Tasmanian Politics & Other Stuff

The Hypocrisy of Will Hodgman's Liberal's

2012-02-09T19:58:00.012+11:00

Once again this week we saw the spectre of Tasmania's most hated project dominating the public discourse and once again we saw (Matthew Groom - Listen here ) Will Hodgman's Liberal opposition attempting to use the issue to drive a wedge between Labor and the Greens.

Hissy fits by Matt Groom and Peter Gutwein with calls for Lara Giddings to sack Greens leader Nick Mckim from cabinet were classic political grandstanding and left Will Hodgman's party looking too much like hypocrites. The Liberals calls came after Nick Mckim urged (Here) new Gunns main man Richard Chandler to steer clear of the Tamar Valley Pulp Mill project.

Will & Lara's lynch mob

Only a few months ago two of Australia's most successful entrepeneurs, Jan Cameron and Graeme Wood bought up the dilapidated, unprofitable and unsaleable Triabunna Woodchip Mill ($10M investment) on Tasmania's East Coast from Gunns LTD with plans for a slow phase out of woodchip operations and a long term plan to develop the site into a tourist hub.
To say the $10M investment in the struggling East Coast Town was not welcomed by either of the big political parties in Tasmania is an understatement.
Shadow Treasurer Peter Gutwein led the Liberal's trashing of the investment, screaming blue murder and making the utterly ridiculous demand that the Tasmanian Government compulsorily acquire the Triabunna site from its rightful and legal owners.

It was the Tasmanian Liberal Party who led the charge, whipping up a hate campaign against Cameron and Woods $10M investment in Tasmania. They were of course cheered on by a hypertensive looking Robert Wallace and the TCCI.

As Premier Lara Giddings who could barely conceal her contempt for the two successful entrepeneurs led an ugly public campaign against Cameron and Wood, Will Hodgman raised no objection about a $10M dollar investment being talked down, rather unleashing the Liberal's attack dogs & cheering the Premier on.
The knives were out for Jan Cameron & Graeme Wood. It was an unedifying spectacle particularly from the Premier of Tasmania.
Its this aspect that particularly exposes the Liberal's claims that Mckim's sacking is warranted because of his senior role as a goverment minister.
Will Hodgman's Liberals cheered on as Tasmania's most senior minister - The Premier, publically trashed a $10M private investment in a struggling Tasmanian town. Yet Mr Mckim apparently should be sacked for continuing the Greens long standing public campaign against the proposed Tamar Valley Pulp Mill.

No one should be under the illusion that Will Hodgman's Liberals wouldnt have monstered Cameron &Wood if the Libs had the reigns of Government. Nor doubt that a Hodgman Government led by greenie hatin' Bass MHA Peter Gutwein, would have pushed ahead with its call to compulsorily acquire the Triabunna Mill from its rightful owners and in doing so confused & scared potential investors as governance in Tasmania were taken to new lows

Imagine the wonderful publicity as Tasmania (and the public purse) was dragged through an ugly high profile legal battle with two of Australia's most successful and forward thinking business people.

The Liberal and Labor parties clearly prefer to back a failing company like Gunns who would almost certainly be dead now without its major asset - a large plantation estate which was acquired with large thanks to MIS tax payer assisted help.

The Liberal Parties concern's appear less about investment in Tasmania per se rather their own love affair with polluting, volatile & unprofitable industries like woodchipping and pulp.

The Shadow Treasureres cycnical call for the Giddings government to compulsorily acquire the Triabunna Mill shows the Liberal's woodchip & pulp mill bondage even overrides the Libs so called belief in the free market economy.

Couple this with the Liberal's nod & a wink to the most corrupt legislation ever to pass through the Tasmanian Parliament (The Pulp Mill assessment act 2007) and the Libs willingness to turn a blind eye to the abuses of process that kept the project alive and one has to be fairly pessimistic about a prospective Hodgman Government's commitment to Tasmania's statutory planning processes and ethical governance.

Witness says Warne hit cyclist.

2012-01-20T09:47:00.000+11:00

"He's lucky i was actually polite and courteous otherwise I might have put my foot down and tried to hit him" (Shane Warne)

Shane Warne exposed as a cyclist hater - watch this space.

2012-01-18T15:09:00.003+11:00

Read here Here Here and Here

Out of Control: The tragedy of Tasmania’s forests by Richard Flanagan.

2011-12-30T09:39:00.000+11:00

First Published in 2007 in The Monthly Here

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This story begins with a Tasmanian man fern (Dicksonia antarctica) for sale in a London nursery. Along with the healthy price tag, some £160, is a note: "This tree fern has been salvage harvested in accordance with a management plan approved by the Governments of Tasmania and the Commonwealth of Australia." If you were to believe both governments, that plan ensures that Tasmania has a sustainable logging industry - one which, according to the federal minister responsible for forests, Eric Abetz, is "the best managed in the world".

The truth is otherwise. The man fern - possibly several centuries old - comes from native forests destroyed by a logging industry that was recently found to be illegal by the Federal Court of Australia. It comes either from primeval rainforest that has been evolving for millennia or from wet eucalypt forests, some of which contain the mighty Eucalyptus regnans. These aptly named kings of trees are the tallest hardwood trees and flowering plants on Earth; some are more than 20 metres in girth and 90 metres in height. The forests are being destroyed in Tasmania, in spite of widespread community opposition and increasing international concern.

