A Hobart magistrate has issued an arrest warrant for Indigenous activist Jim Everett-puralia meenamatta. The 81-year-old activist refused to attend court on trespassing charges linked to a March anti-forestry protest in Tasmania’s Styx Valley of the Giants. Everett-puralia meenamatta, asserting Indigenous sovereignty, claimed the court lacked jurisdiction over Aboriginal people, declaring, "We've never made any agreements to be citizens."
His absence in court on Monday led Magistrate Glenn Hay to issue the arrest warrant. Despite facing potential jail time or fines, Everett-puralia meenamatta plans to continue his protest activities, emphasizing the defense of Aboriginal land and rights. Veteran environmentalist Bob Brown described the legal situation as a test case for Aboriginal sovereignty in Australia. Additionally, Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre campaign manager Nala Mansell has called for the trespassing charge to be dropped, arguing that Australian laws should not apply to Aboriginal people.
Everett-puralia meenamatta's bail conditions prohibit him from entering Forestry Tasmania's land, which is over 800,000 hectares of public forest. He maintains that the government must address Indigenous sovereignty and citizenship issues.