Aboriginal activist takes on logging company staff during trespass court case

An 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.

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.

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.

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.

He said they were there to perform funerary rites for "kinsmen trees" that had been felled.

"Our practices there included application of white ochre for funerary practices, applying to those kinsmen, as part of death rites, applying (ochre) to ourselves, singing the song of the country, singing them onto their dreaming, as part of our healing process,"

Mr Gangell-Smith said.

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".

Forestry manager asked to identify cultural significance of items

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.

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 court heard he had undergone about three days of direct Aboriginal cultural heritage training over the past 15 years.

STT senior forest officer Christopher Sing, who was responsible for supervising the logging coupe at the time of the arrest, also gave evidence.

He recalled being contacted in the early hours of the morning and informed that a group of people had gathered on the site.

Mr Sing said he then attended the site later that morning alongside police and formally requested the protesters leave the area, with all but one complying.

Police body-worn camera footage from that moment was played before the court, showing a group of about 17 protesters gathered around logging machinery with large banners.

When the authorities begin to speak to the protesters, the footage appears to show many of them striking clapsticks and singing.

The video ultimately showed Ms Langford/Tipruthanna choosing not to leave and accepting her arrest.

Mr Sing was also asked about his knowledge of Aboriginal cultural practice and said his knowledge was limited and that he was "unsure" how to identify a culturally significant tree.

The hearing has been adjourned until July 8 when Ms Langford/Tipruthanna is expected to give evidence.