Clearfelling, as the name suggests, first involves the complete felling of a forest by chainsaws and skidders. Then, the whole area is torched, the firing started by helicopters dropping incendiary devices made of jellied petroleum, commonly known as napalm. The resultant fire is of such ferocity it produces mushroom clouds visible from considerable distances. In consequence, every autumn, the island's otherwise most beautiful season, china-blue skies are frequently nicotine-scummed, an inescapable reminder that clearfelling means the total destruction of ancient and unique forests. At its worst, the smoke from these burn-offs has led to the closure of schools, highways and tourist destinations.
In the Styx Valley, in the south-west, the world's last great unprotected stands of old-growth Eucalyptus regnans are being reduced to piles of smouldering ash. Over 85% of Tasmania's old-growth regnans forests are gone, and it is estimated that fewer than 13,000 hectares of these extraordinary trees remain in their old-growth form. Almost half of them are to be clearfelled. Most will end up as paper in Japan.
In logging coupes around Tasmania, exotic rainforest trees such as myrtle, sassafras, leatherwood and celery-top pine - extraordinary, exquisite trees, many centuries old, some of which are found nowhere else - are often just left on the ground and burnt.
The hellish landscape that results from clearfelling - akin to a Great War battlefield - is generally turned into large monocultural plantations of either radiata pine or Eucalyptus nitens, sustained by such a heavy program of fertilisers and pesticides that water sources for some local communities have been contaminated by Atrazine, a controversial herbicide linked with cancer and banned in much of Europe. Blue-dyed carrots soaked in 1080 poison are laid on private plantations to kill native grazing animals that pose a threat to tree seedlings. The slaughter that results sees not only possums, wallabies and kangaroos die slowly, in agony, but other species - including wombats, bettongs and potoroos - killed in large numbers, despite being officially protected species.
In 2003 an ageing forester, Bill Manning, was subpoenaed to testify in front of an Australian Senate committee investigating the Tasmanian forestry industry. He methodically began to unravel a tale of environmental catastrophe, of industry connivance and government complicity. His detailed evidence suggested that the forestry industry was not only systematically destroying unique forests, but poisoning the very fabric of Tasmanian politics and life.
No greenie hardliner, Manning was a man who worked for 30 years in the Tasmanian forests and who believes they ought to be logged, but logged so that they remain for the future. Yet he alleged to the Senate committee that forestry management had been corrupted. At the hearing, he painted a picture of llegal destruction on a scale so vast that it was transforming the landscape of Tasmania. Branding what was happening "an ecological disaster", Manning talked of how an "accelerated and unaccountable logging industry" was destroying wholesale native forests "which are unique in the world for their flora and fauna". "The clearfelling is out of control," he told the senators. "The scale of clearfelling in Tasmania is huge."
A whispering campaign about Bill Manning's state of mind began, and in the four years since he ended a career that he loved, by standing up for what he believed, nothing has changed - except for the worse. Today, Tasmania is the only Australian state that clearfells its rainforests. While the rest of Australia has either ended, or is ending, the logging of old-growth forests, Tasmania is the only state where it is secretly planned to accelerate the destruction of native forests, driven by the greed for profit that can be made from woodchips.
As with any epidemic of madness, there sometimes seems no end to the horror. Among Tasmania's many unique plants and animals is the endangered giant freshwater crayfish, one of the largest invertebrates in the world. Although technically protected, its very future is threatened by the frenzy of logging surrounding the creeks where it lives. When a government-appointed expert panel recommended buffer zones of forest be preserved to protect the crayfish, these zones were reduced to a bare minimum, and the areas continue to be logged. "Clearfelling is going on at an incredible rate in their habitat," the crayfish expert Todd Walsh says. "It's going berserk."
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Tasmania is an extraordinary land, one that many hoped might become, in the words of the legendary landscape photographer Olegas Truchanas, "a shining beacon in a dull, uniform and largely artificial world". Its remoteness, its wildness, its unique natural world - all seemed to offer the possibility of a prosperous and good future to a state that had for a century been the poorest in the Australian Commonwealth. Instead, over the past three decades Tasmania has mortgaged its future to the woodchipping industry, which is today dominated by one company: Gunns Ltd. And it is Gunns - not the Tasmanian people - that has been the beneficiary of the destruction of Tasmania's unique forests.
Though Gunns was founded in Tasmania in 1875, it was not until 1989, when it became part of the written history of corruption in Tasmania, that many Australians first came to hear of the company, then still one of several Tasmanian timber firms. In that year the then chairman of Gunns, Eddie Rouse, became concerned that the election of a Labor-Green Tasmanian government with a one-seat majority might affect his logging profits. Rouse attempted to bribe a Labor member, Jim Cox, to cross the floor, thereby bringing down the government and clearing the way for the pro-logging former premier Robin Gray and the Liberal Party to resume power. Cox went to the police and the plot was exposed; a royal commission and Rouse's fall from grace and imprisonment ensued. But Gunns continued. Today it is a corporation worth more than a billion dollars, the largest company in Tasmania, with an effective monopoly of the island's hardwood logging, and a darling of the Australian stock market.
Yet Gunns remains haunted by the Rouse scandal. The company's board continues to have among its directors former associates of the late Eddie Rouse. The 1991 royal commission found that director David McQuestin, whose friendship with Rouse it characterised as "obsequious", was not "unlawfully involved as a principal offender" with the bribery attempt, although his "compliance with Rouse's direction in the matter was ‘highly improper'" - a "glaring breach of the requisite standards of commercial morality". Robin Gray is also now a director of Gunns; the royal commission found that he "knew of and was involved with Rouse in Rouse's attempt to bribe Cox", and that while his conduct was not unlawful, it was "improper, and grossly so". John Gay, Gunns' managing director in 1989 and now its managing director and executive chairman, was cleared by the royal commission of any involvement with the bribery attempt.
In a dissembling world ever more given to corporate deference to a green image, the company shows an often-unexpected candour. Gunns makes no secret of its enmity towards conservationists and conservation groups. Gunns plans to destroy more, rather than less, Tasmanian native forest. Gunns makes no apologies for what this means. "How do you feel about protected species dying for your business?" John Gay was once asked on national television. "Well, there's too many of them," he replied, "and we need to keep them at a reasonable level." And while the figures for total woodchip production since 2000 are officially secret - like so much else in Tasmania - Gunns' own evidence in support of the pulp mill it proposes for the north of the state reveals that the company plans to double woodchipping, from its present annual levels of approximately 3.5 million tonnes to 7 million tonnes over the next decade.
To evade the ever-growing public anger, the woodchipping industry has had to exercise an ever-stronger control over Tasmanian life. Both major parties in Tasmania, and much of the state's media, frequently give the appearance of existing only as clients of the woodchippers. The state's interest and that of the woodchipping industry are now so thoroughly identified as one and the same that anyone questioning the industry's actions is attacked by leading government figures as a traitor to Tasmania. And it is not only the forests that have been destroyed by this industry. Its poison has seeped into every aspect of Tasmanian life: jobs are threatened, careers destroyed, people driven to leave. And in recent years, its influence has extended further, so that now its activities are endorsed nationally by both the prime minister, John Howard, and the Opposition leader, Kevin Rudd.
Huge money is being made out of destroying native forests, but to maintain what to many is an obscene practice there has evolved a culture of secrecy, shared interest and intimidation that seems to firmly bind the powerful in Tasmania. When the actress Rebecca Gibney, who moved to Tasmania two years ago to raise her family, said in a television interview that she would leave the state if Gunns' proposed pulp mill was built, the former Liberal Party candidate and bottle-shop owner Sam McQuestin made headlines by publicly attacking her as "serial complainer" whose family made no contribution to the Tasmanian economy and who had no "right to tell the rest of us how to live our lives". McQuestin's family is well known for its contribution: his father, David, is a Gunns director. The attack on Rebecca Gibney was but a public example of something far more widespread and insidious. I witnessed a senior ALP politician make it clear that yet another Tasmanian was no longer welcome in the clearfelling state when the local corporate-communications consultant Gerard Castles wrote an article in a newspaper questioning the government's policy on old-growth logging. "The fucking little cunt is finished," the politician said in front of me and my 12-year-old daughter. "He will never work here again."
To question, to comment adversely, is to invite the possibility of ostracism and unemployment, and the state is full of those who pay a high price for their opinion on the forests, the blackballed multiplying with the blackened stumps. It is commonplace to meet people who are too frightened to speak publicly of their concerns about forestry practices, because of the adverse consequences they perceive this might have for their careers and businesses. Due to the forest battle, a subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) fear has entered Tasmanian public life; it stifles dissent, avoids truth.
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And how can it be otherwise? The great majority of Tasmanians appear to be overwhelmingly opposed to old-growth logging, and only by the constant crushing of opposing points of view, and the attempted silencing and smearing of those who put them, can the practice continue. And so, nearly two decades after its then chairman failed in his attempt to corrupt the state parliament, Gunns now seems so powerful that Tasmanians joke that their government is the ‘gunnerment', and leading national politicians of all persuasions acknowledge that the real power in Tasmania is not the government but Gunns itself.
This goes further than the sizeable donations Gunns makes to both major parties, both in Tasmania and nationally. It goes beyond Gunns' role in election campaigns, such as the $486,000 spent on aggressive political advertising in the 2004 federal election by the Forest Industries Association of Tasmania (FIAT), of which Gunns is the largest member. "A lot of people are intimidated by the employment side of the [Tasmanian forestry] industry," the prominent Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan, from New South Wales, has said, "including some politicians."
But who can blame even the powerful for being scared? The former Tasmanian Liberal leader Bob Cheek recalls how "the state's misguided forestry policy was ruthlessly policed by Gunns", how fearful the politicians were of the forest lobby and what he describes as their "hitmen". In a cowed society, the Tasmanian government often gives the impression of being little more than a toadying standover man for its corporate godfather, willing to undertake any action, no matter how degrading, to help those with the real power.
When, in 2004, the Wyena farmers Howard and Michelle Carpenter had themselves and their property directly sprayed by a helicopter with Atrazine meant for an adjacent Gunns plantation, poisoning their water supply, Gunns' only response was to send the couple two bottles of spring water. Later, when the story became a public scandal, they provided the Carpenters with a water tank which a few months later they removed, though the Carpenter's water bore remained poisoned. To reassure the public that there was no cause for concern, the then water minister, Steve Kons, fronted a media conference at which he loyally drank a glass of water tainted with Atrazine. Steve Kons is now Tasmania's deputy premier.
According to the former federal Labor leader Mark Latham, "They [Gunns] run the state Labor Government, they run [Labor Premier] Lennon ... and old Lennon there, he wouldn't scratch himself unless the guy who heads up Gunns told him to." Latham would know: after all, his own bid to be prime minister ended when he came up against Gunns in the 2004 election. Latham was no conservationist, but the growing national outcry over Tasmania's forests, driven by a long campaign by conservation groups, led him in the week before the election to propose a bold plan to end the logging of the island's old-growth forests, a plan that included an $800-million compensation package for logging workers. Quite extraordinarily, the package was rejected by Tasmanian Labor.
Two days later, the Liberal prime minister, John Howard, flew into Tasmania to announce the indefinite continuation of old-growth logging, along with more extensive subsidies to the logging industry and, as a sop to the green vote, the protection of some areas of old growth. A few areas were victories. Much was a con: areas that were either already reserved; or, as Terry Edwards of FIAT admitted about the north Styx, very difficult to log; or, as in the Weld or the Florentine, later - in an act of arch cynicism - to be logged anyway.
In the most extraordinary images of that election, Howard was cheered by 2000 logging workers at a rally in Launceston, supported by the powerful Construction, Forest, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU). Within the week Howard would be returned to government, and within a year some of those same workers would be forced out of the industry by Gunns breaking contracts, and looking for new employment in a workforce ravaged by the toughest anti-union laws in Australia's history - introduced by the man they had cheered on to victory.
"We seem to get on better with the Liberals than we do with Labor at the moment," Tasmania's premier, Paul Lennon, told a journalist a few weeks after federal Labor had suffered one of its worst defeats.
The conservationists had foundered and, with Howard's crushing victory, Gunns now had a federal government that felt electorally rewarded for taking the company's side. Gunns had too a state government so committed to it that seemingly no issue in Tasmania could be decided without first being held up to see whether it was good or bad for the old-growth logging industry. And it left federal Labor so terrified of ever touching the issue again that when Kevin Rudd assumed the leadership of the party in 2006, one of his first actions was to express support for the Tasmanian logging industry. But then, as Mark Latham ruefully admitted, "No policy issue or set of relationships better demonstrates the ethical decline and political corruption of the Australian Labor movement than Tasmanian forestry."
The dogs were off the leash and Gunn s was now at its most powerful. Within months it made a move that was widely viewed as an attempt to cripple the conservation movement, the last remaining impediment to its ambitions. On 14 December 2004, Gunns filed a 216-page, $6.3-million claim against a group of conservationists and organisations who became known as the Gunns 20. The writ was an extraordinary document that sought to sue a penniless grandmother who had opposed logging in her district; a national political leader, Senator Bob Brown; a doctor who had raised public-health concerns about woodchip piles; prominent conservationists; Australia's leading wilderness-conservation organisation, the Wilderness Society; a film-maker; and several day protesters.
All were joined in what was alleged to be a conspiracy guilty of the crime of corporate vilification. The writ presented a tale of a group of people together seeking, through a series of actions as diverse as protesters chaining themselves to logging machinery to the lobbying of Japanese paper companies, to destroy Gunns' profits. The perversity of the action was staggering: with the immense fortune it had made out of destroying Tasmania's forests, Gunns had launched an action that would, if successful, have redefined the practice of democracy as the crime of conspiracy. An Australian would not have been able to criticise, question or campaign against a corporation, for risk of being bankrupted in legal proceedings brought against them by the richest and most powerful in their society, claiming damage to their corporate interest. No matter how a corporation made its money, be it from tobacco or asbestos or chemicals, all of its actions would have effectively been removed from the realm of public life. Gunns' action was compared with the legal standover tactics that prevails in such countries as Singapore, where those engaged in political opposition are bankrupted and then jailed through such a process of litigation.
If its legal ramifications were enormous but unrealised, its political impact was immediate. While the writ excited a national outcry, garnering comparisons with the McLibel case, in the short term it only served to further intimidate many in Tasmania, and tied up the leading conservation groups and conservationists in a difficult, expensive and all-consuming court case at a moment when Gunns was planning its most controversial action of all. Two days after it issued the writ, Gunns announced its plans for a gigantic $1.4-billion pulp mill, the biggest infrastructure project in Tasmania's history and one of the biggest pulp mills in the world, to be built 36 kilometres from Launceston.
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At first, reassuring commitments were given that Gunn's pulp mill would be environmentally friendly: chlorine-free and primarily using plantation timber. Premier Lennon was adamant that the mill would only go ahead if Gunns could prove to an independent government body, the Resource and Planning Development Commission (RPDC), that their proposal conformed to the world's best environmental standards. The process was to be above politics and the RPDC's decision final. But public concern began to grow when it became clear that Gunns was planning something entirely different to what it had originally announced. Gunns now wanted to build a kraft chlorine-bleaching mill - the type that produce dioxins, some of the most toxic substances known to man - fuelled initially by 80% native-forest woodchips.
Then was revealed the shocking news that to feed the pulp mill's gargantuan appetite, Gunns had negotiated a deal (the exact details of which remain secret) with the then Tasmanian forests minister, Bryan Green, that would double the level of woodchipping and accelerate the ongoing destruction of Tasmania's native forests for the next 20 years. (In October 2006 Bryan Green was charged with conspiracy over another secret deal, this time with a building accreditation company run by ex-Labor ministers. He denies any wrongdoing and the case continues.)
At the same time, Tasmanians discovered that while the mill was being assessed Paul Lennon was using a wholly owned subsidiary of Gunns, the construction company Hinman, Wright & Manser, to renovate his historic home. It was a curious choice of builder. Hinman, Wright & Manser is known to be less than enthusiastic in its support of unionised labour, and to be a keen proponent of the Howard government's new workplace-relations laws, of which Lennon had publicly been a vociferous critic. More remarkably, the Gunns "construction division" as it is termed on Gunns' website, is an industrial- and civil-works company that advertises itself as specialising in "larger construction work" such as mines, warehouses, concrete plants, schools, courts, remand centres, nursing homes, hospitals, reservoirs, substations, wharf berths, road bridges and woodchip mills, but makes no mention of home renovation.
Lennon has never answered questions put at the time about what Hinman, Wright & Manser originally quoted for the job, nor whether there were other quotes. Lennon and Gunns have both subsequently said that Lennon paid for the renovations, though the precise sum has never been revealed. Lennon dismissed any questions on the matter as a painful attack on his family's privacy.
The revelations that have since ensued have not been so easily dismissed. In early January 2007, the head of the RPDC pulp-mill inquiry, Julian Green, and the inquiry's leading scientific advisor and a national pulp-mill expert, Dr Warwick Raverty, both resigned, both citing political interference. It has become public knowledge that the RPDC found Gunns' own evidence to be riddled with inaccuracies and errors; that levels of dioxins in the mill's outflow were initially underestimated by a factor of 45; and that the mill, as well as failing to address the concerns of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) about ultra-fine particle pollution, also significantly failed to meet at least three official air-pollution guidelines. Senior scientists questioned Gunns' claims that the 64,000 tonnes of treated effluent pouring daily from the mill into the ocean would not harm Bass Strait and its marine life. Gunns' modelling for air pollution in the Tamar Valley was so shoddy that it sometimes fantastically predicted that air pollution would be lower with a pulp mill than without.
Pointing out that "no other pulp mill in the world uses the process Gunns proposes," and that its noxious emissions would pour into a densely populated valley already subject to the worst smog in Tasmania, Raverty has since warned that "the risk of producing unacceptable levels of deadly and persistent chemicals known as organochlorines is too high." Raverty, who works for a subsidiary of the CSIRO and has consistently pointed out that he is speaking in a personal capacity about the mill's pollution risk, has claimed that a Gunns executive rang the CSIRO seeking to pressure the organisation into silencing him. The CSIRO has confirmed that Gunns "expressed concerns". Raverty has since said he would welcome the opportunity to appear before a criminal-justice commission or a royal commission into the process, because there needs to be public scrutiny of the "very unethical activities" of the Tasmanian government.
Though the Tasmanian chapter of the AMA warned Tasmania's political leaders that they would be personally accountable for any health problems resulting from the proposed pulp mill, the leaders were listening not to such dire concerns but rather to the Gunns board, with whom Premier Lennon and his kitchen cabinet met on 25 February. Two days later, Gunns told the Australian Stock Exchange it was "confident the necessary government approvals" for its pulp mill "will be obtained within a timeframe which maintains the commercial value of the project".
That same day, Paul Lennon handed the newly appointed head of the RPDC's pulp-mill assessment panel, the former Supreme Court judge Christopher Wright, a typed timeline laying out his demands. "It was plain as the nose on my face," Wright later said, "that he was trying to please Gunns." Describing it as a "completely inappropriate ... attempt to pressure" him, Wright rejected what he termed an "ultimatum" by Lennon to dump public hearings and wind up the assessment by 31 July or face the RPDC being dumped in favour of legislation fast-tracking the process.
And when a fortnight later Gunns withdrew from the RPDC assessment process, blaming delays which John Gay termed "commercially unacceptable", what was commercially acceptable to Gunns became a political imperative for the Tasmanian government.
That Christopher Wright said most of the delays were Gunns' fault was of no consequence. For in a manner that at least is understandable if onerous to Tasmanians, it is clear that in Tasmania Gunns more or less is the law. The woodchippers and their government cronies constantly use the courts against conservationists, but when the courts are used against them the government's response is admirably straightforward: change the law. They changed the law, for example, when Bob Brown sold almost everything he had and took both the Tasmanian and the federal governments to court to prove that under their own laws the logging industry in Tasmania was illegal, because it threatened the survival of endangered species, including the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle and the swift parrot. He won, but the government's response was not to enforce the Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement to protect those species, but simply to alter it so that logging is once again legal.
Faced with the possibility that the pulp mill might not now meet the RPDC pollution guidelines, Paul Lennon simply rushed an act through parliament to establish an entirely new process that seems certain to ensure the mill will be approved by the end of August this year. Though this contradicted what Lennon had so dogmatically maintained for the previous two years about an impartial process that was above politics, the act (drafted with the input of a Gunns lawyer) tellingly allows for the mill to no longer meet the original pollution guidelines. Public consultation has been dispensed with and, most remarkably - and possibly without precedent in the annals of Westminster legislation - the act explicitly provides that the mill will still go ahead even if it is proven that the consultant assessing the project has been bribed.
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It had been uncharacteristic of Lennon to even pretend a process mattered more than an outcome, and it seemed cynicism more of a piece with his predecessor, the late Jim Bacon. A one time Maoist, an upper-middle-class alumni of one of Australia's most exclusive private schools, Melbourne's Scotch College, and later, of one of its most infamous unions, the Victorian Builders' Labourer's Federation (BLF), Bacon was for several years a loyal lieutenant of the BLF's leader, the notorious Norm Gallagher. By the time Gallagher was jailed for taking bribes from developers and his union the subject of a Royal Commission that led to its deregistration, Bacon was ensconced in Tasmania, where the old BLF tactics of espousing a working-class rhetoric while cosying up to the powerful served him well. In 1997 he became leader of the Tasmanian Labor Party.
The following year Bacon was instrumental in brokering the deal that saw the very electoral basis of the Tasmanian parliament altered. Since the 1970s, when the world's first green party was formed in Tasmania, the Greens had been a powerful political minority in Tasmania, securing up to a seventh of parliamentary seats under the island's unique proportional representation system and with it, on occasion, the balance of power.
The 1998 deal was sold to the public as a common-sense measure to reduce the number of parliamentary members. But it was intensely political in effect, because having fewer parliamentarians meant that a higher quota was required by an individual to be elected, thus making it harder for minority parties to win seats and possibly destroying future Green representation - and with it the only real opposition to the woodchipping industry. The former Liberal leader Bob Cheek recalls how Robin Gray, the state's premier in the '80s and now a member of Gunns' board, lobbied him on the night before the vote on the reform. "We've got to stop the Greens, Bob," Gray told him. And they did.
The subsequent election in August 1998 saw the Greens decimated and Jim Bacon's Labor Party triumphant. The Bacon government quickly established itself as the most pro-big-business government Tasmania had ever had. Favoured companies received extraordinary treatment. The privately owned Federal Hotels group, who run the island's two casinos, was awarded a 15-year gaming monopoly - conservatively estimated by Citigroup to be worth $130 million in licensing revenues - free of charge.
But the greatest winner was Gunns. Its shares were languishing at $1.40 when the Bacon government came to power. The company's subsequent growth was dizzying. Within four years, it had recorded an increase of 199% in profits. With the acquisition of two rival companies, Gunns took control of more than 85% of logging in Tasmania. Five years after Bacon won government Gunns was worth more than $1 billion, with shares trading in excess of $12. It had become both the largest logging company in Australia and the largest hardwood-woodchip exporter in the world, its product flooding in from the state's fallen forests.
The state government, which a century ago paid people to shoot the Tasmanian tiger, now provided every incentive to destroy old-growth forest. One of Bacon's first acts was to make 85,000 hectares of previously "deferred forest" available for logging. Gunns paid only paltry royalties to Forestry Tasmania, the public body charged with getting a commercial return from the crown forests that were the very basis of Gunns' record profits. When in 2003 Gunns posted an after-tax profit of $74 million, Forestry Tasmania made a hardly impressive $20 million. By 2005, when Gunns after-tax profit had soared to $101.3 million, Forestry Tasmania's profit had slumped to $13.5 million. Its projected profit for 2006-07 is break-even: a return of zero dollars, nothing, to Tasmanian taxpayers on the estimated $700-million value of its publicly owned forest estate.
But it wasn't just that public forestry resources were being systematically handed over to a single company's shareholders; it was that much of Gunns' profits were coming out of taxpayers' pockets. On private land, Gunns made a second profit from the federal tax breaks that made tree plantations - with which clearfelled native forests were replaced - one of corporate Australia's favourite forms of tax minimisation from the late '90s.
On top of all this, Bacon's government accelerated a familiar pattern of ongoing handouts to an industry that constantly shed jobs, devastated the environment and sought to manipulate the political system. Between 1988 and the present, the Tasmanian forest industry has received a staggering total of $780 million in taxpayer handouts, $289 million of it since 2005, much of it being used to facilitate further old-growth logging. If an accounting were possible of the taxpayer-subsidised plantation schemes and added to this sum, the real subsidy paid by the Australian taxpayer to an industry that destroys the nation's heritage would approach a billion dollars.
But then, not the least shocking thing about the destruction of Tasmania's old-growth forests is that the state's logging industry is in the end not a commercially viable industry at all, but a massive parasite on the public purse, an industry as driven by ideological bailouts and hidden subsidies as a Soviet-era pig-iron foundry.
Worse still, at the moment when Tasmania was acquiring a global reputation as an island of exceptional beauty, the forces that would destroy much of the island's unique nature had been unleashed. This sad irony, denied in Tasmania, did not escape the more astute of the world's media: major features began appearing in the Observer, Le Figaro, Süddeutsche Zeitung and the New York Times - mounting evidence that what was happening in Tasmania was more and more recognised as an environmental catastrophe of global significance.What might be read about Tasmania's forests in New York or Paris, though, was not information found easily in Hobart or Launceston. Apart from a few brave journalists, a generally craven Tasmanian media rarely questioned or challenged the woodchipping industry during these years. The Launceston Examiner ran a four-page feature on Gunns' pulp-mill proposal directly lifted from Gunns' advertising. Necessary fictions were repeated until they became accepted as truth: that, for example, the industry's main concern is sawlogs, when even Forestry Tasmania had admitted that sawlogs are chipped, and had been since 1972. The government's own reports reveal that approximately 90% of Tasmania's logged native forest is woodchipped.
To this day, the forestry industry and the Tasmanian government withhold key information, fudge definitions of forest types and felling practices, and distort statistics to prevent the truth of old-growth logging becoming publicly known, diverting debate into the dullness of disputed definitions and clashing numbers. It's a familiar tactic of sowing semantic confusion that has worked well for the tobacco and oil industries. Beyond it, forests unique in the world continue to disappear.
*
Jim Bacon's nickname was ‘the Emperor', but the man perceived to be the power behind the throne was his deputy, Paul Lennon. Ill-tempered, badly behaved and brutally effective, his political capacity - like that of so many strong-arm leaders - was too often and too easily dismissed. Lennon made no more apologies for his thuggish behaviour (he once shoved a conservationist up against a wall in the middle of a meeting, an encounter he claims not to remember) than he did his enthusiasm for the old-growth logging industry, or his close friendship with the logging baron John Gay. Anyone taking a first-hand look at Tasmania would, he once said, "see a lot of fucking trees".
When Bacon retired in early 2004 because of terminal cancer, Lennon became premier, and any pretence that Gunns might be reined in within Tasmania came to an end. These days, Gunns is everywhere in Tasmania: there are Gunns shops, Gunns television advertisements, Gunns-sponsored weather bulletins. If you go to watch an AFL game at Tasmania's premier stadium, York Park, you pass through the main entrance, officially and aptly named the Jim Bacon Gates, built by - who else? - a wholly owned subsidiary of Gunns, and come to the Gunns Stand, the largest and most opulently fitted stand in the stadium, much of it paid for, equally aptly, by the Tasmanian government.
With the river of money that had poured in from Tasmania's destroyed forests, Gunns had diversified into businesses in New Zealand and mainland Australia. It set about becoming the main player in the Tasmanian wine industry, with the company itself the dominant producer. That the woodchippers' wines - Tamar Ridge, Coombend, Devils Corner - were not stocked by some shops, bars and restaurants in Hobart because of consumer antipathy was of no concern, for the venture's financial underpinning was the same as for its forestry plantations: tax-minimisation schemes, in which grape-growing qualified for a 100% tax write-off. Yet again, it was Australian taxes at work for Gunns.
Gunns now made no secret of what the cost would be for those who questioned the sanctity of old-growth logging, no matter who they were. During the 2004 federal election, plantation-softwood processor Auspine - a $200-million forestry company based in South Australia that runs two pine sawmills employing 313 people in the northern Tasmanian town of Scottsdale - incurred John Gay's wrath by having the temerity to put forward a $450-million plan in which old-growth logging would be ended immediately, but Tasmania's forest industry would be expanded by 900 new jobs. Gay made it clear that Auspine had been very foolish, saying, "Their comments have been extremely damaging to themselves and their future in Tasmania." Two months later Gunns' hardware stores stopped stocking Auspine timber.
Auspine's pine comes from land owned by Forestry Tasmania, but in 1999 a half-share in their trees was sold by Jim Bacon to an American global investment firm, GMO, for $40 million. In early 2007 it was announced that Auspine had lost its pine supply in a deal that saw the timber go to a new company, FEA, that doesn't even have a sawmill. In this manner over 300 people are to lose their jobs. Though it is the half-owner of the resource, both the state-owned Forestry Tasmania and the Tasmanian government refused to intervene in the negotiations to help Auspine or its workers. When Paul Lennon finally went to Scottsdale, four weeks after the initial announcement, sawmill workers turned their backs on the man who had always boasted that he stood for the jobs of forestry-industry workers. Increasingly, it appeared to many Tasmanians that the only jobs Lennon really cared about were his own and those of the Gunns directors.
Perhaps predictably, one of the last defences seized on in this battle by politicians on six-figure salaries is that they stand solidly with the working class. But Lennon's routine claim that 10,000 jobs are at stake if old-growth logging ends is without substance, and avoids the truth: jobs have been disappearing in old-growth logging for many years, not because of conservationists but because of mechanisation and Gunns' ability to transfer its losses onto logging workers. While woodchipping destroyed the older labour-intensive sawmill timber industry, the Hampshire woodchip mill in northern Tasmania, the biggest in the southern hemisphere, employs just 12 people. A report in the Australian Financial Review in 2004 revealed that the Tasmanian industry in its entirety had shed more than 1200 jobs since 1997.
Like Lennon's previously expansive claims - that, for example, ending old-growth logging in Western Australia had left more than 4000 people unemployed, something categorically refuted by the Western Australian government - the figure of 10,000 jobs is not supported. It is more than seven times the number given by the forest industry's own report on employment in the old-growth-logging sector, commissioned by the Forest Industries Association of Tasmania and written by pro-logging academics in 2004. Old-growth logging - as distinct from the rest of the (much larger) forestry industry - was estimated by a Timber Workers for Forests report in the same year to employ only 580 people. Both figures were arrived at before Gunns sent many contractors to the wall in 2006. Under Gunns' tendering system, contractors were already squeezed hard, with a large proportion of their income servicing debt on loans for the heavy machinery necessary for their work.
When it slashed logging contracts by up to 40% to offset a decline in woodchip sales, logging workers for the first time publicly expressed their growing bitterness towards Gunns and the hefty profits it made while their livelihoods vanished. In response, Barry Chipman of Timber Communities Australia (TCA) denied there was growing resentment within the industry towards Gunns. Presenting itself as the grassroots organisation of those it terms the "forest folk", the TCA has from its inception in 1987 actually been the vehicle of the National Association of Forest Industries (NAFI), which is financed by the logging industry. The TCA's support for the Tasmanian logging industry was once described by John Gay as an "invaluable alliance". Invaluable though it may be, the logging industry does put a price on it: in 2002-03, $723,154 of the TCA's total revenues of $836,977 came from direct industry contributions. In the same year, Barry Chipman's wages were directly paid by the NAFI.
It was "situations like this" Barry Chipman said of Gunns' slashing of contracts, that sorted out the "good operators" from the bad - further incensing those contractors who, acting on Gunns' promises of more work, had taken out bigger loans to purchase better equipment, and now were unable to meet repayments. "Everyone needs to tighten their belt a little bit," Chipman went on. "Any downturn will also be suffered by the company and its shareholders."
But they didn't seem to be suffering much that year at "Launceston's Lavish Lunch", the annual fundraiser of the Launceston branch of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation, held at one of Tasmania's most celebrated historic homes, Entally House. It seems to have been a splendid day for the island's clearfelling contessas, and the Launceston Cancerians - whose committee includes the wives of both John Gay and David McQuestin - later waxed effusively on their website about the event, extending "A big thanks ... to Mr John Gay for opening his house for the function."
Entally House isn't really John Gay's house, of course, just as crown forest isn't really his land. Like the forest, the historic house belonged to the Tasmanian people, but in 2004 the Tasmanian government terminated the National Trust's lease and gave a 20-year lease to Gunns. Plans by Gunns to plant a ten-hectare vineyard in Entally's historic grounds were immediately announced, John Gay declaring that the company was developing a "detailed marketing strategy" for the property, centring on the marketing of its wines. And in this way a unique piece of Australia's heritage became both John Gay's house and a charming marketing platform for Gunns. The public can still visit Entally House which, technically speaking, they still own. It only costs $8 per adult.
Meanwhile, log-truck driver Gary Coad, who in 2004 was found guilty of assaulting a conservationist and who cheered John Howard when he announced his ongoing support for old-growth logging, was forced out of the industry he had worked in for 30 years. Now, he told a local newspaper, contractors were at "rock bottom", unable to make ends meet. "The biggest problem in the industry," he said, "is Gunns' virtual monopoly", which meant that any contractors who criticised the company could be squeezed out of the business. "We came up [to the Launceston rally] and fought for John Gay's livelihood," continued Coad. "Well, now its time for him to turn around and do the same for us."
But no one - no Gunns director, no Labor or Liberal politician, no CFMEU representative, no ‘forest community' advocates - was going to fight for the forest workers, or speak to their feeling of betrayal. Instead, like Kevin Rudd on his ‘listening' tour in December 2006, they said that they supported the existing Tasmanian forestry industry - in order, as Rudd put it, that there be "no overall loss of jobs", ignoring the fact that supporting Gunns was exactly what ensured workers would continue to lose jobs, continue to be exploited under Gunns' pitiless tendering system, and continue to suffer.
There is in all this a constant theme: the Lennon government's and Gunns' real mates are not workers, but millionaires. Behind the smokescreen of statistics, beyond the down-home cant of ‘timber folk' peddled by the woodchippers' propagandists, past the endless lies, is a simple, wretched truth: great areas of Australia's remnant wild lands are being reduced to a landscape of battlefields, in order to make a handful of very rich people even richer.
Yet giving away such an extraordinary public resource as Tasmania's forests now threatens the state's broader economic prospects. A growing weight of financial analysis suggests that the economics of plantations (with which native forests are being replaced) are not assured, but rather are a huge gamble for Tasmania. The industry's future prospects depend on global pulp prices rising; the government, as the Australian Financial Review put it, has "tied the state's economic future to the success of Gunns and its tree farms".
If the future looks dubious, the present is already a failure. The reality is that logging old-growth forests brings little wealth and few jobs to struggling, impoverished rural communities. While Gunns makes its profits primarily in Tasmania, the great majority of the company's shares are owned by mainland institutions. It has been estimated that less than 15% of Gunns' profits remain on the island, where the largest individual shareholder is John Gay himself.
*
As a consequence of the forestry debate, Tasmania is an increasingly oppressive place to live. Just six days after conservationists had gone public about arson threats in 2004, the historian Bruce Poulson, a prominent opponent of plans to log the historically significant site of Recherché Bay, had the study behind his Dover house, containing decades of research, burnt down in what police described as a "malicious" attack. Ray and Leanne Green had displayed Wilderness Society posters calling for an end to old growth clearfelling in the Styx Valley in their Something Wild Wildlife Sanctuary, half an hour's drive from the valley. They received numerous informal threats, and then had their business burnt out. Cameraman Brian Dimmick was bashed by a log-truck driver who objected to Dimmick filming his vehicle. So it goes in the clearfell state.
It has never been suggested, nor do I wish to imply, that Gunns is any way responsible for such acts. But the workings of power are not always reducible to orders or even intentions. When a society becomes entrapped in a growing coarsening of public rhetoric, evil finds succour. When vilification is commonplace, when lies are the currency of the day and followers seek to rise through the vigorous anticipation of leaders' unspoken desires, where all are disenfranchised and the most powerless feel what little security they have will be destroyed by those who merely disagree, acts of dubious morality and even of violent criminality become justifiable and appear honourable.
Despite a few years of economic upturn between 2001 and 2006, Tasmania is once more technically in recession, and it remains the poorest Australian state, with the highest levels of unemployment and around 40% cent of its population dependent on government welfare. New key industries such as tourism and fine foods and wines trade as much on the island's pristine image as they do on the products they sell. There is growing concern in all these industries - in which job growth is concentrated - at the relentless damage being done to Tasmania's name by images of smouldering forest coupes.
It is little wonder that many Tasmanians now worry that the woodchippers' greed destroys not only their natural heritage, but distorts their parliament, deforms their polity and poisons their society. And perhaps it is for that reason that the battle for forests in Tasmania is as much about free speech and democracy - about a people's right to exercise some control over their destiny, about their desire to have a better, freer society - as it is about wild lands.
Of late, Gunns' fortunes have suffered. Its share price has dropped by over a quarter from its record highs of 2005, a reflection of having lost 20% of its market share to South American plantations. At the same time woodchip prices have dropped and a global woodchip glut beckons, all of which leaves Tasmania even more dependent on uneconomic woodchip production.
A recent rally in support of Gunns' pulp mill attracted just 50 people, including Paul Lennon. Gunns' own research shows only one in four Tasmanians supports the island's biggest company. Meanwhile, its pulp-mill proposal meets with growing fury throughout the state. The once-timorous Tasmanian media has begun showing courage in questioning the company's activities; the Gunns 20 writ has been rejected three times, and Gunns' projected legal costs - including the damages it must now pay - run into millions. On throwing it out a second time, Judge Bongiorno described the lengthy writ as legally "embarrassing". Still, Gunns persists with a fourth suit. The eminent QC Julian Burnside, one of the defence counsels, has said, "It leaves you wondering if the purpose is simply to terrorise."
Yet the hope for many Tasmanians of years past - that one or other of the major parties at a national level would act to end the madness of old-growth logging - vanished with Kevin Rudd's Labor Party green light to Gunns. No one could look to a political system now so hopelessly cowed by and enmeshed with the woodchipping lobby to effect change. After a decade of the most pro-corporation national government Australia has ever had, neither major political party has the courage or integrity to stand up to a rogue corporation.
And it is Gunns' determination to do whatever it must to continue old-growth logging that may just condemn both it and Tasmania to a savage vortex: given the history of dependence on government subsidies and the alacrity with which both major parties grant them, Gunns' ability to always shift losses onto others - the government, its workers - means that the company may well continue to prosper. But the price of maintaining the necessary political support is high and ever higher: it demands an ever more determined manipulation of public opinion, an ever more ruthless treatment of public opposition, and an ever more assiduous duchessing and policing of political parties.
For that reason, more Tasmanians are demanding a royal commission into the old-growth logging industry and its relationship with both major political parties. It may find nothing untoward has taken place. It may even find at heart something far more disturbing: that the boundary between what is illegal and what is unethical has now vanished in Australia, and that the spectre that now haunts the nation is not that of an omnipotent state but of a ruthless corporation, beholden to nothing but its own bottom line, inhibited by nobody, liberated by the failure of contemporary politics.
Nothing less than a major investigation with special powers can now clear away the stench that surrounds this industry and shames Australia. Without such an investigation nothing will change, except for the worse, and the rape of Tasmania will continue until one day, like so much else that was precious, its great forests will belong only to myth. Tasmanians will be condemned to endure the final humiliation: bearing dumb witness to the great lie that delivers wealth to a handful elsewhere, poverty to many of them, and death to their future as the last of these extraordinary places is sacrificed to the woodchippers' greed. Beautiful places, holy places, lost not only to them but to the world, forever.
And in a world where it seems everything can be bought, all that will remain are ghosts briefly mocking memory: a ream of copying paper in a Japanese office and a man fern in an English garden. And then they too will be gone.

