Correction of defamatory statements made about us by Shai Ager and The Agile Project
Kanjini Co-Op needs to correct and clarify at least some of the many untrue, misleading and defamatory statements made by Shai Ager and The Agile Project about us on TV, in movies, in print & online media, and on various social networks:
- The termination of Ms Ager's tenancy on Kanjini has nothing to do with any of our developments nor with the wildlife sanctuary.
- Ms Shai Ager, the founder and secretary of The Agile Projectm has been a tenant of Kanjini Co-op since 30-01-2023, however she did not "spent the last 2.5 years building (or "creating") a Wildlife Sanctuary" as she claimed, but she took over a pre-existing wildlife sanctuary including enclosure pens which were operated on our land for five years prior to its founder passing away and Shai taking it over. We did communicate to her at that time that we would be happy for the relationship to continue, providing everyone gets along with each other.
- Ms Ager was given two consecutive twelve month leases.
- During those terms, almost all other persons on the property, including other tenants, Co-Op members, caretakers, friends, as well as contractors like our mobile mechanic, have reported to us having had rather unpleasant encounters with Ms Ager while going about their lawful business in our areas near her cottage, including being threatened or screamed at. Since that is the only sheds on our land with work bench and mains electricity and where our machinery and implements are stored this obviously affects our basic operations.
- Ms Ager's unacceptable behaviour was the reason for her current tenancy agreement being only four month instead of the usual twelve and for our request that she please mend those relationships so our work-sheds, orchard and other areas near the cottage can be used again without anyone being scared or on eggshells. That mending has not happened three month later with most of those affected people, leading to the notice to leave being issued.
- Instead of apologising for her past unacceptable behaviour
and mending relationships, Ms Ager went public without any warning,
making many untrue and defamatory statements about Kanjini Co-Op. Ms Ager painted Kanjini
as a bad developer "destroying the wildlife sanctuary" to
facilitate its development, while knowing very well that it was her
totally unacceptable behaviour which was the real reason for being asked to leave.
- Ms Ager falsely insinuates in various public statements made
that tourist and festival facilities would be situated on wildlife
sanctuary land or right next to is, while knowing that the already
established festival site is 2.3km from the sanctuary and despite
having emailed after last years festival: "None of the joeys were
disturbed so no problems from my end 🙂".
Wildlife sanctuary and any development activities are well separated on our vast 25 square kilometre property and do not affect each other. - Ms Ager's claim that the "enclosures and wildlife sanctuary have now been described as an 'incompatible use in this location'" is also untrue and appears to be a deliberate misquote to maximise petition signatures and donations for her to buy her own land. It is the design of steel enclosures which is incompatible with holding highly noise sensitive animals which are running into them. We suggested a solution in September 2023 which has not been implemented.
- Shai Ager also made this knowingly untrue post: "Despite an
incredible 1500 signatures in just 24 hours urging Kanjini Co-Op to
reconsider or give us more time, we received this response: 'A pause is
not possible, form 12 has been issued and the current lease will
terminate on 1st June 2025.' Their response makes it clear that no
effort will be made to explore a peaceful resolution...."
TRUTH IS: that the quote was taken from an email which was sent an hour before we were first made aware of the petition Shai started, so it could not have been "despite" or a "response". Additionally the same email this quote was taken from actually did offer yet another opportunity, namely the possibility of another lease, providing "that Shai actively ensures that all Kanjini caretakers, members and agents will feel comfortable and safe again using Kanjini areas and facilities situated near the cottage and that other tenants feel comfortable with her again". For the record we were never asked for more time.
Instead of apologising and mending relations with any of those people, Shai chose to once again lash out using misleading statements and false assumptions. - When it became clear that Shai is unwilling to mend
relationships, Kanjini approached the President of The Agile Project
and clarified that Kanjini is willing to consider a new tenancy
agreement with The Agile Project, either short term to help with the
move, or long term to keep the sanctuary going in this location, providing that the new tenants and their visitors treat everyone else on the property with respect.
We even offered to rent the cottage to a new tenant who is willing to keep
the wildlife sanctuary operating as a soft-release site for The Agile Project.
- The Agile Project has chosen to not take up either of those two offers, which made us wonder whether going public was really about saving the wildlife sanctuary in this location....
- In any case we will give preference to a wildlife carer as the next tenant who would utilise the long existing facilities. Please contact us if that could be you.
- Ms Ager was and is well aware, but fails to mention in her public statements, that Kanjini has declared our 25 square kilometres of country cat and dog free (except about ten acres around the houses) and is a member of an endangered animal recovery group; and that Kanjini is making this country available to and cooperates with local and national Aboriginal organisations, conservation groups, environmental scientists and researchers, SES, Parks and Indigenous rangers, groups like birders, walkers, rogainers, mountain bikers, astronomy and other community groups.
- We have asked for an apology and for the record to be corrected.