Seven arrested at Gunns mill protest

Police have arrested seven protesters who halted operations at Gunns' Triabunna woodchip mill on Tasmania's east coast this morning.

The activists arrived early this morning and seven of them chained themselves to a conveyor belt high above the woodchip pile.

They flew a banner saying "Gunns Limited equals Climate criminals" and they were angry about yesterday's 5 per cent carbon reduction target set by the Federal Government.

Police have now cut the protesters free and arrested them, ending the six-hour blockade.

Inspector Andrew Fogarty of Tasmania Police says the activists drove through the open front gate and will be charged with trespass.

They were driven out in a police van to jeers from contractors.

About 40 log trucks have started moving into the mill grounds to unload.

Gunns would not comment on the incident, only saying the company plants about 15 million seedlings a year, more than any other company in Australia.

Related:

Scientists call for stronger e-targets
Two Australian scientists on the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have welcomed the Federal Government's move to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but say it does not go far enough.

Wong announces $1.4b climate change fund
"This is about the Government delivering on its commitment to ensure that the monies raised from the scheme are invested back into Australian businesses and Australian households to enable everyone to make the transition to a low-pollution future," she said.

Calls for immediate moratorium on old growth logging

The Wilderness Society has called for an immediate end to old-growth logging after a new report identified forests that can absorb three times more carbon than international studies had previously suggested.

Scientists from the Australian National University examined 240 sites of intact natural forests in south-east Australia and found they can store up to 640 tonnes per hectare.

The largest stocks were in the central highlands of Tasmania and Victoria.

Virginia Young from the Wilderness Society says the research findings should prompt governments to protect native forests.

"If you were being sensible you would put an immediate moratorium on all old-growth logging all around the country because it's clear the carbon stocks are so much higher than anyone has previously analysed before," she said.

"The last thing you would do would be to log old-growth forests in Tasmania or Victoria."

Anti-Gunns protest at Mac Bank's AGM

The Wilderness Society is protesting outside the Macquarie Bank's annual general meeting in Melbourne.

The society believes the bank is considering helping to fund the controversial pulp mill planned for northern Tasmania.

Protesters are dressed as Tom Cruise from the movie, Risky Business.

Geoff Law from the Wilderness Society says Macquarie is considering whether to become involved after the ANZ Bank's decision not to fund the mill.

"Well we've been told by people within the bank that they are looking to assist Gunns with a share issue later this year so that equity can be raised to fund the pulp mill and the bank is also considering getting involved in other ways," he said.