Gunns Market update as share price hovers at all time low.

2011-12-22T13:28:00.002+11:00

Here

Nick Mckim live Q&A chat

2011-12-22T12:40:00.000+11:00

Recording of todays chat here

Miranda Gibson's Tasmanian forests protest

2011-12-16T09:41:00.000+11:00

http://observertree.org/

A great article about a Tasmanian Cycling Legend.

2011-12-09T11:50:00.001+11:00

Where Are They Now – Michael Wilson. Read Here

Tasmania's DPP sticks it to the Keyboard Cowboys

2011-12-08T20:22:00.000+11:00

Read it Here

Forestry Tasmania is a Mess - Tony McCall writes for the Examiner

2011-12-08T17:33:00.001+11:00

Read article in The Examiner

Buck must stop with forestry management

FORESTRY Tasmania is a mess.
A once-proud organisation retains significant high-level skills, administrative and silviculture management capacity, research and product development at its district level.
But its management regime needs to be finally held to account for its failures.
This is the challenge for state cabinet.
Next week's Government Business Enterprise hearings wrap up our parliamentary year.
GBE hearings are significant opportunities to test the capacity of GBEs and State-Owned Corporations to meet their legislative requirements under enabling legislation.
In the case of GBEs, the 1995 Government Business Enterprises Act was a significant reform intent on delivery outcomes that included:
- A clearer commercial focus for GBEs.
- Greater accountability for financial performance.
- Increased return on investment from each GBE.
- Payment of financial returns to the state.
- Improved services to clients and consumers.
Two GBEs have been anchors of Tasmania's political economy for generations - Hydro and Forestry Tasmania.
In 2011 their futures could not be more of a contrast against the outcomes outlined above. Both GBEs should be well-placed in a post-carbon economy but only Hydro has a financial and asset competitive advantage that might allow it to reap future benefits and opportunities on behalf of Tasmanians.
FT represents one of the least attractive aspects of Tasmania's political culture, building relationships of dependency on the back of monopoly power over our public forest estate.
Ironically, FT is a protected political species, despite the compelling evidence for reform.
These observations are informed by the Auditor-General's Special Report No. 100 examining the financial and economic performance of FT (July 2011) and Vol. 3, Report of the Auditor-General No. 5 of 2011-12 in part examining government business enterprises.
FT has immediate financial challenges - its cash flow had collapsed to $9.4 million on June 30.
FT is operating with a financing cash deficit of $9.7 million.
The Auditor-General notes: ``It is not sustainable for FT to generate negative cash from its operating activities.''
FT at board level appears to consider its ``going concern basis'' to be largely dependent on ``letters of comfort'' from government to reassure markets and the ever-present expectations - up until now - that the state government will provide ongoing support and adequate resources to allow continuation of operations.
The Auditor-General notes that in relation to the appropriateness of adopting the ``going concern basis'' his ``audit opinion is not qualified in respect of these matters''.
There appears to be a dispute over the liquidity of FT.
FT did not offer a dividend return in 2010-11, nor in the previous three years. Its negative cash flow is unlikely to allow it to continue plantation development.
Its equity has crashed from $548 million in 2008 to $147 million in 2011. Its return on assets in 2010-11 was 0.2 per cent against a benchmark of 5.2 per cent.
FT's management has a tendency to be arrogantly dismissive of criticism and deflect blame for its failures - it's someone else's fault. This is a Tasmanian government disease.
I paraphrase the sage analysis of the Auditor-General's July Report (page 3): ``Between 1994 and June 2010, FT's business and funding model did not keep pace with changes in its operating environment.'' Surely, it is too late to continue to invest in a failed FT.

.........

Dr Tony McCall is a senior research fellow in the Institute for Regional Development and a lecturer in the School of Government, University of Tasmania

Richie Porte TV interview

2011-12-08T09:56:00.000+11:00

Here

The Jerilderie Letter

2011-11-29T23:15:00.000+11:00

Dear Sir,

I wish to acquaint you with some of the occurrences of the present past and future. In or about the spring of 1870 the ground was very soft a hawker named Mr Gould got his waggon bogged between Greta and my mother's house on the eleven mile creek, the ground was that rotten it would bog a duck in places so Mr. Gould had abandon his waggon for fear of loosing his horses in the spewy ground. he was stopping at my Mother's awaiting finer or dryer weather Mr. McCormack and his wife. hawkers also were camped in Greta the mosquitoes were very bad which they generally are in a wet spring and to help them Mr. Johns had a horse called Ruita Cruta although a gelding was as clever as old Wombat or any other Stallion at running horses away and taking them on his beat which was from Greta swamp to the seven mile creek consequently he enticed McCormack's horse away from Greta.

Mr. Gould was up early feeding his horses heard a bell and seen McCormack horses for he knew the horse well he sent his boy to take him back to Greta. When McCormack's got the horse they came straight out to Goold and accused him of working the horse; this was false, and Goold was amazed at the idea I could not help laughing to hear Mrs. McCormack accusing him of using the horse after him being so kind as to send his boy to take him from the Ruta Cruta and take him back to them.

I pleaded Goulds innocence and Mrs McCormack turned on me and accused me of bringing the horse from Greta to Goolds waggon to pull him out of the bog I did not say much to the woman as my Mother was present but that same day me and my uncle was cutting calves Gould wrapped up a note and a pair of the calves testicles and gave them to me to give them to Mrs McCormack. I did not see her and I gave the parcel to a boy to give to her when she would come instead of giving it to her he gave it to her husband consequently McCormack said he would summons me I told him neither me or Gould used their horse.

he said I was a liar & he could welt me or any of my breed I was about 14 years of age but accepted the challenge and dismounting when Mrs McCormack struck my horse in the flank with a bullock's skin it jumped forward and my fist came in collision with McCormack's nose and caused him to loose his equillibrium and fall postrate I tied up my horse to finish the battle but McCormack got up and ran to the Police camp. Constable Hall asked me what the row was about I told him they accused me and Gould of using their horse and I hit him and I would do the same to him if he challenged me McCormack pulled me and swore their lies against me I was sentenced to three months for hitting him and three months for the parcel and bound to keep the peace for 12 months.

Mrs McCormack gave good substantial evidence as she is well acquainted with that place called Tasmania better known as the Dervon or Vandiemans land and McCormack being a Police man over the convicts and women being scarce released her from that land of bondage and tyranny, and they came to Victoria and are at present residents of Greta and on the 29th of March I was released from prison and came home Wild Wright came to the Eleven Mile to see Mr Gunn stopped all night and lost his mare both him and me looked all day for her and could not get her Wright who was a stranger to me was in a hurry to get back to Mansfield and I gave him another mare and he told me if I found his mare to keep her until he brought mine back I was going to Wangaratta and seen the mare and I caught her and took her with me all the Police and Detective Berrill seen her as Martains girls used to ride her about the town during several days that I stopped at Petre Martains Star Hotel in Wangaratta.

She was a chestnut mare white face docked tail very remarkable branded (M) as plain as the hands on a town clock. the property of a Telegraph Master in Mansfield he lost her on the 6th gazetted her on the 12th of March and I was a prisoner in Beechworth Gaol until the 29 of March therefore I could not have Stole the mare. I was riding the mare through Greta Constable Hall came to me and said he wanted me to sign some papers that I did not sign at Beechworth concerning my bail bonds I thought it was the truth he said the papers was at the Barracks and I had no idea he wanted to arrest me or I would have quietly rode away instead of going to the Barracks.

I was getting off when Hall caught hold of me and thought to throw me but made a mistake and came on the broad of his back himself in the dust the mare galloped away and instead of me putting my foot on Halls neck and taking his revolver and putting him in the lock up. I tried to catch the mare. Hall got up and snapped three or four caps at me and would have shot me but the colts patent refused.This is well known in Greta Hall never told me he wanted to arrest me until after he tried to shoot me when I heard the caps snapping I stood until Hall came close he had me covered and was shaking with fear and I knew he would pull the trigger before he would be game to put his hand on me so I duped, and jumped at him caught the revolver with one hand and Hall by the collar with the other.

I dare not strike him or my sureties would loose the bond money I used to trip him and let him take a mouth ful of dust now and again as he was as helpless as a big guano after leaving a dead bullock or a horse. I kept throwing him in the dust until I got him across the street the very spot where Mrs 0'Briens Hotel stands now the cellar was just dug then there was some brush fencing where the post and rail was taking down and on this I threw big cowardly Hall on his belly I straddled him and rooted both spurs onto his thighs he roared like a big calf attacked by dogs and shifted several yards of the fence I got his hands at the back of his neck and trid to make him let the revolver go but he stuck to it like grim death to a dead volunteer he called for assistance to a man named Cohen and Barnett, Lewis, Thompson, Jewitt two blacksmiths who was looking on I dare not strike any of there as I was bound to keep the peace or I could have spread those curs like dung in a paddock they got ropes tied my hands and feet and Hall beat me over the head with his six chambered colts revolver nine stitches were put in some of the cuts by Dr Hastings And when Wild Wright and my mother came they could trace us across the street by the blood in the dust and which spoiled the lustre of the paint on the gate-post of the Barracks Hall sent for more Police and Doctor Hastings

Next morning I was handcuffed a rope tied from them to my legs and to the seat of the cart and taken to Wangaratta Hall was frightened I would throw him out of the cart so he tied me whilst Constable Arthur laughed at his cowardice for it was he who escorted me and Hall to Wangaratta. I was tried and committed as Hall swore I claimed the mare the Doctor died or he would have proved Hall a perjurer Hall has been tried several times for perjury but got clear as this is no crime in the Police force it is a credit to a Policeman to convict an innocent man but any muff can pot a guilty one Halls character is well known about El Dorado and Snowy Creek and Hall was considerably in debt to Mr L. O.Brien and he was going to leave Greta Mr O.Brien seen no other chance of getting his money so there was a subscription collected for Hall and with the aid of this money he got James Murdock who was recently hung in Wagga Wagga to give false evidence against me but I was acquitted on the charge of horsestealing and on Halls and Murdocks evidence I was found guilty of receiving and got 3 years experience in Beechworth Pentridges dungeons.

this is the only charge ever proved against me Therefore I can say I never was convicted of horse or cattle stealing My Brother Dan was never charged with assaulting a woman but he was sentenced to three months without the option of a fine and one month and two pounds fine for damaging property by Mr. Butler P.M. a sentence that there is no law to uphold therefore the Minister of Justice neglected his duty in that case, but there never was such a thing as Justice in the English laws but any amount of injustice to be had. Out of over thirty head of the very best horses the land could produce I could only find one when I got my liberty. Constable Flood stole and sold the most of them to the navvies on the railway line one bay cob he stole and sold four different times the line was completed and the men all gone when I came out and Flood was shifted to Oxley. he carried on the same game there all the stray horses that was any time without an owner and not in the Police Gazette Flood used to claim He was doing a good trade at Oxley until Mr Brown of the Laceby Station got him shifted as he was always running his horses about.

Flood is different to Sergeant Steel, Strachan, Hall and the most of Police a they have got to hire cads and if they fail the Police are quite helpless. But Flood can make a cheque single-handed he is the greatest horsestealer with the exception of myself and George King I know of. I never worked on a farm a horse and saddle was never traced to me after leaving employment since February 1873 I worked as a faller at Mr J. Saunders and R Rules sawmills then for Heach and Dockendorf I never worked for less than two pound ten a week since I left Pentridge and in 1875 or 1876 I was overseer for Saunders and Rule.

Bourke's water--holes sawmills in Victoria since then I was on the King River, during my stay there I ran in a wild bull which I gave to Lydicher a farmer he sold him to Carr a Publican and Butcher who killed him for beef, sometime afterwards I was blamed for stealing this bull from James Whitty Boggy Creek I asked Whitty Oxley racecourse why he blamed me for stealing his bull he said he had found his bull and never blamed me but his son-in-law Farrell told him he heard I sold the bull to Carr not long afterwards I heard again I was blamed for stealing a mob of calves from Whitty and Farrell which I knew nothing about. I began to think they wanted me to give them something to talk about.

Therefore I started wholesale and retail horse and cattle dealing Whitty and Burns not being satisfied with all the picked land on the Boggy Creek and King River and the run of their stock on the certificate ground free and no one interfering with them paid heavy rent to the banks for all the open ground so as a poor man could keep no stock, and impounded every beast they could get, even off Government roads. If a poor man happened to leave his horse or bit of a poddy calf outside his paddock they would be impounded. I have known over 60 head of horses impounded in one day by Whitty and Burns all belonging to poor farmers they would have to leave their ploughing or harvest or other employment to go to Oxley.

When they would get there perhaps not have money enough to release them and have to give a bill of sale or borrow the money which is no easy matter. And along with this sort of work, Farrell the Policeman stole a horse from George King and had him in Whitty and Farrells Paddocks until he left the force. And all this was the cause of me and my step-father George King taking their horses and selling them to Baumgarten and Kennedy. the pick of them was taken to a good market and the culls were kept in Petersons paddock and their brands altered by me two was sold to Kennedy and the rest to Baumgarten who were strangers to me and I believe honest men.

They paid me full value for the horses and could not have known they were stolen. no person had anything to do with the stealing and selling of the horses but me and George King. William Cooke who was convicted for Whittys horses was innocent he was not in my company at Petersons. But it is not the place of the Police to convict guilty men as it is by them they get their living had the right parties been convicted it would have been a bad job for the Police as Berry would have sacked a great many of them only I came to their aid and kept them in their bilits and good employment and got them double pay and yet the ungrateful articles convicted my mother and an infant my brother-in-law and another man who was innocent and still annoy my brothers and sisters and the ignorant unicorns even threaten to shoot myself But as soon as I am dead they will be heels up in the muroo.

there will be no more police required they will be sacked and supplanted by soldiers on low pay in the towns and special constables made of some of the farmers to make up for this double pay and expence. It will pay Government to give those people who are suffering innocence, justice and liberty. if not I will be compelled to show some colonial stratagem which will open the eyes of not only the Victoria Police and inhabitants but also the whole British army and now doubt they will acknowledge their hounds were barking at the 20 wrong stump.

And that Fitzpatrick will be the cause of greater slaughter to the Union Jack than Saint Patrick was to the snakes and toads in Ireland. The Queen of England was as guilty as Baumgarten and Kennedy Williamson and Skillion of what they were convicted for When the horses were found on the Murray River I wrote a letter to Mr Swanhill of Lake Rowan to acquaint the Auctioneer and to advertize my horses for sale I brought some of them to that place but did not sell I sold some of them in Benalla Melbourne and other places and left the colony and became a rambling gambler soon after I left there was a warrant for me and the Police searched the place and watched night and day for two or three weeks and when they could not snare me they got a warrant against my brother Dan And on the 15 of April Fitzpatrick came to the Eleven Mile Creek to arrest him he had some conversation with a horse dealer whom he swore was William Skillion this man was not called in Beechworth, besides several other Witnesses, who alone could have proved Fitzpatricks falsehood after leaving this man he went to the house asked was Dan in Dan came out.

I hear previous to this Fitzpatrick had some conversation with Williamson on the hill. he asked Dan to come to Greta with him as he had a warrant for him for stealing Whitty's horses Dan said all right they both went inside Dan was having something to eat his mother asked Fitzpatrick what he wanted Dan for. the trooper said he had a warrant for him Dan then asked him to produce it he said it was only a telegram sent from Chiltren but Sergeant Whelan ordered him to releive Steel at Greta and call and arrest Dan and take him into Wangaratta next morning and get him remanded Dans mother said Dan need not go without a warrant unless he liked and that the trooper had no business on her premises without some Authority besides his own word The trooper pulled out his revolver and said he would blow her brains out if she interfered.

in the arrest she told him it was a good job for him Ned was not there or he would ram the revolver down his throat Dan looked out and said Ned is coming now, the trooper being off his guard looked out and when Dan got his attention drawn he dropped the knife and fork which showed he had no murderous intent and slapped heenans hug on him took his revolver and kept him there until Skillion and Ryan came with horses which Dan sold that night. The trooper left and invented some scheme to say that he got shot which any man can see is false, he told Dan to clear out that Sergeant Steel and Detective Brown and Strachan would be there before morning Strachan had been over the Murray trying to get up a case against him and they would convict him if they caught him as the stock society offored an enticement for witnesses to swear anything and the germans over the Murray would swear to the wrong man as well as the right.

Next day Williamson and my mother was arrested and Skillion the day after who was not there at all at the time of the row which can be proved by 8 or 9 witnesses And the Police got great credit and praise in the papers for arresting the mother of 12 children one an infant on her breast and those two quiet hard working innocent men who would not know the difference a revolver and a saucepan handle and kept them six months awaiting trial and then convicted them on the evidence of the meanest article that ever the sun shone on it seems that the jury was well chosen by the Police as there was a discharged Sergeant amongst them which is contrary to law they thought it impossible for a Policeman to swear a lie but I can assure them it is by that means and hiring cads they get promoted I have heard from a trooper that he never knew Fitzpatrick to be one night sober and that he sold his sister to a chinaman but he looks a young strapping rather genteel more fit to be a starcher to a laundress than a Policeman.

