The
Tasmanian Forest Defender Fund was established in 2003 and is
managed by a board of Trustees under the supervision of the Huon
Valley Environment Centre Inc.
It was conceived following the arrest of residents defending their local area, Lucaston, from logging, and the threat of court action from Gunns Ltd to residents at Middleton. Members of the Lucaston community saw a need to establish a fund that would support forest activists who are arrested and require financial support for ensuing costs.
The Tasmanian Forest Defender Fund is funded by donations.
To provide financial assistance to forest activists whom have been arrested in the process of defending Tasmanian forests.
Financial assistance may be provided for legal costs and fines subject to availability of donated funds and to approval by the Forest Defender Fund Trustees.
The Forest Defender Fund may only provide assistance to people who engage in non violent direct action subject to availability of donated funds and to approval by the Forest Defender Fund Trustees.
Assistance is available for people arrested whilst defending Tasmania's forests.
The Forest Defender Fund will require information to support an individual's claim. All applications are treated in strictest confidence.
Each applicant must, at the time of making a first application for assistance, sign an approval for information relating to the application(s), to be made available as necessary to the Trustees and to the FDF's external auditor.
The Forest Defender Fund may assist with..
Assistance provided by the FDF to activists whom have been arrested due whilst engaged in Forest Actions may include the following:
* Assistance with costs associated with
lawyers,
* Assistance with costs associated with court appearances,
* Assistance with costs associated with bail,
* Assistance with fines,
Assistance may be extended if there are exceptional circumstances, and should be discussed with Trustees of the Forest Defender Fund.
No cash payments will be made to an applicant.
All payments will be made by cheque. Cheques will be stamped "Not
Negotiable" and made payable only to an incorporated body,
registered business, or court.
Anyone who has engaged in non violent direct action in the defence of Tasmanian forests and have been arrested.
Payment will be based on individual financial circumstance, and will be proportionately based. For example: a person on a high income will receive less assistance than someone on a low income, or if a person receives a donation from another organisation the Forest Defender Fund will give a contribution whilst a person who receives no other donation will be provided a larger contribution.
An individual may receive a maximum of $2000
during any 12 month period. The FDF Trustees in exceptional circumstances
may approve applications by a client that exceed their Annual
Limit subject to availability of donated
funds and to approval by the Forest Defender Fund Trustees.
10% of all donations to the Forest Defender Fund will be paid to the Huon Valley Environment Centre for Administration fees. This levy will encourage the Environment Centre to continue in its work to protect Forests in Tasmania.
All relevant documentation (including application form and invoice) must be sighted and validated by at least one of the Trustees prior to an application being processed.
Within FDF Guidelines:
Applications for amounts up to $2000 may be approved by three of the Trustees.
Outside FDF Guidelines:
Applications submitted due to exceptional circumstances, which fall outside the FDF guidelines, are referred to a meeting of the Huon Valley Environment Centre Management Committee for determination.
The Trustees shall determine the policies of the FDF, with day to day management vested with the Huon Valley Environment Centre on the basis of an administration fee paid by the Fund to the HVEC Inc.
Regular reports shall be submitted by the Trustees to the Huon Valley Environment Centre Management Committee, with appropriate quarterly financial reports being provided to the Trustees and the Management Committee.< /P>
The annual reports (including the audited financial statements) of the FDF shall be included in the Annual Report of the Huon Valley Environment Centre Inc.
The Trustees are authorised to invest the funds of the FDF in such a way as to ensure convenient access to valid and properly authorised requests from eligible people, and to maximise returns to the FDF.
Cheques drawn on the account(s) of the Fund may be signed by any two of the Trustees.
Monthly statement of accounts will be provided to the HVEC Management Committee by the FDF Trustees.
Regular six monthly spot internal audits will be conducted by the HVEC Management Committee Treasurer to ensure that records are kept in accordance with Huon Valley Environment Centre Inc.
Decisions made by authorised Trustees may be appealed to the Huon Valley Environment Centre Management Committee. The decisions of the Management Committee on appeals shall be final.
The FDF Guidelines are to be reviewed and endorsed by the FDF Trustees on an annual basis.
Trustees of the Forest Defender Fund should be people active in the Tasmanian Forest movement.
Election of the Trustees is to be by the Huon Valley Environment Centre Management Committee.
Term of the Trustees is 12 months. Elections are to be held at the AGM of the Huon Valley Environment Centre.
Role of the Trustees:
Promote the Forest Defender Fund
Process Donations
Authorise grants to activists
Oversee day to day running of the Forest Defender Fund
Trustees for 2003-04:
Michael Higgins
Neil Cremasco
Adrian McCann
Nick Towle
Jenny Weber
