Four arrested in Harvey Norman protest

Protesters unfurl a banner from atop the Sydney Opera House. Photo / Twitpic

Four forest activists have been arrested after they scaled the Sydney Opera House to protest against retail giant Harvey Norman.

The group The Last Stand says members scaled the building on Saturday morning.

They then abseiled from the roof to unfurl a 10x12-metre banner stating "No Harvey No! Stop selling Aussie forest destruction".

The group say they are campaigning against the retailer after a year-long investigation into its timber usage, which it says is contributing to the destruction of native forests.

Police say they were alerted to the incident shortly before 10am (AEDT) when security reported a number of people attempting to access the Opera House sails.

One woman was arrested on the ground after allegedly refusing directions to leave the area by security officers.

Two women and a man climbed the structure and officers from the Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit spoke with those on the sails.

All four people are now in police custody at The Rocks Police Station.

The protest group says it's tracked timber from native forests in Australia through its shipment to China for processing into furniture, and then to its final sale in Australia through Harvey Norman stores.

"We have come to the centre of Sydney to send a clear message to Harvey Norman that profiting from the destruction of our spectacular forests is absolutely unacceptable," The Last Stand spokeswoman Ula Majewski said in a statement on Saturday.

The group say they have also occupied the roof of Harvey Norman Preston in Melbourne as part of the global 24 hours of action targeting the retailer.

The store has previously said it was being unfairly targeted and it did its best to source timber from sustainable sources.

The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) says the protest is misguided and encourages the use of unsustainably logged timber from overseas forests.

"The radical groups behind the protest action today are encouraging the sale of furniture made from unsustainable sources of timber, including those sourced from tropical rainforests," AFPA CEO David Pollard said in a statement on Saturday.

"The groups neglect to mention that Australia's native forests are already managed to world's best practice through sustainable forest management regulations.

"Furthermore, over 90 per cent of managed forests in Australia are subject to additional voluntary standards which are independently certified through international sustainability standards."

AAP is seeking comment from Harvey Norman.

- AAP