For to a keen observer he has the wrong appearance or a manly heart the deceit and cowardice is too plain to be seen in the puny cabbage hearted looking face. I heard nothing of this transaction until very close on the trial I being then over 400 miles from Greta when I heard I was outlawed and a hundred pound reward for me for shooting at a trooper in Victoria and a hundred pound for any man that could prove a conviction of horse-stealing against me so I came back to Victoria knew I would get no justice if I gave myself up I enquired after my brother Dan and found him digging on Bullock Creek heard how the Police used to be blowing that they would not ask me to stand they would shoot me first and then cry surrender and how they used to rush into the house upset all the milk dishes break tins of eggs empty the flour out of the bags on to the ground and even the meat out of the cask and destroy all the provisions and shove the girls in front of them into the rooms like dogs so as if anyone was there they would shoot the girls first but they knew well I was not there or I would have scattered their blood and brains like rain I would manure the Eleven mile with their bloated carcasses and yet remember there is not one drop of murderous blood in my Veins

Superintendent Smith used to say to my sisters, see all the men I have out today I will have as many more tomorrow and we will blow him into pieces as small as paper that is in our guns Detective Ward and Constable Hayes took out their revolvers and threatened to shoot the girls and children in Mrs Skillions absence the greatest ruffians and murderers no matter how deprived would not be guilty of such a cowardly action, and this sort of cruelty and disgraceful and cowardly conduct to my brothers and sisters who had no protection coupled with the conviction of my mother and those men certainly made my blood boil as I dont think there is a man born could have the patience to suffer it as long as I did or ever allow his blood to get cold while such insults as these were unavenged and yet in every paper that is printed I am called the blackest and coldest blooded murderer ever on record

But if I hear any more of it I will not exactly show them what cold blooded murder is but wholesale and retail slaughter something different to shooting three troopers in self defence and robbing a bank. I would have been rather hot-blooded to throw down my rifle and let them shoot me and my innocent brother, they were not satisfied with frightening my sisters night and day and destroying their provisions and lagging my mother and infant and those innocent men but should follow me and my brother into the wilds where he had been quietly digging neither molesting or inter-fering with anyone he was making good wages as the creek is very rich within half a mile from where I shot Kennedy.

I was not there long and on the 25 of October I came on Police tracks between Table top and the bogs. I crossed them and returning in the evening I came on a dif-ferent lot of tracks making for the shingle hut I went to our camp and told my brother and his two mates me and my brother went and found their camp at the shingle hut about a mile from my brothers house saw they carried long firearms and we knew our doom was sealed if we could not beat those before the others would come As I knew the other party of Police would soon join them and if they came on us at our camp they would shoot us down like dogs at our work as we had only two guns. we thought it best to try and bail those up take their fire-arms and ammunition and horses and we could stand a chance with the rest We approached the spring as close as we could get to the camp as the intervening space being clear ground and no battery We saw two men at the logs they got up and one took a double barreled fowling-piece and fetched a horse down and hobbled him at the tent we thought there were more men in the tent asleep those being on sentry we could have shot those two men without speaking but not wishing to take their lives we waited McIntyre laid the gun against a stump and Lonigan sat on the log I advanced, my brother Dan keepin McIntyre covered which he took to be constable Flood and had he not obeyed my orders, or at-tempted to reach for the gun or draw his revolver he would have been shot dead but when I called on them to throw up their hands McIntyre obeyed and Lonigan ran some six or seven yards to a battery of logs insted of dropping behind the one he was sitting on, he had just got to the logs and put his head up to take aim when I shot him that instant or he would have shot me as I took him to be Strachan the man who said he would not ask me to stand he would shoot me first like a dog

But it happened to be Lonigan the man who in company with Sergeant Whelan Fitzpatrick and King the Boot maker and constable O.Day that tried to put a pair of hand-cuffs on me in Benalla but could not and had to allow McInnis the miller to put them on, previous to Fitzpatrick swear-ing he was shot, I was fined two pounds for hitting Fitzpatrick and two pounds for not allowing five curs like Sergeant Whelan O.Day Fitz-patrick King and Lonigan who caught me by the privates and would have sent me to Kingdom come only I was not ready and he is the man that blowed before he left Violet Town if Ned Kelly was to be shot he was the man would shoot him and no doubt he would shoot me even if I threw up my arms and laid down as he knew four of them could not arrest me single-handed not to talk of the rest of my mates, also either me or him would have to die, this he knew well therefore he had a right to keep out of my road, Fitzpatrick is the only one I hit out of the five in Benalla this shows my feeling towards him as he said we were good friends & even swore it but he was the biggest enemy I had in the country with the exception of Lonigan and he can be thankful I was not there when he took a revolver and threatened to shoot my mother in her own house it is not fire three shots and miss him at a yard and a half I dont think I would use a revolver to shoot a man like him when I was within a yard and a half of him or attempt to fire into a house where my mother brothers and sisters was. and according to Fitzpatricks statement all around him a man that is such a bad shot as to miss a man three times at a yard and a half would never attempt to fire into a house among a house full of women and children while I had a pairs of arms and bunch of fives on the end of them that never failed to peg out anything they came in contact with and Fitzpatrick knew the weight of one of them only too well, as it run against him once in Benalla, and cost me two pound odd as he is very subject to fainting.

As soon as I shot Lonigan he jumped up and staggered some distance from the logs with his hands raised and then fell he surrendered but too late I asked McIntyre who was in the tent he replied no one. I advanced and took possession of their two revolvers and fowling-piece which I loaded with bullets instead of shot. I asked McIntyre where his mates was he said they had gone down the creek, and he did not expect them that night he asked me was I going to shoot him and his mates. I told him no.

I would shoot no man if he gave up his arms and leave the force he said the police all knew Fitzpatrick had wronged us. and he intended to leave the force, as he had bad health, and his life was insured, he told me he intended going home and that Kennedy and Scanlan were out looking for our camp and also about the other Police he told me the N.S.W Police had shot a man for shooting Sergeant Walling I told him if they did, they had shot the wrong man And I expect your gang came to do the same with me he said no they did not come to shoot me they came to apprehend me I asked him what they carried spenceir rifles and breech loading fowling pieces and so much ammunition for as the Police was only supposed to carry one revolver and 6 cartridges in the revolver but they had eighteen rounds of revolver cartridges each three dozen for the fowling piece and twenty one spenceir-rifle cartridges and God knows how many they had away with the rifle this looked as if they meant not only to shoot me only to riddle me but I dont know either Kennedy Scanlan or him and had nothing against them, he said he would get them to give up their arms if I would not shoot them as I could not blame them, they had to do their duty I said I did not blame them for doing honest duty but I could not suffer them blowing me to pieces in my own native land and they knew Fitzpatrick wronged us and why not make it public and convict him but no they would rather riddle poor unfortunate creoles.

but they will rue the day ever Fitzpatrick got among them, Our two mates came over when they heard the shot fired but went back again for fear the Police might come to our camp while we were all away and manure bullock flat with us on our arrival. I stopped at the logs and Dan went back to the spring for fear the tropers would come in that way but I soon heard them coming up the creek. I told McIntyre to tell them to give up their arms, he spoke to Kennedy who was some distance in front of Scanlan he reached for his revolver and jumped off, on the off side of his horse and got behind a tree when I called on them to throw up their arms and Scanlan who carried the rifle slewed his horse around to gallop away but the horse would not go and as quick as thought fired at me with the rifle without unslinging it and was in the act of firing again when I had to shoot him and he fell from his horse.

I could have shot them without speaking but their lives was no good to me. McIntyre jumped on Kennedys horse and I allowed him to go as I did not like to shoot him after he surrendered or I would have shot him as he was between me and Kennedy therefore I could not shoot Kennedy without shooting him first. Kennedy kept firing from behind the tree my brother Dan advanced and Kennedy ran I followed him he stopped behind another tree and fired again.

I shot him in the arm pit and he dropped his revolver and ran I fired again with the gun as he slewed around to surrender I did not know he had dropped his revolver. the bullet passed through the right side of his chest & he could not live or I would have let him go had they been my own brother I could not help shooting there or else let them shoot me which they would have done had their bullets been directed as they intended them. But as for handcuffing Kennedy to a tree or cutting his ear off or brutally treating any of them, is a falsehood, if Kennedys ear was cut off it was not done by me and none of my mates was near him after he was shot I put his cloak over him and left him as well as I could and were they my own brothers I could not have been more sorry for them this cannot be called wilful murder for I was compelled to shoot them, or lie down and let them shoot me it would not be wilful murder if they packed our remains in, shattered into a mass of animated gore to Mansfield, they would have got great praise and credit as well as promotion but I am reconed a horrid brute because I had not been cowardly enough to lie down for them under such trying circumstances and insults to my people certainly their wives and children are to be pitied but they must remember those men came into the bush with the intention of scattering pieces of me and my brother all over the bush and yet they know and acknowledge I have been wronged and my mother and four or five men lagged innocent and is my brothers and sisters and my mother not to be pitied also who has no alternative only to put up with the brutal and cowardly conduct of a parcel of big ugly fat-necked wombat headed big bellied magpie legged narrow hipped splaw-footed sons of Irish Bailiffs or english landlords which is better known as Officers of Justice or Victorian Police who some calls honest gentlemen but I would like to know what business an honest man would have in the Police as it is an old saying It takes a rogue to catch a rogue and a man that knows nothing about roguery would never enter the force an take an oath to arrest brother sister father or mother if required and to have a case and conviction if possible

Any man knows it is possible to swear a lie and if a policeman looses a conviction for the sake of swearing a lie he has broke his oath therefore he is a perjurer either ways. A Policeman is a disgrace to his country, not alone to the mother that suckled him, in the first place he is a rogue in his heart but too cowardly to follow it up without having the force to disguise it. next he is traitor to his country ancestors and religion as they were all catholics before the Saxons and Cranmore yoke held sway since then they were perse cuted massacreed thrown into martrydom and tortured beyond the ideas of the present generation What would people say if they saw a strapping big lump of an Irishman shepherding sheep for fifteen bob a week or tailing turkeys in Tallarook ranges for a smile from Julia or even begging his tucker, they would say he ought to be ashamed of himself and tar-and-feather him

But he would be a king to a policeman who for a lazy loafing cowardly bilit left the ash corner deserted the shamrock, the emblem of true wit and beauty to serve under a flag and nation that has destroyed massacreed and murdered their fore-fathers by the greatest of torture as rolling them down hill in spiked barrels pulling their toe and finger nails and on the wheel. and every torture imaginable more was transported to Van Diemand's Land to pine their young lives away in starvation and misery among tyrants worse than the promised hell itself all of true blood bone and beauty, that was not murdered on their own soil, or had fled to America or other countries to bloom again another day, were doomed to Port Mcquarie Toweringabbie norfolk island and Emu plains and in those places of tyrany and condemnation many a blooming Irishman rather than subdue to the Saxon yoke Were flogged to death and bravely died in servile chains but true to the shamrock and a credit to Paddys land What would people say if I became a policeman and took an oath to arrest my brothers and sisters & relations and convict them by fair or foul means after the conviction of my mother and the persecutions and insults offered to myself and people Would they say I was a decent gentleman, and yet a police-man is still in worse and guilty of meaner actions than that The Queen must surely be proud of such herioc men as the Police and Irish soldiers as It takes eight or eleven of the biggest mud crushers in Melbourne to take one poor little half starved larrakin to a watch house.

I have seen as many as eleven, big & ugly enough to lift Mount Macedon out of a crab hole more like the species of a baboon or Guerilla than a man. actually come into a court house and swear they could not arrest one eight stone larrakin and them armed with battens and neddies without some civilians assistance and some of them going to the hospital from the affects of hits from the fists of the larrakin and the Magistrate would send the poor little Larrakin into a dungeon for being a better man than such a parcel of armed curs. What would England do if America declared war and hoisted a green flag as its all Irishmen that has got command of her armies forts and batteries even her very life guards and beef tasters are Irish would they not slew around and fight her with their own arms for the sake of the colour they dare not wear for years. and to reinstate it and rise old Erins isle once more, from the pressure and tyrannism of the English yoke, which has kept it in poverty and starvation, and caused them to wear the enemys coats.

What else can England expect. Is there not big fat-necked Unicorns enough paid to torment and drive me to do thing which I dont wish to do, without the public assisting them I have never interefered with any person unless they deserved it, and yet there are civilians who take firearms against me, for what reason I do not know, unless they want me to turn on them and exterminate them without medicine. I shall be compelled to make an example of some of them if they cannot find no other employment If I had robbed and plundered ravished and murdered everything I met young and old rich and poor. the public could not do any more than take firearms and Assisting the police as they have done, but by the light that shines pegged on an ant-bed with their bellies opened their fat taken out rendered and poured down their throat boiling hot will be fool to what pleasure I will give some of them and any person aiding or harbouring or assisting the Police in any way whatever or employing any person whom they know to be a detective or cad or those who would be so deprived as to take blood money will be outlawed and declared unfit to be allowed human buriel their property either consumed or confiscated and them theirs and all belonging to them exterminated off the face of the earth, the enemy I cannot catch myself I shall give a payable reward for,

I would like to know who put that article that reminds me of a poodle dog half clipped in the lion fashion, called Brooke E. Smith Superin-tendent of Police he knows as much about commanding Police as Cap-tain Standish does about mustering mosquitoes and boiling them down for their fat on the back blocks of the Lachlan for he has a head like a turnip a stiff neck as big as his shoulders narrow hipped and pointed towards the feet like a vine stake and if there is any one to be called a murderer regarding Kennedy, Scanlan and Lonigan it is that mis-placed poodle he gets as much pay as a dozen good troopers, if there is any good in them, and what does he do for it he cannot look behind him without turning his whole frame it takes three or four police to keep sentry while he sleeps in Wangaratta, for fear of body snatchers do they think he is a superior animal to the men that has to guard him if so why not send the men that gets big pay and reconed superior to the common police after me and you shall soon save the country of high salaries to men that is fit for nothing else but getting better men than him self shot and sending orphan children to the industrial school to make prostitutes and cads of them for the Detectives and other evil dis-posed persons

Send the high paid and men that received big salaries for years in a gang by themselves after me, As it makes no difference to them but it will give them a chance of showing whether they are worth more pay than a common trooper or not and I think the Public will soon find they are only in the road of good men and obtaining money under false pretences, I do not call McIntyre a coward for I reckon he is as game a man as wears the jacket as he had the presence of mind to know his position, directly as he was spoken to, and only foolishness to disobey, it was cowardice that made Lonigan and the others fight it is only foolhardiness to disobey an outlaw as any Police-man or other man who do not throw up their arms directly as I call on them knows the consequence which is a speedy dispatch to Kingdom Come, I wish those men who joined the stock protection society to with-draw their money and give it and as much more to the widows and orphans and poor of Greta district wher I spent and will again spend many a happy day fearless free and bold as it only aids the police to procure false witnesses and go whacks with men to steal horses and lag innocent men it would suit them far better to subscribe a sum and give it to the poor of their district and there is no fear of anyone stealing their property for no man could steal their horses without the knowledge of the poor if any man was mean enough to steal their property the poor would rise out to a man and find them if they were on the face of the earth it will always pay a rich man to be liberal with the poor and make as little enemies as he can as he shall find if the poor is on his side he shall loose nothing by it, If they depend in the police they shall be drove to destruction,

As they can not and will not protect them if duffing and bushranging were abolished the police would have to cadge for their living I speak from experience as I have sold horses and cattle innumerable and yet eight head of the culls is all ever was found I never was interfered with whilst I kept up this successful trade. I give fair warning to all those who has reason to fear me to sell out and give £10 out of every hundred towards the widow and orphan fund and do not attempt to reside in Victoria but as short a time as possible after reading this notice, neglect this and abide by the consequences, which shall be worse than the rust in the wheat in Victoria or the druth of a dry season to the grasshoppers in New South Wales I do not wish to give the order full force without giving timely warning. But I am a widows son outlawed and my orders must be obeyed

Edward Kelly

ANZ Bank urged not to throw good money after bad

2011-11-25T11:08:00.000+11:00

Members of Pulp the Mill, Friends of the Tamar Valley and TAP Into a Better Tasmania gathered outside the Launceston branch of ANZ Bank yesterday to express their concern about the ANZ’s continued support for timber company Gunns Limited.

Stephani Taylor, spokesperson for PtM said that despite the ANZ being Gunns’ principal bank, and a significant creditor that was owed in excess of $500 million, it had publicly announced three years ago it would not provide funding for Gunns’ controversial Tamar Valley pulp mill project. The ANZ re-confirmed this position in June.

“While this may be the ANZ’s official line, the bank’s decision to reportedly provide an additional $200 million to Gunns, not only sends a contradictory message to financial markets, and an inflammatory one to the Tasmanian community, it also prolongs the uncertainty and stress the community has already suffered in respect of the pulp mill over the last seven years,” Ms Taylor said.

Following Gunns’ decision to sell its secondary interests and assets in hardware stores, vineyards, walnut farms, sawmills, and even some of its timber plantations, groups opposed to the pulp mill said the company is relying completely on the assumption the pulp mill will be built.

“Even its Lindsay Street offices have been sold, so Gunns is staking its future on getting the pulp mill built. Any further loans made by the ANZ to Gunns therefore effectively signals the bank’s approval for this flawed and deeply unpopular project,” said Anne Layton-Bennett, spokesperson for FTV.

Community groups PtM, FTV and TAP Into a Better Tasmania said by providing any support for the pulp mill the ANZ Bank seriously risks contravening the Equator Principles, to which the Bank proudly states it is a signatory, http://www.anz.com/about-us/corporate-responsibility/customers/responsible-business-lending/equator-principles/

“Despite a belated attempt to “consult with local communities about concerns communities may have” Gunns will never receive a social licence to build or operate a pulp mill in the Tamar Valley. Any financial institution that chooses to facilitate the mill’s construction should recognise it will face an ongoing national campaign of community opposition, which will result in serious damage to its international reputation,” Ms Taylor said.

The Persecution of Karen Donnet-Jones......and....Tasmania's first Integrity Commissioner sues Tasmanian Government

2011-11-19T16:53:00.008+11:00

A quote From the Tasmanian Integrity Commission Website -

Corruption hurts ...........Sue Neales (referring to the Karen Donnet-Jones issue): “It doesn’t have to be a plot. It’s not as obvious as that ... it can be about people double-guessing their bosses. It’s about cock-ups down the line.” Ms Neales said the abrogation of proper process, however, was no less serious. “The end result is appalling and how we got there is what we need to review.”
......................

Chief Commissioner Murray Kellam, QC, says allegations of a conflict of interest were common but there is no evidence of Systemic Corruption. (ABC News 27/9/2011)

......................

Links to the Donnet- Jones story
Court Costs Application
Police Admit Error
Apology for wrongful dismissal
Call for Vendetta Probe
Probe into theft case dries up
Theft charges ridiculous
Assualt Servies Case Probe
Police Case Damned
Stealing Charges Payout
Sacking Fiasco Probe
The long road to proving innocence - ABC 7.30 Tas
Final Vindication - ABC 7.30 Tas

.................................

Tasmania's first Integrity Commissioner Barbara Etter who resigned one year into the job is sueing the Tasmanian Government- Read Here and Here

Australian Electoral Commission Election Funding and Disclosure Report: Federal Election

2011-11-14T16:07:00.000+11:00

Read Here

How we know the EPA will put Gunns first.

2011-11-06T10:40:00.000+11:00

Aside from the EPA's extremely dubious and very predictable finding that Gunns had susbtantially commenced building a pulp mill it has no money to build, Tasmanians have long doubted the EPA's willingness to put public and environmental health before Gunns interests.
Thanks to the Environmental defenders office and Airlie Ward's 7.30 program we now know for sure what we in the Tamar Valley are in for in terms of the Government's regulation of a Tamar Valley Pulp Mill. See Here

Greens Human Services Minister lashes out at critics again.......O'Connor argues too few Labor members to govern effectively...

2011-10-31T16:40:00.002+11:00

....."It was a risky decision for the Tas Greens to go into government with Labor, and to accept Cabinet positions - but with the Liberals refusing to talk and too few Labor members to make an effective Ministry, I don’t know that we had too many other choices" (Cassy O'Connor on Tasmanian Times 31/10/2011)

Read Here

Scroll down this page for the Minister's dummy spit first against this blogger Here

Triple J's Hack Program in Tassie

2011-10-19T23:39:00.018+11:00

Listen Here
Triple J's Hack program has been in Tasmania this week http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hack/features/mapoftassie/.

Click on the weekday icons to hear the 5 daily podcasts.

Mondays show has interviews with Brian Ritchie, David Walsh and premier Lara Giddings who defends govt arts cuts.

On Tuesday's program which was broadcast from Burnie Premier Lara Giddings when answering questions on the pulp mill told the Hack Program the Gunns Tamar Valley Pulp Mill would be....."A world leading new pulp mill that would be using the best technology anywhere in the world"

Since when??

