. (ABC News: Edoardo Falcione) She has been accused of refusing police orders to leave the site, which resulted in her arrest and a charge of trespassing, which she has pleaded not guilty to. Her first witness, Palawa elder Uncle Jim Everett Puralia Meenamatta, who gave evidence from Truwana/Cape Barren Island, said the link between Aboriginal lore and country informed the need for Palawa people to protect the land. Mr Everett has previously said he does not recognise "colonial courts", and also appeared in court last year after being charged with trespass while protesting against native forest logging. Mr Everett said he passed the role onto Ms Langford/Tipruthanna to enter forests to protect and defend them from logging. Tasmanian Aboriginal elder Jim Everett vowed not to recognise the courts after being charged with trespass himself in 2024. (ABC News: Maren Preuss) When asked during cross-examination by prosecutor Deanne Earley to outline the different ways Palawa people might act to protect country, Mr Everett said there was a range of ways, including protesting in the forest and being arrested "to draw attention to the issue". He told the court seeing country "destroyed" was "trauma" for the Tasmanian Aboriginal community. Palawa man Cody Gangell-Smith, the cultural nephew of Mr Everett and Ms Langford, told the court he was with Ms Langford when she was arrested. Palawa man Cody Gangell-Smith said the activists were at Snow Hill performing funerary rites for "kinsmen trees" that had been felled. (ABC News: Glenn Dickson) He said they were there to perform funerary rites for "kinsmen trees" that had been felled. He referred to Article 12 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which Australia supports, which states Indigenous peoples have the right "to have access in privacy to their religious and cultural sites". He told the court that being ordered to leave the site was a "direct violation of those rights". On the first day of the hearing on Wednesday, Ms Langford/Tipruthanna appeared in person at the Hobart Magistrates Court. More than 25 people packed the courtroom in support, with some wearing shirts with Aboriginal flags or anti-logging slogans. Ms Langford/Tipruthanna chose not to give an opening statement, instead turning to her supporters and saying "let's get them". The first witness to give evidence on Wednesday was Sustainable Timber Tasmania (STT) forest operations manager David White, who certified the area near Snow Hill for logging. Mr White told the court he was "satisfied" that all the required Aboriginal heritage assessments had taken place when he signed the forest practices plan. In the cross-examination, Mr White was questioned on his knowledge of Aboriginal cultural heritage, such as the use of trees in mortuary practices. Ms Langford/Tipruthanna presented him with items, including a shell necklace, a small basket and a rock, before asking him to identify their cultural significance. Aboriginal artifacts which were shown in court. (ABC News: Jillian Mundy) Mr White said his knowledge of various Aboriginal cultural practices was "limited" and he was unable to clearly identify the significance of the items. The

Aboriginal activist takes on logging company staff during trespass court case

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