Aboriginal activist Ruth Langford, also known as Tipruthanna, provided testimony in a Hobart court concerning a trespass charge linked to a protest at a logging site in Tasmania from January 2025.
Representing herself, Ms. Langford asserted that her presence on the land was justified by her “cultural obligation” to protect it. The court proceedings have been postponed, with a subsequent hearing scheduled for September 24.
During the final day of a three-day hearing, Ms. Langford articulated her belief that she has a cultural duty to safeguard lands that are being harmed. The Tasmanian-born Yorta Yorta/Dja Dja Wurrung woman stated her case in the Hobart Magistrates Court.
Initially, she sought to have the court proceedings conducted on country at Piyura Kitina/Risdon Cove in Hobart, but her request was denied.
On January 21, 2025, Ms. Langford participated in an anti-logging demonstration at a site known as SH067C in Snow Hill, Tasmania. She faces allegations of defying police orders to vacate the area, leading to her arrest and the trespass charge, which she has pleaded not guilty to.
Ms. Langford explained that her arrival at the logging site was part of her commitment to protect the land and to conduct a mourning ceremony. She referenced her upbringing among “radical resistance fighters” who opposed the damming of the Franklin River in the 1980s, which shaped her understanding and respect for the land.
She credited her mother, Rosalind Langford, a Yorta Yorta activist, for instilling in her the importance of community involvement in defending cultural laws. “My mother believed it was crucial for the community to stand at the forefront to uphold our cultural rights,” she stated.
Ms. Langford expressed emotional distress as she recounted the racism she faced during her upbringing. “I experienced people spitting on me, throwing rocks, and being told to ‘get back into the gutter, you dirty black,’” she shared. “My identity was constantly questioned, and our vehicles were often vandalized.”
She emphasized that her elders viewed human rights and land rights as interconnected, highlighting that the relationship to the land is fundamental to the well-being of her people.
During cross-examination by prosecutor Deanne Earley, Ms. Langford was asked if she recognized that she was on land managed by Sustainable Timber Tasmania (STT) at the time of her arrest. She replied that she did not acknowledge STT’s authority. Body camera footage from the police was presented, showing the officer requesting her to leave. Ms. Langford claimed she did not hear the request because she was “singing to country.” Chief Magistrate Catherine Geason noted it was clear from the footage that she was asked to vacate the premises.
Testimonies from members of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Palawa community, including Dr. Greg Lehman, Shani Everett, and Cody Gangell-Smith, were provided via video link from Piyura Kitina/Risdon Cove. Uncle Jim Everett also testified through video link from Truwana/Cape Barren Island. Earlier in the week, evidence was given by STT forest operations manager David White and senior officer Christopher Sing.
The case has been adjourned until the next hearing on September 24.