Wednesday's program is broadcast from Launceston focussing on forestry and the pulp mill.

Human services Minister takes a swing at yours truly

2011-10-11T12:59:00.000+11:00

Read Here See here

Is this why the Human Services Minister is so upset with me 1 2 3

The Greens could learn a lot from their parliamentary Liberal/Labor mates about copping criticism from their own.

Tasmanian Media must find its courage. Leaked Gunns emails require further scrutiny.

2011-09-13T13:42:00.002+10:00

These Emails are Genuine

(first published on Tasmanian Times 13/9/11 here)

by (Dr) Warwick Raverty, Clayton South, VIC. Former member, RPDC Panel.
13.09.11 6:42 am

Personally there is no doubt in my mind that these e-mails are genuine. There is so much agreement between the activities and dates contained in these e-mails and activities within the RPDC Assessment Panel near those dates – activities that are not even today in the public domain – that it would be virtually impossible for someone to have forged the e-mails. The e-mails make very interesting reading indeed, particularly the following sections:

...................

‘The site selection documentation is already significantly deficient in what is required in the [RPDC] Guidelines given that a detailed assessment process did not take place.’ {NAME DELETED} from Gavin Anderson & Co to Les Baker – EmailX_1 undated.

‘Neither John Gay or myself were consulted by you in relation to the selection process so I am not asking {NAME DELETED} to retrofit anything. Both of us and the board were the main parties that weighed up the information to hand.’ Les Baker to DELETED in EmailX_2 headed ‘Site Selection’ and dated 20 April 2006.

‘I have requested DELETED submit a paper urgently for me to forward to the RPDC in relation to defending our position were we would use less than 12 months data and how this would be adequate to calibrate the TAPM [acronym for The Air Pollution Model] model. The RPDC Panel intend to meet later this week [6 June 2005] to consider this paper,…………’ Les Baker to {NAME DELETED} in Email_5

‘Another issue which is worrying me is the report that Julian [Green] foreshadowed yesterday into our submission to be able to lodge without 12 months air data………Given the CSIRO {DELETED WORD} antagonism yesterday, we must assume the report won’t do us any favours……….{DELETED NAME} can’t satisfy the verification issues as requested) allow the dark side to discredit our entire case on air quality?’ {NAME DELETED} from Gavin Anderson & Co to Les Baker in Email_6, dated 20 Dec 2005

‘I believe in the air section you are trying to fess up to something unnecessarily.’ Les Baker to {NAME DELETED}, dated 4 July 2006, Email_8.

‘Table 9.2 has dioxin concentrations for various areas around Georgetown. For God’s sake what are {NAME DELETED} trying to do, bring down two Governments plus our company.’ Les Baker to {NAME DELETED} dated 3 April 2006, Email_9.

‘I have not looked but if the Dioxin concentration chart is there it will need to go. Pls get this reworked before we send to DPIWE.’ Les Baker to Richard Fawkes, dated 6 April 2006, Email_10.

‘I still don’t know how to convey the message that this issue [NOx emissions] is real and not something cooked up. We know from Metsa-Botnia [Timo Piilonen’s former employer] that they have been reporting erroneously [i.e. falsifying data to the Finnish EPA] and all their mills are now above 1.5 [kg NO2/air dried tonne of pulp produced] (i.e. Rauma, Joutseno, Kaskinen and Aanekoski) [Pulp Mills]. We know that in Wisaforest [Pulp Mill] Andritz [Gunns proposed equipment supplier] couldn’t keep their NOx guarantee and Wisaforest is above 1.5 kg NO2/ADt. All this will become public when last years data is publicized (June?). {NAME DELETED} from Poyry in Finland to {NAME DELETED} also of Poyry dated 5 March 2006, Email_11.

‘It is suggested in this report …………that the emission limit guidelines for NOx may not be complied with. If this is the case, then a robust argument will need to be presented to the RPDC as to why it cannot be met’ [emphasis in original] {NAME DELETED} from Poyry in Finland to {NAME DELETED} also from Poyry, dated 8 March 2006, Email_12.

‘Can we suggest that the NOx values are revised so that extra energy production [electricity from the chemical recovery boiler] allows higher NOx e.g. 0.1 kgNO2/ADt for each additional 10 MW (please check figures).’ {NAME DELETED} from Poyry in Finland to {NAME DELETED} also of Poyry, dated 9 March 2006, Email_13 headed ‘Late Idea’

.............................

The evidence before me in these documents lead me to the following conclusions:

1. That the reason that Gunns were so intransigent about providing quantitative data comparing the estimated capital and operating costs of pulp mills at Long Reach and Hampshire to the RPDC was that they had never bothered to make a thorough detailed assessment of the Hampshire option.

2. That, as I suggested in a recent post, John Gay, Les Baker and the Gunns Board are primarily to blame for the decision to eliminate the Hampshire option and for the parlous predicament in which the Company now finds itself.

3. That the decision to eliminate Hampshire was not based soundly on any of the criteria required under the RPDC Act. These documents provide further support to the assertion made to me in August 2005 by a very senior (and well connected) Tasmanian public servant that, ‘Gunns see a window of opportunity to pulp native forest woodchips from the East and South of the State, while continuing to export plantation woodchips from Hampshire to pay back monies loaned to build the mill’. In one of his less guarded moments, following his unceremonious dumping as Premier, Paul Lennon admitted as much in a newspaper interview.

4. That while Gunns were spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a ‘smoke and mirrors’ saturation media campaign claiming that the mill would be the cleanest and greenest in the world and that it met all of the RPDC Guidelines, their Finnish consultants were telling them loudly and clearly that it could not meet the Guidelines on NOx – one of the most highly irritating components of photochemical smog.

5. That there has been a consistent campaign by Gunns of hiding data on background dioxin levels from the community living in the Tamar Valley.

6. That Les Baker waged a long campaign of insisting that his underlings massage data provided by hired consultants so that key information was hidden from the RPDC and from the public.

7. That my assertions in March 2007 that John Gay did not comprehend the complexity of the project that he was contemplating are fully justified.

In closing, I wish to put on record that the RPDC did ultimately agree to Gunns submitting a draft IIS with a TAPM based on 9 months of meteorological data – AT THEIR OWN RISK. In so doing the Assessment Panel put Gunns on notice that the TAPM would have to include a full 12 months data before the RPDC would make an official recommendation to Parliament on whether or not to approve the proposal. In the end, the question became academic, because Gunns delayed submission of the draft IIS for so long that they had acquired the 12 months data by the time the document was completed.

The litany of deceit, greed and disrespect for the people of the Tamar Valley revealed in these 13 emails beggars description. It is almost certainly the tiniest tip of a very large and distasteful iceberg that only a Royal Commission will uncover. If only Tasmania had a Government with the probity and ethics to bring it on.

(Dr) Warwick Raverty

Clayton South, VIC

First published on the Tasmanian Times - here

Leaked pulp mill emails

2011-09-13T10:12:00.001+10:00

See emails here

See frormer RPDC pulp mill assessor's view here
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I believe what we have seen in this package of leaked emails is bad enough to warrant not only a lengthy investigation by the local media but more importantly a parliamentary investigation.

I wrote on this blog 4 months ago that if Gunns were serious about being a transparent company and proponent of a transparent Pulp Mill project and if the Tasmanian Government were serious about its claims that the pulp mill had been through the most rigorous assessment of any mill in the world then they must both agree to release all correspondence on the Pulp Mill. Time to put up or shut up.

Let both parties do the following.

1. Gunns make publically available all correspondence between itself and consultants involved in formulating its Pulp Mill IIS.
2 Let Gunns and the Tasmanian Government including DPAC, ministers and government departments release all correspondence on the pulp mill that was circulated between these parties, particularly up until the end of 2008.
3. All correspondence on the pulp mill between Gunns, the Tas Govt. and the RPDC made publically available.

I personally believe that if this correspondence was made publically available it would be a horror story of serious abuse of process, shortcutting, deceiving the public, secret deals, window dressing, spin & pressurising and would show how public and environmental health has been compromised to suit Gunns needs.
I believe it would also show that the Tamar Valley is environmentally unsuitable with the precautionary principle being turned upside down and the the pulp mill site selected for economic reasons only.
Environmental arguments and permits being fitted up thereafter to ensure that potential financiers have certainty with public and environmental health a secondary consideration.
I would urge everyone with a media contact to send these leaked emails on and ask that the story be covered. I predict not one media outlet in Tasmania will touch this and therein lies perhaps the biggest and perhaps most tragic insult to our democracy in this entire pulp mill saga. The abysmal failure of the Tasmanian media led by its Editors and its army of kid journo’s, typified by all of their depressing lack of courage and preference for superficiality.

Check out this link to Christine Milne's devatstating speech to the senate 4 months ago addressing some of the leaked documents we see in TT’s leaked email package

PILKO

A Comment on the Pulp Mill Permit saga.

2011-08-31T21:10:00.003+10:00

"The amendment of the Pulp Mill Assessment Act means that regulators can be certain that, should Gunns not have substantially commenced the project by 30 August 2011, the pulp mill permit lapses and Gunns' authority to build and operate the pulp mill is extinguished." Mr David Llewellyn PULP MILL ASSESSMENT AMENDMENT (CLARIFICATION) BILL 2009 (No. 102) Second Reading 5th November 2009

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It beggars belief that the EPA director is unsure if Gunns lack of project finance is relevant to a determination on whether the $2.5B pulp mill project has been substantially commenced (listen from 1.10 remaining in ABC Drive Northern Tasmania interview). Common sense would dictate that having the money to build the project/house you have a permit for would be fundamental.
What would the local council do about a lapsed permit to build a house if i told them "oh i've got the land alright and have done a bit of clearing, but i've got no money to build my house, despite having scoured the world for a loan for the last 7 years"?
Should we expect any reasonable planning body to extend a permit under such circumstances?
The excuse (curiously reinforced by ABC drive presenter Roisin McCann in what was an all too chummy interview on an issue for which many have a serious stake) given by the EPA director for the Government's professed inability to have an enforceable definition of Substantial Commencement and therefore be able to enforce the legislation they created (PULP MILL ASSESSMENT AMENDMENT CLARIFICATION BILL 2009) is that government did not for see Gunns not having commenced construction by the time permits lapsed.
If we accept this reason then it highlights the seriously shoddy and more concerning - the rubbery nature of the hastily cobbled together PMAA and the willingness for an avowed pro pulp mill government and opposition to vote for seriously flawed legislation.
As someone else wrote recently on the issue of pulp mill permits "if nobody knows for sure what “substantial commencement” really is then why was legislation containing such a term enacted in the first place?
Going on past form the EPA will toe the government line and rule that Gunns have susbtantially commenced construction of the pulp mill. Despite there being no sign of a pulp mill being built at Longreach, despite Gunns having no project finance, being massively in debt and in a trading suspension.
The reason why the Government have bizzarely abrogated its responsibility and refused to rule on substantial commencement or at the very least rule against activity on site until substantial commencment has been defined is the same reason why the Govt. pulled the Pulp Mill project from the RPDC 4 years ago.
Because the Tasmanian Government and Liberal opposition make decisions on the pulp mill based on their own party political self interest and Gunns interests and not on proper process.
The Tasmanian Government could not live with its the statutory planning body it created and charged with assessing the pulp mill - The RPDC - So they sidelined it. Now the same Government cant even live with its own biased fast track legislation which replaced the RPDC.
Why?
Most Tasmanians could answer this question. Because the Tasmanian Government was only ever been prepared to accept one outcome on the Pulp Mill.
Tasmanians see this very clearly and therein lies the reason why they are all so cynical about this project.
Make no mistake, Tasmanians are being set up by the government yes men as they construct an argument based on weasel words which will tell us the sky is pink even though we can all clearly see it is blue.

Liberal Senator Richard Colbeck must withdraw support for Pulp Mill if he is genuine.

2011-08-21T21:47:00.000+10:00

Based on Liberal Senator Richard Colbeck's call for Government to tear up the IGA because of large community protests over the weekend then Mr Colbeck must also recognise 6 years of mass community resistance against Gunns Pulp Mill including rallies of over 10,000 people in Launceston and 12,000 in Hobart as well as dozens of other large protests, public meetings and demonstrations.
Colbeck must be consistent and now withdraw his support for the Pulp Mill.
To do otherwise exposes Mr Colbeck as less concerned about Tasmanian communities and more concerned with maintaining the voter and financial support of the logging industry

What happened to the Statement of Principles?....and....Crean's pulp mill push.

2011-07-27T00:02:00.008+10:00

Have a listen to Tom Baxters interview with Leon Compton.

Baxters assessment show us that there is a very real chance that the Greens Party, ENGO's and indeed Tasmanians will be rolled on expected conservation outcomes promised through the so called forest peace deal, by the political patrons of the Tasmanian logging industry - The State and Federal Labor party.

Whats left of the so called 430,000 hectares of reserves once they have been through the so called independent verification process will then require legislation through the Tasmanian Parlaiment, however that legislation wont be ready for a year. That legislation will then need to pass the upper house.
Looking at the current make up of the upper house i would argue that MLC's who are hostile to the further conservation of forests out-number MLC's who would support them. Paul Harris and Greg Hall have already flagged they will block the so called 'lock up' of more forests through the heads of agreement.
Keep in mind that over the next year there will be ample opportunity for MLC's to be lobbied to block the conservation reserves and based on how accomodating the upper house were to logging interests during the fast track pulp mill assessment, those who are opposed to conservation outcomes in the heads of agreement will get a good hearing.

In the meantime the loggers are guaranteed their money. It cant be challenged or blocked.
Have the Greens, and ENGO signatories been screwed, out-manouvered.......again?

How many times have we seen this happen in Tasmania with these deals around forests?

The risk that government would waltz in at 5 minutes to midnight, call the tune and pull the rug out from under conservationists was always a risk when the entire deal was dependent on Federal Funding.
Indeed, the sleeping giant in the federal government has been awoken by the incessant pleas by ENGO's to pay out loggers. Now the Feds have obliged, on their own terms showing that they are prepared to impose their will on Tasmanian forests. The Forest Heads of Agreement clause 6 effectively dictates that all conservation groups, including anti-pulp mill groups end protests against the logging industry and its interests.
Non-signatory conservation groups like TCT, SWST, Code Green and HVEC have already rejected this clause outright. Its a given that all anti-pulp mill groups would also reject this clause.

It could get worse.
Minister for Regional Development Simon Crean has also been quite vocal this week that Tasmania should get a pulp mill as part of any deal on forests.

Interesting.

Remember a few months back when a pro pulp mill open letter signed by 100 local businesses, led by John Pitt of Pitt and Sherry was published in local Tasmanian papers? A few days after, leaked correspondence about the pro pulp mill letter was published Here.
In the correspondence, campaign organiser John Pitt states- .....
..........."I'm working on a strategy to manage a community feedback - post publication. Our objective here is to increase the level of communityengagement with the project. With this in mind l'm engaged in discussions with Regional Development Australia {www.rda.gov.au ). I think RDA could play a very useful role in facilitating/ leveraging greater levels of community engagement with Gunns after the advert is published. RDA functiors cauld include
--Receiving/ collating and representing feedback (not only in relation to this business stakeholder group but others as well)
--Connecting community groups or lndividuals with Gunns to discuss feeback
--Facilitating social benefit negotiations between the company and community groups - with subsequent agrcements aggegating to form the social contract (or accord) between the company and the community\
--Monitoring and evaluating the delivery of the social contract on behalf of the community over the project lifecycle - ie construction, commissioning & operations and decommissioning phases
Discussions to date are positive"

Is Simon Crean and the Gillard Government through Regional Development Australia preparing to spend more taxpayer dollars spruiking or directly funding Gunns proposed Tamar Valley pulp mill?

.................................

Baxter also raises serious questions about Gunns being 'compensated' for the wood supply contracts arguing that is difficult to see why Gunns should be compensated. Forestry Tasmania chief Bob Gordon also spoke strongly against Gunns recieving comp for getting out of Native forests.

To me Baxters assessment effectively highlights the willingness of government to continue to rort the public purse for the logging industry and subvert conservation outcomes, supporting a business as usual in Tassies forest. The ENGO's and Greens were warned about this entire shonky process. They chose not listen to their members and supporters and even gave a private commitment that they would not oppose the mill if there was a shift out of native forests .

The Tasmanian media and the handful of supporters of this deal still maintain the pretence that the forests deal will bring peace, yet the three groups who have driven forest protests in Tasmania, still wild still threatened and The Huon Valley Environment centre and Code Green do not support the heads of agreement and continue to protest. All Tamar Valley anti-pulp mill groups as well as the Tasmanian Conservation Trust dont support the agreement and vowed to protest the proposed Tamar Valley Mill for as long as it takes.

Perhaps its time for Andrew Wilkie to step in.

Interview with Tasmanian Cyclist Ben Grenda.

2011-07-14T00:08:00.000+10:00

Read here - Tas Endurance Website

Aprin's Bizzare reaction to Triabunna sale loss....and questions for the Tas Govt.

2011-07-13T21:57:00.001+10:00

Every day in Australia businesses compete with each over asset purchases. There are winners and losers.
However i have never seen a reaction by a beaten buyer like that which we saw today from Ron O'Connor of Aprin. Check it out Here.

Listen to more on the sale here and Here (story at 18mins to go on audio file)

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1. ABC reported Aprin's offer for the Triabunna mill was $16M. It has also been reported that theTas govt's loan to Aprin was $6M.

2. Gunns have sold the mill today for $10M. Aprin have said today that they could have also paid Gunns $10M.

3. This begs the question, why were the Tas Govt stumping up $6M?

4.Was the Government's $6M a component of Aprin's $16M offer. If so why were the Tasmanian Government stumping up an extra $6M more than what was needed by Gunns to sell the mill?

5. Was this $6M in fact a proxy tax payer funded donation/golden handshake for Gunns? Especially as we also know that it was the Tas Govt who approached Aprin to apply to the govt for a loan.

Triabunna Mill Sale

2011-07-13T17:30:00.000+10:00

Gunns statement on Triabunna mill sale

Breaking news.....ABC reporting Jan Cameron and Graeme Wood buys Triabunna woodchip mill.....and....Gunns set to sell Launceston office precinct

2011-07-13T10:43:00.004+10:00

Here and Here

Interview with Launceston Athlete Jake Birtwhistle

2011-07-13T10:39:00.000+10:00

Here- ABC DRIVE NORTHERN TASMANIA

Tour de France update.

2011-07-11T10:09:00.000+10:00

•The best way to describe the first week of the Tour would be a 'crash-fest'. Unbelievable. On Stage 9 two riders in a breakaway were knocked off their bikes by a French TV car and on an earlier stage a rider was cleaned up by one of the official motorbikes!

•We saw 2 medium mountain stages over the weekend. There were no major changes in time gaps amongst the big favourites.

However on Sunday night's Stage 9 in a big surprise Frenchmen Thomas Voeckler took advantage of a truce and a slowing in the peleton due to a large crash to take the yellow jersey and leads Cadel by 2 minutes 26secs.

•After this weeks 3 stages in the Pyrenees Voeckler should lose the jersey.

•Cadel Evans remains in 3rd place overall with a lead of 1min 42secs on Contador in 16th. Contador crashed again over the weekend. There is speculation he may have been pushed by another rider!

•The other of the big three - Andy Schleck is well placed 11 seconds behind Cadel in 5th.

•What did happen over the weekend was some of Cadels big GC rivals crashed out of the Tour including Brad Wiggins (broken collarbone), Alex Vinokourov (broken pelvis and elbow!) and few other notables.

•Rest day Monday (tonight) followed by sprinters stages on Tues and Wed. then Thursday night we start 3 days in the Pyrenees where the fireworks will really start amongst the big GC contenders.

•By next weekend we should have a much clearer idea of who will win Le Tour.

•If Cadel stays upright he may well win the tour ala Steve Bradbury!

•All 6 Aussies are o.k with Richie Porte and Matt Goss safe in the peleton and riding well

Kim Booth threatens no confidence motion in Giddings government over dodgy logging loan

2011-07-04T12:04:00.001+10:00

Listen the full interview on World Today now http://www.abc.net.au/rn/

Launceston's Richie Porte ready for Tour de France

2011-07-01T22:25:00.000+10:00

Portey Here

2011 Tour de France Stage by Stage

2011-06-21T21:56:00.000+10:00

Read More Here

Reports emerging that Launceston cyclist Matt Goss is set to leave the successful HTC Columbia team for new Australian Team 'GreenEdge'

Great Performances by Launceston Athletes over the weekend

2011-06-05T22:13:00.002+10:00

More Here

Farewell to Tasmania's top Journo.

2011-06-04T12:21:00.000+10:00

Sue Neales very revealing last Mercury Column. All the best Sue.

