For the first second time in his life, Australia’s beloved 82-year-old gardening expert Peter Cundall has been arrested, in this event for refusing to leave the steps of the Tasmanian Parliament:
Peter Cundall arrested at pulp mill protest
Growing dissent: Peter Cundall has been to several
anti-pulp mill protests but this is the first time he
has been arrested. (AAP: Paul Carter)* Video: Gardening guru Peter Cundall is arrested outside Tasmania’s Parliament. (ABC News)
ABC gardening personality Peter Cundall has been arrested outside Tasmania’s Parliament during a protest against Gunns’ Tamar Valley pulp mill.
Mr Cundall was among 50 activists who were arrested at the rally organised by the group Pulp the Mill.
The 82-year-old told the crowd he had never been arrested but was willing to make a stand.
He was arrested after refusing police requests to move from Parliament’s front steps.
“Did you hear the direction before?” an officer asked him.
“I did hear it,” he replied.
“Are you refusing to leave now?”
“I’m afraid so, I do respect the law but I’m so sorry but I will be refusing to leave,” Mr Cundall said.
“Then you realise that if you refuse to leave you can be arrested,” the officer said.
“I understand that,” he replied.
“OK, I’m now arresting you,” the officer told him.
Several other protesters have also been taken away by police.
Cundall is a longtime resident of Tasmania’s Tamar Valley. If anyone can speak to the potential for environmental damage by the pulp mill that nobody wants, it’s Peter. Cundall retired last year from ABC’s Gardening Australia with the express intent of pursuing his objections to the Gunns pulp mill… and boy, do we miss him on the GA show. Gardening Australia is just not a (veggie!) patch on what it was with Peter at the helm.
There’s another Peter, once known for driving environmentalist causes, who needs to get with the program. If the Hon. Peter Garrett AM MP, Minister for the Environment, can’t reconcile his job requirements with his personal politics, maybe he should quit his gig, too.
-weez
MORE: Highly dangerous Peter Cundall banned from Hobart waterfront until trial. Cundall offered free legal help after arrest.
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