ANZ wont back Gunns Pulp Mill

2011-06-03T09:28:00.000+10:00

Read article Here

Gunns and the Tasmanian Government should now release all correspondence on the Pulp Mill. Put up or shut up

2011-05-25T22:38:00.000+10:00

Gunns and the Tasmanian Government should now release all correspondence on the Pulp Mill.
Time to put up or shut up.

If Gunns is such a transparent company and the Tasmanian government reckon the pulp mill has been through such a rigorous assessment then let them do the following.
1. Gunns make publically available all correspondence between itself and consultants involved in formulating its Pulp Mill IIS.
2 Let Gunns and the Tasmanian Government including DPAC, ministers and government departments release all correspondence on the pulp mill that was circulated between these parties, particularly up until the end of 2008.
3. All correspondence on the pulp mill between Gunns, the Tas Govt. and the RPDC made publically available.
That would be a start.
I believe that if this correspondence was made publically available it would be a horror story of shortcutting, deceiving the public, secret deals, abuse of process, pressurising and would show how public and environmental health has been compromised to suit Gunns needs. It would also show that the Tamar Valley is environmentally unsuitable with the precautionary principle being turned upside down and the the pulp mill site selected for economic reasons only. Environmental arguments and permits have been fitted up thereafter to ensure that potential financiers have certainty with public and environmental health a secondary consideration

ENGO's Pulp Mill double Game exposed.

2011-05-21T01:15:00.001+10:00

...Industry representatives said the environmental groups gave a "clear commitment" not to oppose the mill proposed for the Tamar Valley, north of Launceston, subject to several conditions.

These included Gunns amending mill licence conditions to guarantee native forests were not used in its feedstock, and the industry embracing a transition out of native forest logging, into plantations.
A statement of principles signed by industry groups in October last year committed to a transition of most the industry out of native forests and to "a pulp mill".
In March, Gunns amended its federal approvals to rule out native woodchip feedstock, a move publicly hailed by the green groups -- The Wilderness Society, Environment Tasmania and the Australian Conservation Foundation.
However, industry participants in the talks were angered when, after a backlash from sections of their constituencies and the Greens, TWS and Environment Tasmania then hardened their positions against the mill. "The green groups gave a private commitment that they would not oppose the mill if there was a shift out of native forests and now they're reneging," one industry source said........ENGO's Pulp Mill double Game exposed. From The Oz.

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I'm no Gunns' lobbyist: Lennon

2011-05-07T10:51:00.000+10:00

Well that would make a pleasant change Paul Read Here

This blog revealed Lennon's lobbying role Here and Here

Small farming community forum in Tasmania hosted by Phillip Adams

2011-05-05T18:13:00.000+10:00

"Tasmania boasts some of Australia's richest agricultural land, in fact the Tasmanian government boasts that the state has a big future as a food bowl for the nation. But Tasmania's small farmers are finding it more and more difficult to get a fair price for what they produce. To coincide with Tasmania's Agfest, Phillip Adams and the Late Night Live team are taking the show on the road for the second of this year's community forums". Listen Here

Oh no Tasmania doesnt need an anti-corruption watchdog (cough, cough)

2011-05-05T14:48:00.000+10:00

Think again.Read this report in today's Mercury

Tasmania forestry talks head for crash

2011-05-05T11:14:00.000+10:00

Matt Denholm writes in the Australian

Our Callous, Heartless State Government.

2011-05-05T09:59:00.001+10:00

"LAWYERS acting for a 12-year-old Hobart girl sold for sex in 2009 while a state ward have been denied access to her case files by the State Government.

The girl's court-appointed "separate representative", barrister Kate Mooney, is seeking an exceptional order in the Magistrates Court next week to force the release of the files.
The girl's lawyer Roland Browne has had three written requests to the Health and Human Services Department for access to the files stonewalled since October.
He is also seeking a court order next week for the files to be provided by the department, as he prepares a compensation and damages case against the Government.
The revelations have raised more suggestions the Government is suppressing information relating to its mishandling of the care of the girl, to protect Children's Minister Lin Thorp.
Ms Thorp is facing a critical election in her Upper House seat of Rumney on Saturday, with her chances of re-election already damaged by the child-prostitution case.
Liberal leader Will Hodgman said he feared the Government was more concerned about protecting Ms Thorp than it was about protecting the best interests of the girl.
"Who is the Government trying to protect here with its secrecy, the minister or the girl?" Mr Hodgman said.
"The simple conclusion is that this is more about Lin Thorp and the Government's self interest, and nothing to do with protecting the victim and other vulnerable children."
Legal bids to force the department to release the case files follow new proceedings in the children's division of the Hobart Magistrates Court in March. The Government was seeking to extend the child-protection order entrusting the girl to its care for another 12 months.
It is understood the girl's father opposed the extension of the order, arguing that the Government, through its Children and Family Services Department, had not shown it could be trusted to care properly for his daughter.
The magistrate in charge of the children's division adjourned the Government request to extend the protection order, appointing Ms Mooney as the girl's legal representative.
Legal experts last night told the Mercury it was unheard of in Australia for a Government that is also the girl's legal guardian to deny a court appointed representative access to a state ward's case files". Read More Here

Aioli Recipe

2011-05-04T19:52:00.000+10:00

Aioli recipe

•4 chopped garlic cloves

•1/2 tsp. salt

•1 tsp. lemon juice

•2-3 egg yolks

•1 1/2 cup olive oil

•1 tsp. fresh chopped oregano (optional)

Put the garlic, salt and herbs (if using) into a mortar and pound into a paste.

Add the lemon juice and egg yolks and pound some more, mixing and mashing well. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, mashing and mixing and stirring all the while -- it should take a good 5 minutes to get all the oil incorporated. Towards the end stages I use a hand held whisk and slowly whisk to bring the mixture up to a creamy/fluffy consistency. Take your time. I take up to 1/2 hour even longer. Why use a mortar and pestle? Beacuse You get a far better texture and the mashing brings out more of the aroma of the garlic and herbs. Eat on Bread, pita like a spread, on fish, meat, whatever takes your fancy.

Keep in the fridge until needed. Cover, this aioli will last a week in the refrigerator

Media Speculation about Gunns financial backers comes up short.

2011-05-04T15:34:00.003+10:00

Read the respective reports by The Mercury and The Examiner.

Note the Examiner report under this link is allegedly the 2nd published report.

Financial analyst Jarvis Cocker alleges to have contacted The Examiner Editor alerting them to errors in the original story, "suggesting they (Examiner) might like to scrap it and start again, which they dutifully did"

Then read the daming critique of the two news reports by financial analyst Jarvis Cocker Here.

Key Points in Cocker's expose;

The Gunns share price did nothing after the Macquarie announcement, as it was released to the ASX at 4.34pm, well after the market closed.
The National Australia Bank release hit the screen at 2.01pm, at which time Gunns were trading at 55.5 cents. As they closed at 55, it would have been more accurate for The Examiner to report ``Gunns shares softened after NAB announcement.’’
Nothing in the Macquarie release gives me the impression the bank is looking at Gunns as anything other than a toy for short-selling. Like some other institutions that pop up on the registry from time to time, Macquarie clearly sees the direction of the share price - spiralling towards nothing. In short, a perfect stock for shorting; not so good for adding to growth portfolios.
NAB isn’t buying shares on its own account. The majority are held either by subsidiary MLC, or by individuals and corporates using NAB’s trustees services. Although given NAB’s hapless record of corporate investment, perhaps it’s appropriate they are taking an interest in Gunns.

See the ASX releases in question Here under the tab GUNNS LIMITED announcements.
The two NAB releases in question on 21/4/2011 and 4/5/2011. The two Mac Bank releases in question on 21/4/2011 and 3/4/2011.

Pilko (with compliments to Jarvis)

3 Reports.......Federal protections needed against sexual orientation and sex/and or gender identity discrimination......and.........Legislative Council Select Committee Tourism In Tasmania........and........Has Federal Hotels become a sustainable tourism industry leader or a debt laden gambling dependent predator?

2011-05-04T10:19:00.003+10:00

REPORT -Federal protections needed against sexual orientation and sex/and or gender identity discrimination

"There is broad support for federal laws protecting people from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and sex and/or gender identity, the Australian Human Rights Commission has found. Releasing the Addressing sexual orientation and sex and/or gender identity discrimination consultationreport today, Commission President and Human Rights Commissioner Catherine Branson QC, said a consultation undertaken last year had heard compelling evidence of the need for such laws. “The Commission’s consultation revealed numerous and distressing stories of how people’s lives had been impacted and damaged by discrimination, violence or bullying on the basis of their sexual orientation and sex and/or gender identity,” Ms Branson said. “We also heard lots of different views on how human rights protections for this group of people could be strengthened, but by far the most frequently suggested solution was the inclusion of protections in federal laws.”.....

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Report - Legislative Council Select Committee Tourism In Tasmania

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Report - Has Federal Hotels become a sustainable tourism industry leader or a debt laden gambling dependent predator?

Incredible! Beautiful! Brutal!. Giro d'Italia 2011 stage by stage analysis.May 7-28. Live on Eurosport. Highlights and limited Live stages on SBS......and.....Flowery Gully ride

2011-05-03T11:00:00.005+10:00

The first of cycling's three grand tours, the Giro d'Italia, gets underway this month. Tune in to SBS for daily highlights at 6pm on SBS TWO from Sunday 8 May plus catch four live stages including Stage 9, Stage 14, Stage 20 and Stage 21 also on SBS TWO and streamed LIVE at Cycling Central.

Giro-ditalia-2011-stage-by-stage-analysis

.............................

Yesterday i went on one of my favourite local rides out through Exeter, Winkleigh and Flowery Gully.

I am ashamed to say that i still avoiding the big climb over Flowery Gully. However yesterday i did all but and it is still a challenging ride with plenty of rolling hills and dead roads. Aiming to take on the full loop in next week or two. Gravelly Beach-Batman Bridge-Beaconsfield-Flowery Gully/Winkleigh-Exeter-Home.(47km hilly). A quiet, but very challenging and scenic country ride.

The full loop is best done on the weekend when the log truck traffic is minimal.

Bin Laden dead.

2011-05-02T12:49:00.004+10:00

Sounds like the US are claiming it was one of their missiles about a week ago. US has his body. DNA samples confirm. If u r near fox news, turn it on. Hilarious.

Police union 'no job cuts' campaign could be election decider.

2011-04-30T18:28:00.001+10:00

Launceston Deputy Mayor and Upper House seat of Launceston candidate, Rosemary Armitage needs to get on the "no job cuts for police" bandwagon quick smart or she risks being over run by Mcquestin.
Tasmania's unelected Premier, Lara Giddings Kennett-esque tantrum today over the Police Unions campaign to target upper house candidates made her look as callous and politically hard hearted as she is reported to be. The Tasmanian police union should be commended for their stance not berated by grumpy giddings.
The cause is a winner with the general public and any upper house candidate that does not hitch themselves to the "no job cuts for police" bandwagon could potentially miss out on an election win next weekend

Friends of Tamar Valley - Tony Burke operating outside the Law

2011-04-30T10:25:00.001+10:00

Media Release

ENVIRONMENT MINISTER

BREACHES LAW ON PULP MILL

Minister Burke has failed to produce a document containing the reasons for his recent pulp mill decisions, contrary to his legal requirement to do so.
Almost two months ago community group Friends of the Tamar Valley wrote to Minister Burke to request written reasons for the decisions he made in early March 2011. The law requires Minister Burke to have produced the reasons within four weeks, yet they are still to be provided.
“The only excuse from the Minister’s Department is that it is too busy,” lawyer, and FTV spokesperson, Vanessa Bleyer said. “It is difficult to comprehend how the government can be too busy to comply with the law. It is also difficult to understand why the government thinks this is a sufficient excuse for not complying with the law.”
“This response comes off the back of a corrupt government approval process for the proposed pulp mill, an issue currently before Tasmania’s recently established Integrity Commission,” Ms Bleyer said. “The people of Tasmania have had enough of governments acting as if they are above the law in respect of this proposed pulp mill.”
“FTV calls on Minister Burke to explain:
• how and why his Department can be too busy to comply with the law; and
• when he will produce the reasons that the law required him to do weeks ago,” Ms Bleyer concluded.

Celebrating the Royal Wedding

2011-04-29T18:00:00.005+10:00

Well i dont know about you but the wife and i are just settling in for another round of cucumber sandwiches, scones and devonshire tea. Lunch today was spatchcock and winter vegeatbles....of course....washed down with a a few bottles of bolly. Few people realise that Gravelly Beach, as well as being the home of the Tasmanian Liberal Party of which my wife and i are proud card carrying members, is also Tasmania's home of the Monarchy. Indeed, former leader of the Liberal Party Rene Hidding was seen taking a high tea at the local gravelly beach cafe yesterday. Unfortunately for Rene he was not invited to our pre wedding lunch, but the local dutch community was well represented amongst the 100 or so monarchists at our digs today.
Being staunch monarchists we wouldnt miss Catherine and William's wedding for the world.
Today is a celebration of the the mother country, the Hodgman Family, old buildings, aloof chaps and chappettes, tradition, designer labels, expensive bubbly and awfully good manners. Everything that defines the Royals.
Anna and i are terrificly excited for the future Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and only wish we had time in our schedule to take up the wedding invitation offer. Thankfully our good friend Thorpey has promised to pass on our apologies to HM and the family.
God save the Queen.

Pilko

Conversations: Richard Fydler interviews Rodney Croome.

2011-04-28T11:14:00.001+10:00

A must listen Here

The Examiner exposed again on Gunns reporting.

2011-04-27T11:06:00.001+10:00

``.........Major Banks Back Gunns’’ read the headline. (On TT: HERE) The story went on to claim shares in the company `soared’ 6 per cent after National Australia Bank and Macquarie Bank announced substantial shareholder notices. There was also the claim Unisuper increased its stake in the company to 7.99 per cent ``last week.’‘ Wrong, wrong and wrong.
There were so many errors in the story, I emailed the editor, suggesting they might like to scrap it and start again, which they dutifully did (surprisingly - the Examiner chaps don’t like Jarvis much).
First, the share price did nothing after the Macquarie announcement, as it was released to the ASX at 4.34pm, well after the market closed.
The National Australia Bank release hit the screen at 2.01pm, at which time Gunns were trading at 55.5 cents. As they closed at 55, it would have been more accurate for The Examiner to report ``Gunns shares softened after NAB announcement.’’
Greg wouldn’t have liked that.
Second, nothing in the Macquarie release gives me the impression the bank is looking at Gunns as anything other than a toy for short-selling......." Read More Here

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CANDIDATES TO STATE POSITION ON PULP MILL

2011-04-26T15:12:00.001+10:00

MEDIA RELEASE

26 April 2011

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CANDIDATES

TO STATE POSITION ON PULP MILL

Friends of the Tamar Valley has sent a personal letter to each of the legislative council candidates, giving them the opportunity to state their position on the proposed pulp mill.
“Upper House candidates must clarify for Tasmanians their views and intentions on Gunns’ proposed Tamar Valley pulp mill,” spokesperson for FTV Vanessa Bleyer said.
“The Tamar Valley Pulp Mill remains one of the biggest and most controversial issues in Tasmania. Before Tasmanians vote they should know candidates views and intentions on the issue”.
“The people deserve to know whether the candidate:
• believes a thorough risk assessment of the pulp mill proposal has been undertaken
• would vote for or against any changes to the Pulp Mill Assessment Act 2007
• would vote for or against any further state government funding to support the proposed pulp mill,”
Ms Bleyer said.

Friends of the Tamar Valley calls on the candidates to let their position be known without delay.

For further information contact:
- Vanessa Bleyer of FTV on 0412 58 68 48.
- Legislative council candidates. Contact details on page 4 of attached TEC document.Here

Ride

2011-04-25T14:55:00.001+10:00

A fairly solid ride this morning. 43km around the Tamar. 92minutes in the saddle. Riding up blackwall hill still causes me to turn the color of a beetroot. When i get to the top at the West Tamar intersection i try to give the impression to observers in passing cars that it was a breeze as i choke back the vomit.
For fellow relic cyclists out there who like me suffer from bike related back pain, try flipping your handlebar stem (Here) so you are not leaning forward as far to reach the handlebars. In other words you sit slightly more upright thus decreasing the strain on stiff lower back. I find i get a lot more power when i'm comfortable even though i may be in a slightly less aero position.
Settling in this arvo for the big Anzac Day game from the MCG.
ciao
PILKO

Getting Fitter.

2011-04-23T23:37:00.000+10:00

Over the last few weeks i've tried to increase my mileage in the pool and on the bike. Running is still tricky with a chronic niggle in my knee which is proving hard to get rid of.
Today i swam 2.8km (112laps of 25m pool) for a weekly total of 8.4km. About 2km shy of what i really need as weekly total. A few years ago 3.5-4km was a standard swim for me in not much more than 1hr.
It will take a little while to return to those numbers consistently. Those distances can leave you feeling pretty shagged until you find the fitness again.
Yesterday i managed 45km bike (1hr 50min) in windy conditions. I'm really enjoying the cycling at present. Autumn is the best time of year for cycling with mild and still conditions.
Tomorrow i'll aim for another short run and maybe a short ride in the arvo to end the week.
Have a happy and safe Easter.

Racism. Alive and Well in Tasmania.

2011-04-23T11:39:00.005+10:00

Racism alive and well in Tassy and Here
.......................................................................
A big four wheel drive down the road from my house carries the 'Fuck of we're Full' bumper sticker. Among other bumper stickers on this same car is a "Pulp Mill, our future, our jobs" sticker.
It aint the only car or big truck with this combo that i've seen in this area. The 4WD in question doesnt live far from the log truck driver who after hurling abuse at me recently told me "all you cyclists are c--#*s!
And i'm meant to sit back and watch my community handed over to people like this?
PILKO

A frightening portrait of the next American president? Sarah Palin: The Sound and the Fury

2011-04-21T23:24:00.001+10:00

Warm and effusive in public, indifferent or angry in private: this is the pattern of Palin’s behavior toward the people who make her life possible. A onetime gubernatorial aide to Palin says, “The people who have worked for her—they’re broken, used, stepped on, down in the dust.” On the 2008 campaign trail, one close aide recalls, it was practically impossible to persuade Palin to take a moment to thank the kitchen workers at fund-raising dinners. During the campaign, Palin lashed out at the slightest provocation, sometimes screaming at staff members and throwing objects. Witnessing such behavior, one aide asked Todd Palin if it was typical of his wife. He answered, “You just got to let her go through it… Half the stuff that comes out of her mouth she doesn’t even mean.” When a campaign aide gingerly asked Todd whether Sarah should consider taking psychiatric medication to control her moods, Todd responded that she “just needed to run and work out more.” Her anger kept boiling over, however, and eventually the fits of rage came every day. Then, just as suddenly, her temper would be gone. Palin would apologize and promise to be nicer. Within hours, she would be screaming again. At the end of one long day, when Palin was mid-tirade, a campaign aide remembers thinking, “You were an angel all night. Now you’re a devil. Where did this come from?”

The intensity of Palin’s temper was first described to me in such extreme terms that I couldn’t help but wonder if it might be exaggerated, until I heard corroborating tales of outbursts dating back to her days as mayor of Wasilla and before. One friend of the Palins’ remembers an argument between Sarah and Todd: “They took all the canned goods out of the pantry, then proceeded to throw them at each other. By the time they got done, the stainless-steel fridge looked like it had got shot up with a shotgun. Read more in Vanity Fair

Gunns Slapped! Big Woodchipper gets a bit of its own medicine

2011-04-21T10:00:00.000+10:00

"MORE than 300 shareholders who have collectively lost tens of millions from their investment in timber group Gunns have joined a class action launched by law firm Maurice Blackburn.
The shareholder action was filed in the Federal Court of Sydney yesterday afternoon.
It alleges Gunns breached its disclosure obligations because it knew its financial position had deteriorated significantly ahead of the release of its first-half 2010 results yet failed to adequately warn the market of the situation. Maurice Blackburn senior associate Jason Geisker said the class included institutional and retail investors and the quantum of the claim represented "tens of millions of dollars". The shareholders have entered an agreement with Perth-based IMF to fund the litigation.
Mr Geisker said Gunns was aware by August 31, 2009, that its results would be significantly worse compared with the same period a year previously but it did not tell the market this, breaching its continuous disclosure obligations. "(There was) significant risk that Gunns' public statements as to the state of its business were materially inaccurate," the statement of claim says". Read More Here

Will the real Rosemary Armitage stand up please?.......and.......Mcquestin gets desperate. Liberal smear campaign has started

2011-04-20T22:33:00.006+10:00

The Two faces of the Launceston Deputy Mayor, Rosemary Armitage on the Gunns Pulp Mill issue.

February 18 2011 - A Clear, confident, concise No Tamar Valley pulp mill Deputy Mayor Listen Here
"As far as I'm concerned a mill in the Tamar Valley really isnt a viable option"...well they put a lot into Launceston and we are very happy to have them here but as for their pulp mill well that another matter altogether"

April 20 2011 - In campaign mode and sounding an awful lot like our friends at the Wilderness Society. What the?? - Listen Here
Leon Compton - "Based on where its up to now, broadly, it should go ahead in your view"
Rosemary Armitage - "Based on where its up to now, i believe the ball is firmly back in Gunns court".
Leon Compton - "It will be interesting, i think broadly that can be said to be some sort of support".
Rosemary Armitage - "Oh well we wont go quite that far, I'm not saying i'm supporting or not supporting. I have concerns with the Tamar Valley, as i've always had concerns with the Tamar Valley, but i also see the need for forestry and industry to work together"

..........................

Liberal's smear campaign against Armitage has started. Read More Here

Racism alive and well at Tasmanian AFL Footy matches

2011-04-20T15:50:00.000+10:00

Here Here Here Here

Richie Porte the face of new cycling event in Launceston

2011-04-20T11:10:00.000+10:00

"Saxo Bank-Sungard's Richie Porte has been announced as an ambassador for the Launceston Pro-Ex cycling week, a new and unique event offering amateur cyclists from across the globe a chance to immerse themselves in a professional cycling experience. Running from November 20 to 27, the Pro-Ex will be the first training camp of the Australian season. "I am thrilled with the opportunity to share my passion for cycling with participants at the Launceston Pro-Ex," Porte said. "Being part of the Launceston Pro-Ex allows me to give something back to my hometown, where the scenic terrain helped shape my interest in cycling and inspired my career." Read More Here

Question mark over Forestry Chief's parliamentary evidence

2011-04-19T10:05:00.000+10:00

...."However, if Mr Gordon is implying he is unable to name bad debtors due to their status of being ASX listed companies, then he is incorrect. Nowhere, in either ASX listing rules or Corporations Law, is there a restriction on publication of data relating to debtors, either sound or in breach of their commitments. If that means Mr Gordon has inadvertently misled Parliament, then he has the opportunity to put the record straight"....Read More Here

Windy riding in the Tamar.

2011-04-18T17:53:00.000+10:00

Had a good 40km hitout around lunchtime today. Rode from home (gravelly beach) south to muddy creek hill near legana and then returned and rode just shy of the deviot hall then back home to gravelly.
Shade over 90 minutes in the saddle.
The return journey from muddy creek hill was a bitch at nearly 19km straight into a headwind. But hey thats the idea isnt it?
I cant wait to get fit enought to head out and race with the vets again (yep i'm old) or at least train with some fitter blokes again. Need to work on some core strength also to keep the back strong.
Anyway, enough about you lets talk more about me!
Cant wait for another late night on a wednesday with another of the spring classics - The 201km La Fleche Wallone bike race from Belgium. Sadly a knee injury will prevent last years winner Cadel Evans from defending his title. Live on Eurosports from 10pm

Forestry Tasmania a failed GBE?? Publicly listed Tasmanian 'Forest companies' (cough,cough) owe state $40M. What the??

2011-04-18T16:54:00.002+10:00

Forestry Tasmania debt burden grows - From ABC online

Forestry Tasmania is trying to recoup $40 million in unpaid debts.
A parliamentary committee has heard the level of debt owed to Forestry Tasmania is growing and now exceeds $40 million.
Forestry Tasmania's chief executive Bob Gordon is giving evidence to a Legislative Council inquiry into Forestry Tasmania's financial position.
Mr Gordon says Forestry is trying to recoup $40 million in unpaid debts.
He refused to name the companies owing money, saying it would be inappropriate because some are publicly listed. Since the last financial report, the length of time taken to retrieve those debts has extended from 85 to 89 days. Mr Gordon says up to a third are current debts. He says the state-owned company has worked hard to cut costs, including reducing staff from 530 to 350 since January 2007. Many of the employees were in the company's Mersey District which was axed, but staff have also been cut from head office and other areas.

Cane Toad in Tasmania

2011-04-17T10:50:00.002+10:00

A stirring in the loins of the silver bodgies and mates of the mill. The Gunns Pulp MIll Advertisement, Signatories ..........and.......Why the pulp mill is a white elephant and not a white knight

2011-04-14T22:14:00.028+10:00

Over the last few days a two page pro-pulp mill advert replete with names of 100 businesses (mates of the mill) appeared in Tasmania's three major rags, The Mercury, Examiner & Advocate newspapers.
The ad was straight out of the Paul Lennon book of pulp bullshit circa 2007. That being - "Tassie is rooted without Johns (now Gregs) mill". Remember the promise of an annual cheque of $870 for all Tasmanians and squillions of full time jobs for Tasmanians? Ah, those were the days.
Unbelievably three (Forestry Tas, Tasrail and Tasports) of Tamania's government business enterprises signed this letter and we know that one (Tasports) at least contributed your taxpayer dollars to the ad.

Question is:- How many businesses were offered to sign or participate in this ad? From the looks of this list, a hell of a lot. Which begs the question - How many businesses either ignored the offer or refused to sign on? Well today, organiser of the pro pulp mill ad John Pitt, of Pitt & Sherry told the Examiner "more than 300 businesses statewide" were contacted to get 100 to sign his pro-pulp mill advert. Surely Mr Pitt could be more specific. More than 300? What 400? 500? 350? Regardless, 100 takers out of 300 plus does not speak well of the mills popularity with Tasmanians.

Quite clearly there has been a stirring in the loins of Tasmania's silver bodgies and mates of the mill.
In the last few weeks we have seen the emergence of the pro-pulp mill ad as well as the Launceston Chamber of Commerce and Industry describing a recent Gunns commissioned benefits only economic report on the pulp mill as "independent". The Chamber are hosting a "Pulp Mill Economic Forum" for the mates on Wednesday 20 April 2011, 12pm—1.30pm at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, Launceston with the author of Gunns latest economic report, Jon Stanford of Insight Economics presenting a summary.
No doubt this flurry of activity by the mates and silver bodgies has been in response to the large turnouts in recent anti-pulp mill public meetings and protests held in the Launceston area.
Details of the ad Here and Here. List of Signatories to the Pro-pulp mill ad below.
Why the pulp mill is a white elephant and not a white knight - Here

PILKO
............................................................................
Business and Vested Interests supporting Gunns proposed Tamar Valley Pulp Mill

820 Management Services - Andrew Heap
AP Kempe Engineering - Roger Albregt
Abrasive Balsting & Coating Pty Ltd - Alen Lee
Acrodata - John Groom
AJL - Andrew Lawson
Amax Engineering Tas Pty Ltd - Rob Mantach
Andrew Walter Construction - Andrew Walter
AT&M Integrated Marketing - David Peck
Austins Caravans - Dennis Austin
Austral Bricks -- Daniel Balser
AWM Electrical - Sean Sullivan
Baily Investments Pty Ltd - John Baily
Bell Bay Industry Group - Robert Gozzi
Beyond IT Solutions - Paul Morrison
BLH Group of Companies Pty Ltd - Shane Gill
Brierley Hose and Handling - John Brierley
Britton Timbers - Glenn, Ross and Shawn Britton
Broxburn Civil Construction - Terry Taylor
Bruce Stevenson Toyota - Sam Nixon
Build Tech Supplies Pty Ltd - Greg Muir
Chas Kelly Transport - Chas Kelly
Clark BD Building Contractor Pty Ltd - Barry Clark
Clarkes Painting Services Pty Ltd - Dennis Clarke
Clipsal Australia - Rick Tapp
Confab Engineering - Ross Edmunds
Contact Electrical -Bill Fromberg
Corporate Communications Tas Pty Ltd - Tony Harrison
Cottage Bakery Scottsdale - Mary Partridge
CPT Engineering - Geoff Watson
D&W Electrical - Sean Sullivan
De Bruyn’s Transport - John De Bruyn
Delta Hydraulics - John White
Don Willing & Associates Pty Ltd - Don Willing
East Tamar Maintenance Services Pty Ltd - Chris Barcza
Elphinstone Engineering - Graeme Elphinstone
Falconer Group - Robert Falconer
Forestry Tasmania - Robert Gordon
ForestWorks - Michael Hartman
Forum Projects - Doug Gray
George Town Chamber of Commerce - Maureen Lacey
George Town Plumbing - John Cooper
GK Earles - Gavin Earles
Glasgow Engineering Co Pty Ltd - John Hutton
Gradco - Oliver Diprose
Grant Mawer Engineering Pty Ltd - Grant Mawer
Harcourts East Tamar - Maureen Lacey
Harvey World Travel - Mark Brown
Haywards Steel Fabrication & Construction - Steve Edmunds
Hobart Mid City Hotel - Michael Larissey
Hudson Civil - Michael Hudson
Hunters Products Tas Pty Ltd - Mark Hateley
Incat - Bob Clifford
Insight 4 - Jared Hill
Island Block & Paving Pty Ltd - Phil Thurlow
ISW Development - Ian Warner
Jacob Hall Electrical - Jake Hall
James Groom & Co Lawyers - James Groom
KC & KN Hall - Ken & Karen Hall
Lester Franks - Malcolm Lester
Liferaft Systems Australia Pty Ltd - Mike Grainger
Lloyds North Pty Ltd - Philip Molineux
Maintenace Systems - Richard Eveleigh
Mancell Financial Group - Peter Mancell
Mechanised Logging Pty Ltd - Jillian Aylett Brown
Mersey Sheet Metal - Kent Taylor
Muir Engineering - John Muir
Murdoch Clarke - Damian Egan
MWPR Pty Ltd - Mark Wells
Nekon Pty Ltd - Robert Rockefeller
Novaris Pty Ltd - Diane & Philip Tompson
Onetrak Pty Ltd - David Hazell
Park Homes - Tony Park
Penguin Composites - David Mercer
Peppers York Cove Hotel & Restaurant - Errol Stewart
Philp Lighton Architects - Andrew Floyd
pitt & sherry - John Pitt
Power and Automation - Josh Illingworth
PowerTek Australia Pty Ltd - Peter Freeman
Premium Constructions - David Murray
PSG Russell Smith - Gregg Sharman
Quest Launceston - Rob Matson
RIMS Engineering - Peter Buzza
RMD Australia - Lester Willoughby
Roadways Group Pty Ltd - Phil Sidney
Robert Fergusson/BGW Group - Mike Sigginsq
Russell Allport & Co - Robert Godfrey
Samjack Pty Ltd - Yvonne & Noel Gerke
Saunders & Ward Pty Ltd - Nick Saunders
Scotcon - Gideon Mitchell
SeaRoad Logistics - Roger Wills
Searson Buck - Stephen Porter
Shepherd & Heap - Blake Shepherd
SICC Services - Tim Blair
Skilled - Peter Flight
Stacpoole Enterprises Pty Ltd - Richard & Harry Stacpoole
Stallards Camera House - David Stallard
Stornoway Hewitt Pty Ltd - Reg Hewitt
Stronach Labour Force Pty Ltd - Michael Brill
Stronach Timber Industries - Michael Brill
Stubbs Construction Pty Ltd - Wayne Licht
Stylemaster Mensland (George Town) - Ben Bottle
Superstructure Pty Ltd - Andrew Mortimer
Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce & Industry - Robert Wallace
Tasmanian Electrical Services Pty Ltd - Denis Williams
Tasmanian Helicopters - Darryl Taylor
Tasports - Paul Weedon
Tasrail - Damien White
TasSpans - John Weller
Temtrol Technologies Pty Ltd` - Graeme Radford / Richard Bennett
Total Surface Protection - Karlo Karacic
Treloar Transport - John Treloar
Unique Doors Tasmania - Ted Bosveld
Venarchie Contracting - Hugh Maslin
Vos Construction - Michael Vos
WA Cromarty & Co Pty Ltd - William Cromarty
Webster Ltd - Leigh Titmus
Wootton & Byrne Pty Ltd - Brad Wootton
WP Martin - Andrew Bowen

Wilkie Death Threats

2011-04-13T11:16:00.003+10:00

Here and Here

The Hypocrisy of Will Hodgman on Planning. Canal Estate Ban and the Pulp Mill.

2011-04-12T16:23:00.001+10:00

When Gunns, enabled by the Tasmanian Government, withdrew its Tamar Valley pulp mill proposal from Tasmania's planning commission, conservation groups and the planning system itself were blamed by Will Hodgman's Liberals. Gunns CEO John Gay had disendorsed Tasmanias statutory planning scheme and Will Hodgmans Liberals quickly fell into line behind the Premier and Gunns. Singing from the same song sheet Will Hodgman, Paul Lennon and John Gay were adamant that Gunns were blameless. John Gay and Gunns were framed by Will Hodgman's Liberal Parliamentarians as the victim of a fatally flawed planning system. The entire Tasmanian Liberal party turned on the planning scheme it had previously helped create, in favour of Gunns.
For most Tasmanians this was hard to stomach. They turned off Gunns and they turned off Will Hodgman's Liberals. Infact they turned off all Tasmanian politicians.
Now powerful people in the Liberal party have got young Will by the ear again over proposed government legislation to ban canal estate developments in Tasmania. Suddenly, according to Will Hodgman the planning commission is the good guy again.
The planning commission is once again the independent umpire which Will Hodgman and Paul Lennon once told us would 'sift the good projects from the bad". The Ralphs Bay development, an unpopular development to be sited in Will Hodgman's own electorate of Franklin, not surprisingly, was not supported by his party. Yesterday Will Hodgman tells The Mock, the Ralphs Bay canal estate proposal was "properly decided by the commission". "The independent planning is the authority that should decide," Mr Hodgman said..
Yet the Gunns pulp mill proposed for the Tamar Valley, a project that was set to be rejected by the planning commission maintains the blind support of Will Hodgman's Liberal's, a party that has close and long term ties with Gunns. 4 years ago.
When Gunns decided the planning commission assessing its pulp mill project no longer had its support, that was good enough for Hodgman and he quickly fell into line, laying the boots into the RPDC in and outside of the parliament.
Will Hodgman's hypocrisy on planning, canal estates and the pulp mill is yet another example of big powerful political parties playing politics with the futures of your communities.
Will, you are weak, inconsistent and if you ever become premier, it will only be because you do a "Bradbury" and the current mob hand it to you through their own ineptitude.

Greens call on Government to ban Tasmanian politicians from working in two levels of Government

2011-04-08T16:43:00.000+10:00

"THE Greens have launched a push against state politicians being allowed to hold paid positions as councillors and mayors. Greens MP Kim Booth told Parliament yesterday he would introduce legislation next week outlawing what he called double trough syndrome.
Mr Booth said it was not just an issue of salary double-dipping but also about better government transparency and giving taxpayers and ratepayers fair value for their money.
A successful move would force Lower House Liberal MP Mark Shelton to forfeit his position as Meander Valley council mayor, and Upper House independent MLCs Adriana Taylor and Mike Gaffney to resign as mayors of Glenorchy and Latrobe.
Launceston councillor and former mayor Ivan Dean, who sits in the Legislative Council, would also be forced to resign from the council.
Members of the Legislative Council are paid more than $115,000, as well as receiving free cars, mobile phones, offices, staff and computers, to work full time in their local electorates.
Mayors get stipends above $35,000 a year for what is considered a full-time elected position in local government"....Read More in The Mercury
Earlier on TPOS - Ban the double dip.

Gunns threatens to pull out of South Aus. if it doesnt get what it wants. Sound Familiar?

2011-04-04T18:14:00.002+10:00

..."Timber giant Gunns will exit the region and move interstate if the State Government proceeds with the forward sale of state-owned timber assets, the company has warned. In a submission made to Wednesday’s senate inquiry in Mount Gambier, scathing criticism was directed at the government for its “little consultation, arrogant and unprofessional behaviour” and the uncertainty it had created within the industry across the South East.".... Read More Here

Oh Colin.

2011-04-04T10:51:00.000+10:00

WA Premier lays the boots into Tasmania

The pulp mill or 'a pulp mill'? Oh what a tangled web they weave.

2011-04-02T00:08:00.000+11:00

ABC Drive North Tas

Giddnings, Thorp and O'Connor with egg on their faces

2011-04-01T23:19:00.001+11:00

Lara Giddings will cost her party government. The culture of crony capitalism, mean and dishonest government is back with a vengeance under Giddings. Twice in the space of two weeks has Giddings been forced to admit she either lied or attempted to cover up ministerial misconduct.

First Giddings was forced to apologise in the parliament for attempting to mislead the public over the pulp mill on ABC radio. Now after a week of making the most insulting and insincere excuses for Thorp, the Premier is in damage control again. And hasnt Cassy O'Connor got egg on her face after she once again went into bat for a Labor cabinet colleague isntead of calling the Thorp situation in an honest and open fashion, in a way that honored the tradition of courageous green parliamentarians like Peg Putt and Christine Milne. Indeed, a day after O'Connor glossed over Thorps sins, partner and Greens leader contradicted O'Connor by calling for Thorp to apologise.

There remains a serious ethical vaccuum in the Tasmanian Parliament. Who will stand up and turn this current rabble into something the average Tasmanian can have some pride in?

ABC mornings curiously short interview with Professor Quentin Beresford

2011-04-01T10:30:00.000+11:00

Interview kicks in with about 10 minutes to go Here

The Gunns CEO or his PR people? Another bizzare and ill advised spray for Richard Flanagan and Tasmanian pulp mill opponents.

2011-03-31T12:34:00.001+11:00

Below are just a few of the pearls of wisdom postulated by Gunns CEO Greg L'Estrange in a Bizzare and ill advised PR piece published on ABC's 'The Drum Unleashed'

...."For opponents to present the pulp mill as “the next Franklin” is a gross misrepresentation of the environmental values of the Tamar Valley. To represent it as such insults the passions and convictions of the thousands of people who took to the bulldozers to stop an icon of pristine wilderness from being inundated".

....."The genesis for the Forest Agreement talks was the initiative shown by veteran forest campaigner Sean Cadman approaching me to see if some sort of peace might not be found on my taking over the CEO’s role at Gunns. An outbreak of peace I would like to continue".

...."They are acting in good faith, and recognising that their central goals of secure high conservation value forests and jobs and businesses in remaining forestry, are ones worth having. Mr Flanagan has no skin in this game. The Forest Agreement talks are possibly too complex for Mr Flanagan’s simple view of the world. The forestry sector doesn’t have an eloquent and engaged (or enraged) fiction writer to carry forward their case to a mainland audience, but they are no less passionate, and no less concerned about the prospect of the pulp mill being sacrificed on the altar of opponents’ distaste for Gunns".

The biggest day of Sport in Belgium - The Tour of Flanders. Sunday April 3 live on SBS from 10.30pm

2011-03-31T10:55:00.000+11:00

A Preview

Greens Minister Cassy O'Connor toes Labor Government line on Thorp....and....Wilkie says Mckims Greens compromised

2011-03-30T19:15:00.004+11:00

Wilkie on Mckim's Greens
Greens toe Labor Government line on Thorps confidentiality breach

Greens MP Cassy O'Connor needs to think very hard about who put her in the Tasmanian Parliament.
For O'Connor to deliberately ignore Thorp's clear breach of confidentiality in relation to Thorps non reappointment of former Kids Commissioner Paul Mason is simply gutless, a betrayal of traditional green party values and not in the tradition of courageous Greens parliamentarians like Peg Putt and Christine Milne.
Its one thing to deliver stable government but its another thing to sell out the values of the people of who put you in the Parliament. Cassy dont tell me that you do not understand the concept of confidentiality.
Any person going through a process of applying for employment in the public or private sector has the basic right to expect that potential employers will keep the details of that persons application confidential.
For Minister Thorp to trumpet to the world confidential details and outcomes of Paul Masons job application process and to do so for political gain is not only a clear breach of the ministerial code of conduct but also a clear breach of confidentiality, professional ethics and decency. For Cassy O'Connor to pretend she does not understand this just for the sake of not upsetting her Labor cabinet colleagues should be deeply concerning to Green party supporters.
Former Premier David Bartlett thought he was gods gift to Tasmanian politics but ended up on the scrapheap way before time, simply because he said he believed one thing but all to often did another. O'Connor will quickly find herself going the same way if she continues to put the interests of Labor ahead of Greens voters.

Earlier - Cassy O'Connor and Lara get huggy

Pilko

650 people pack Tailrace centre in Launceston to protest Gunns Proposed Pulp Mill.........ABC snub.

2011-03-30T16:11:00.006+11:00

See Picture Essay above.

Why was our local ABC a no show for the second time in 4 months?
Why was this stunning local turnout not deemed as newsworthy by the ABC?
Despite the commercial networks, the Examiner Newspaper and commercial radio covering these large community meetings, the public broadcaster, which likes to describe its local news coverage as "local and in depth" has now failed to send a journo or news crew to either of the two recent pulp mill public meetings in the Tamar Valley.
I want to state from the outset that i do not blame the journos in any way for this.
Indeed, i do believe that if it were left to the journos these meetings would have been covered.

Between the December public meeting and last nights meeting 1200 local people have turned out on a work night. Tasmanians rarely venture out on a week night in such large numbers to discuss or protests public issues.
Each of these large community turnouts on arguably the biggest issue in Tasmanian public life since the Franklin.are highly significant and historic in the Launceston and Tamar Valley area. After the mill saga is done and dusted local people will talk about the large pulp mill rallys and meetings in Launceston and it will be a long time before the region sees the community coming out in numbers like this again.

When the organisers of FTV's December public meeting approached ABC Northern Tasmania's news and currents affairs 'Drive' program (who have now ignore both meetings in their own backyard) they were told by its presenter at the time "oh no its unlikely we will cover the meeting at all unless there is something new". We explained that we were expecting a crowd of 4-500 (we got 520) and that we thought the fact that the Launceston community was turning out in such large numbers warranted some acknowledgement by the local ABC current affairs program. Our pleas fell on deaf ears. You would have thought the fact that ABC Northern Tasmania's local community meeting in such large numbers on the most important local issue ever seen in the region would be reason enough for Aunty to investigate and cover the event. If Gunns had hosted the meeting i guarantee you the ABC would have been there, because for some reason an audience with the powerful and elusive Gunns CEO is a more valuable news commodity to the public broadcaster than an audience with local people.

Around a week ago two of the tailrace meeting organisers who were handing out adverstising leaflets in Launcseton ran into Fiona Reynolds, State Director of ABC and former Ed Examiner. They had a good chat and asked Reynolds if the ABC would be attending the tailrace meeting. Reynolds said she would ensure the ABC were there to cover the Tailrace meeting.

Not only did the ABC not show again, but it was not covered on ABC radio news nor was it covered on the Northern Tasmania's Drive program.

Of all Tasmania's news broadcasters the ABC, our public taxpayer funded broadcaster should be out there covering significant community meetings like the 650 strong meeting we saw last night in Launceston. Even if certain people at the ABC are 'over it' or dont find the issue sexy anymore and even if it means copping backlash from local media peers, local politicians, logging industry executives and lobbyists.

MIS. One of the greatest public policy scandals in recent memory

2011-03-29T11:08:00.002+11:00

Bike Talk

2011-03-28T23:28:00.001+11:00

40km this a.m around Gravelly Beach, Rosevears, Exeter. Love cycling in the Tamar Valley in Autumn.
This Sunday night (April 3) sees another of cyclings 5 monuments, a feature race of Europes Spring classics, The Tour of Flanders (also known as the Ronde van Vlaanderen) from Belgium. The Tour of Flanders was conceived in 1913 and is famous for its short steep cobbled sections. This years favourite is last years winner and 2 time Paris Roubaix winner, Fabian Cancellara. Watch out for Launceston's Matt Goss who has just come off a win in the first of this years monuments, The Milan-San Remo.
You can catch the Tour of Flanders this Sunday night from 9.30 on Eurosport or 10.30 on SBS.

Master Builders call for state government to 'fast track' pulp mill.

2011-03-27T10:15:00.000+11:00

Er...um...i think they already have fast tracked the Pulp Mill Mister Master Builder
Read More Here

I believe Lance Armstrong doped. by a fan

2011-03-26T20:16:00.000+11:00

"When I told my daughter that I believed that Lance Armstrong had doped, she didn’t have much to say. She had more important things on her mind, had a big homework project going—writing a clerihew using her own name. But she knows in her 12-year-old way what Lance Armstrong means to me. She knows that I met him before she was born, that I spent most of a year away from her so I could follow him around the world
and write a book about his comeback, that I think he, along with a few guys with funnier names she often can’t remember, such as Coppi and Anquetil and Zoetemelk and Merckx, was beautiful on a bicycle. She’s
heard me talk, for years now, to and about people who confront cancer or their deaths or that of their beloved with more strength because of him. She knows that group includes her own mother. She knows I’ve
been on television telling Jim Lehrer or Larry King or John Roberts that I believed he didn’t dope or, sometimes, that we couldn’t know if he’d ever doped. She knows that Armstrong has called our house and
left messages and her friends overheard and thought that was really nuts so he must be cool even if her dad likes him. She knows that I am embarrassed to have once owned a signed Lance Armstrong lunch box. She knows that I talked to him last time I was down in Austin. She knows I’ve been sick to my stomach lately. ■ For all of those reasons and whatever unknowable simple moralities operate in a child’s mind, she summoned a moment of empathy for her father and asked, “How does that make you feel?” ■ “I don’t know,” I said, which was both true and false. It encompassed the chaos of everything I was feeling but identified none of it. I figured I should pick one emotion, so I said, “Accepting that Lance cheated makes me want to cry. A 46-year-old guy. Can you imagine that?” ■ But Natalie had already gone back to her life’s own pressing matters. And I was stuck with mine". Read More Here

The failure of government to govern has paralyzed the state writes Steve Biddulph

2011-03-26T16:13:00.001+11:00

Does corruption really matter ? Future students of governance will see Tasmania as a perfect case study in how perverting planning laws can bring a whole island unstuck. The debacle over a forest agreement is just the latest proof that when governments don’t keep to the rules, chaos is the natural outcome.
The Kelty negotiations are about to collapse, though none of the parties will yet admit that. Such an undemocratic activity was doomed from the start, because it excluded too many voices. The Wilderness Society cannot deliver peace in the forests, because the community of concern over all those issues - farming, fisheries, health, water, tourism, small and medium business, the whole appeal and identity of Tasmania in the world, is far wider than they can represent. And most critically of all, nobody elected them to do so.
The situation is beyond surreal; an almost insolvent company bargains with a small group of NGO’s, to decide the fate of half a million hectares of irreplaceable forest ecosystems, essentially the most precious asset that Tasmania possesses. Our shared natural estate is used as a blackmail price for the largest chemical pulp mill in the southern hemisphere, against resolute opposition that has only grown stronger with the passing years. New community groups opposing both logging and the mill are springing up every day. Not since the fight against convict transportation have so many Tasmanians been so aroused over the future of their way of life. Planning laws exist for a reason, in fact they are one of the primary functions of government. They create certainty for people to build their homes, grow their businesses, protect their health and plan their futures. Without them, no sound sustainable development can take place. (Competent first world investors give a wide berth to corrupt jurisdictions, they know that the rules cannot be trusted). The RPDC is the body that carries out large project evaluation, for all our protection. When Lennon arranged a quick pass for a failed proposal, and both Liberal and Labor voted this through, they took the environment question to a much larger one of democracy itself.
Peaceful civil disobedience on a large scale is being planned far into the future by groups from across the state who care about our land use and societal future. Those who will flood into Hobart in coming months will be strengthened by the knowledge that they stand for the rule of law. We will have our own pro-democracy movement, and eventually it will win. As with the Franklin victory, our appeal as a place to live, invest in, or visit, will benefit far more than ever would come from being the Pulp Island of Paul Lennon’s dreams.
What is the way forward ? It must be to restore due process at the point where it was broken. Corrupting the RPDC process cost the career of Premier Lennon, and left Labor discredited, unable to govern in its own right. David Bartlett promised a line in the sand, but was unable to hold that line. Lara Giddings acts like a throwback to the Lennon era - a 1950’s worldview that big industry will save us, despite growing evidence worldwide that the complete opposite is true.
Calls to repeal the PMAA are growing more frequent, not less. It was the point where public trust was lost. While government remains too weak, or as some are arguing, too intellectually challenged to understand the need for strong laws, we will be vulnerable to third rate companies seeing Tasmania as easy pickings. Gunns may well disappear, but the problem will not be solved. Until we act like a first world jurisdiction, competent and businesslike investors will stay well clear. A UN report several years ago into the failure of the Pacific rim nations to thrive economically identified “big man politics, cronyism, and corruption” as the obstacle to long term investment, proper development, and an end to the continuing poverty of its people’s”. Sound familiar ?
Tasmania is still a beautiful place. But only just. Seen from the air, forestry has made it look like an animal dying of mange. The green places are few now. And they are immeasurably precious. The Pulp Mill is the turning point, the end, or the beginning, of a good future. Thats what people sense now, and its why their opposition will only grow more fierce.

Richard Flanagan - Holding up Gunns Through Secret Deals

2011-03-25T17:37:00.002+11:00

Gunns, once the billion dollar super company of Tasmania, is today on its knees and needing its pulp mill — a project now seven years old and still without finance — to simply stay in existence. Its share price is abysmal and it reportedly owes millions to its principal supplier of trees, Forestry Tasmania.
Ironically, to get a funding partner that will help finance the mill Gunns now desperately needs the support of conservationists — the much-vaunted social licence.
Last year, with their markets collapsing and their industry in crisis, the Tasmanian forest industry sued for peace with the conservationists and began talks about getting out of native forest logging. Gunns pulp mill was never meant to be part of these discussions.
But the worst kept secret of recent months is that Gunns sought to play those negotiating on behalf of the environment movement like a cat with a mouse. Bill Kelty — recently appointed by the Federal government to facilitate these talks — has finally made the secret deal the conservationists were offered public and explicit.
The deal is staggering: in return for the ending of native forest logging environmentalists must support the pulp mill. Or put another way, no pulp mill, no ending of old growth logging. By publicly putting a gun to the head of environmental groups, Kelty is revealed as a fixer for the problems of Gunns rather than of Tasmania, going so far as meeting with potential joint venture partners for the Gunns mill.
Gunns and those around it had believed that some environmental concessions would see opposition to the mill largely disappear. But after seven long years, that opposition is stronger, larger and angrier than ever. The threats of mass civil disobedience are real, and Tasmanian police have already made preparations for a Franklin River campaign level of mass arrests should the mill commence construction.
When a few weeks ago word of the possible deal began to leak out, it became clear that this deal could not be stitched up privately. In going public with what is a threat, Kelty would seem to have been forced by the clear anger within Tasmania generally at the revived prospect of the Gunns pulp mill.
For in Tasmania loathing of Gunns is deep seated and widely held, and there is little support for either Gunns pulp mill or old growth logging. That loathing is closely entwined with the contempt they feel for the Tasmanian Labor government, which shares similar popularity ratings with the NSW Labor government.
In its various incarnations over the last 12 years, it has always given the appearance of a government that understood its principal role as a government to bankroll, support and run protection for Gunns, no matter what the cost to the Tasmanian people. The dying former premier Jim Bacon rang anti-mill opponent Peter Cundall in the last weeks of his life to tell him that the forestry lobby had simply been too strong for him to oppose. Bill Kelty has covered himself in ignominy by doing what Tasmanians now understand to be the only purpose of Labor apparatchiks in Tasmania: to keep propping up a company for which not even the markets now have any use. Was Bill Kelty appointed by the Federal government to help Tasmanians out of the decades long conflict over the forests, or to perpetuate it by breathing life back into the dying monster of the pulp mill? What made him think his brief extended to talking to prospective joint venture partners to Gunns?
What was he seeking from these companies?
Why is he proposing what would appear to be another fast track assessment of the mill?
What is the amount of subsidy and support taxpayers will be expected to dole out yet again to Gunns after the hundreds of millions they have already rorted, and is he seeking to gain a consensus of support for these? Or was he assuring the joint venture partners he would deliver the necessary social contract by forcing the issue with a devil’s choice for the conservationists?
Whatever the answers to the questions, Kelty’s is a shameful position that perpetuates so much that is so wrong in Tasmanian public life.
Like other exotic species before him, he appears to have been felled by the island’s chainsaw Camorra. For as well as being duped by Gunns, Kelty would appear to have been dudded by the Tasmanian government. Kelty has failed to get any commitment from the Tasmanian government to do anything to halt the logging of high conservation value forests, nor any sign of them doing anything to achieve that end in the future. As you read this, high conservation value forests in iconic areas continue being clearfelled and the annual autumn napalming has begun.
New Tasmanian premier Lara Giddings made the most concise, if Marie Antoinette-ish, statement of the government’s position last month, when she declared that before the GFC the Gunns pulp mill was the icing on the cake, whereas now it was the whole cake.
If it is, it’s one now all over Bill Kelty’s face.
Was his role to help reform the industry here, or merely to keep the old rackets running? Because the old racket, and the corruption of public life that flowed from it, have to end if Tasmania is ever to move forward.
While in Tasmania, Kelty is said to have been fond of recounting, parable like, an anecdote about Teddy Kennedy on his deathbed regretting not cutting a compromise deal on medical insurance in the 1970s.
That’s an American story, which admittedly seem in vogue with national Labor figures at the moment.
Here’s an Australian story.
In the late 1970s, the then Tasmanian Labor government, faced with growing opposition to its plan to dam the Franklin River, offered Tasmanians a referendum in which they could choose either a dam on the Franklin River or a dam on the nearby Gordon River.
The conservationist response, No Dams, shaped not only the triangle designed to house the slogan but the future of politics in Australia. It helped bring Labor to federal power in 1983 and the Accord of which Bill Kelty is rightly so proud.
Sometimes a deal is not the best option. Sometimes no deal at all is the realistic choice. And sometimes that leads to a better world. Who knows what regrets Bill Kelty might have on his deathbed?
First Published Here

They're gettin antsy about the mill down at The EX.

2011-03-25T13:56:00.000+11:00

Here

Kelty statement puts the pressure on Wildo's/ET as peace deal backlash against the Wilderness Society intensifies

2011-03-24T12:36:00.007+11:00

Sue Neales in The Mercury
More environment/community groups go public against forest deal mess
.......................................
In recent times we have seen environment and community leaders like Richard Flanagan, Peter Cundall and Lucy landon Lane, Kim Booth Dr Alison Bleaney, Bob McMahon, Peter Whish Wilson, Steve Biddulph, Tasmanian Conservation Trust, Huon Valley Environment Centre, Christine Milne, Bob Brown and now Geoffrey Cousins expressing serious concerns about the current trajectory of the increasingly fraught Tasmanian Forests Peace Deal and in particular the involvement of the Wilderness Society. As a member of the Tamar Valley based anti-pulp mill group Friends of the Tamar Valley i can also say that there is unanimous lack of support for the SOP's as they currently stand and outrage at some of the weaselly public language and the blatant disloyalty by The Wilderness Society and Environment Tasmania in relation to the negotiations. The Tasmania media have also savaged the conduct of the two peak environment groups in relation to the forests deal.
The furtherment of conservation in Tasmania will not be served if Pulp Mill warfare is entrenched, nor will it be served if these two conservation organisations are destroyed through member backlash over an unpopular deal to trade the Tamar Valley for HCV's.
Its time for The Wilderness Society and Environment Tasmania to walk away from a forests deal that has become toxic to their organisations and untenable in terms of the wider Tasmanian community.

Pilko

"Australia's nutbars congregate to protest the carbon tax"

2011-03-24T10:30:00.002+11:00

"The nutbars of the Eastern seaboard of Australia all congregated in Canberra yesterday with some 3000 of the more odious, Tea Party wannabes this country can muster massing in Canberra to stage a rally against the proposed carbon tax. Fuelled by a mixture of misinformation and misdirected anger, this was the culmination of Tony Abbott's call for a "people's revolution" on the matter, a cry taken up and propagated by the AM talkback set, chief among them, of course, the mighty Alan Jones. Just to be absolutely clear, this is the same man that facilitated the Cronulla riots of some five years ago, so why exactly he's still being allowed to lead political movements is beyond me. Tony Abbott was on hand to address the adoring crowds, although it was hard to ignore the charming signs reading "Ju-liar: Bob Brown's Bitch" hovering behind his head. Similarly difficult to ignore was the number of signs for whom carbon seemed to take the backseat to worries about immigration ("Illegals stay, Ozzies Pay") and indeed the presence of Pauline Hanson herself, who these days is so politically noxious that she may as well have visible herpes. Grim. You'll forgive a certain amount of snarkiness and bias in the preceding paragraph, but whatever the merits for or against a carbon tax - and there is much to be debated on the issue - this empty, raucous, occasionally sexist/racist gesture does nothing to advance our democracy or contribute anything to the present debate. A dreary farce"

Read here -The Vine

Save Our Mercury

2011-03-24T09:44:00.000+11:00

"So, you might be wondering why having editorial jobs shifted to Melbourne would be such a bad thing. With each axed job, the Mercury loses touch with its community. In 2009, 15 editorial staff - reporters, sub-editors and photographers - were made redundant. The editorial department, responsible for gathering and presenting your news, is now a skeleton staff. Reporters have less time to verify information. The paper is more dependent on information from public relations firms. This means more spin and less reliable news purely because there are not enough people doing the work.............Read More Here

Permanent Link to the Save Our Mercury site under my Links menu.

This is a must read. More damning Gunns Pulp Mill Leaks.........and.........The Australian Newspaper's naieve editorial on the Gunns Pulp Mill

2011-03-23T21:41:00.000+11:00

Christine Milne's speech today to the Federal Senate on Gunns Pulp Mill. (excerpts from leaked correspondence between Gunns and consultants in italics)

Senator MILNE (Tasmania) (1.29 pm) —As I stand here in the Senate today, Tasmania’s forests are still falling. That may well be news to people around Australia who have been hearing that there is a negotiation going on between the logging industry and the environment movement about ending the logging of high conservation value forests in Tasmania and that there had been an expectation that a moratorium would be in place by 15 March. It has not occurred. The logging goes on. It is absolutely disingenuous to say you have a moratorium when you continue to log coupes in identified high conservation areas and then pretend that somehow progress is being made. It is a real concern that what we have in Tasmania is the moratorium you have when you are not having a moratorium.

Worse still, as we continue to see these magnificent forests falling, are the reports in the media today suggesting that Mr Bill Kelty, who has been appointed as the mediator or to report on the status of the talks, has suddenly put the pulp mill on the table as being the price for conservation of forests in Tasmania. That was not, is not now and will never be acceptable. When the forest principles document was signed, it said there could be one pulp mill in Tasmania. There was a specific understanding between all parties that that was not the Gunns pulp mill in the Tamar Valley.
Senator Brown and I put out a statement last night making it very clear that we do not support the Gunns pulp mill and that it is wrong to now try and lob it into the middle of these talks, suggesting that forest protection is conditional on the Gunns pulp mill. It is not and it will not be. We will not be accepting that pulp mill.
I will explain why, especially in the light of the fact that this has been going on for seven years. People have lost sight of what the people in the Tamar Valley have had to put up with over that time—in fact, what all of Tasmania has had to put up with over that time. Gunns proposed in 2004 that they would build a pulp mill in the Tamar Valley. They said it would be 100 per cent plantation based. They said it would be totally chlorine free. Those two promises were made at the very start by John Gay, who was both the chairman of the board and the CEO of the company in 2004. That was the pledge at the time. The Tasmanian government then fell into line very quickly and ran around with their pulp mill task force. They appointed Bob Gordon from Forestry Tasmania to the task force to go out and run a propaganda campaign supporting the mill on behalf of Gunns.
Bob Gordon actually went on the radio and said that because there was an inversion layer in the Tamar Valley in the wintertime, which we all know, the stacks from the pulp mill would be so high that they would go up above the inversion layer and the pollution would go out into the atmosphere and not be trapped under the inversion layer in the wintertime—a patently stupid comment to make, but he made it in that capacity at that time. At the time he also said that there was no doubt that the effluent that would spew out of the pulp mill into Bass Strait would disperse. His logic and evidence for that was from a then recent shipwreck in Tasmania from which the lifeboats washed up somewhere on Flinders Island. He said that proved that the pulp mill effluent would disperse. That is the kind of nonsense we had to put up with in Tasmania at the beginning of the process. It was so bad that the chair of the RPDC, the appropriate body for assessing the pulp mill, wrote to the Premier at the time, Premier Lennon, and said, ‘Stop your task force going out there spreading propaganda. It is jeopardising a proper assessment of the process.’ That is how bad it was.
So I was amused when I saw the Australian taking exception to my statement that the Tasmanian government was a company quisling. Let me tell you that it certainly is a company quisling. There has never been a time when Gunns has said, ‘Jump’ and the government has failed to jump accordingly. They have never stood up to Gunns. Even former Premier Bartlett’s famous ‘line in the sand’ was washed away pretty quickly when Gunns insisted it be washed away.
Right back in 1989, there was a consultant’s report that said that the Tamar Valley was unsuitable for a pulp mill for two reasons: (1) that the atmospheric inversion in the wintertime would trap the emissions from the mill and cause pollution of the valley, and (2) that Bass Strait off the Tamar is too shallow to be able to achieve the dispersion and dilution that is necessary for the effluent. That is why it was unacceptable in 1989 and nothing about the depth of Bass Strait or the topography of the Tamar Valley has changed in that time. What has changed is the desperation of Gunns to get a pulp mill up. They wanted it there because of the transport economics. That is all it is about. It is not about the amenity of the Tamar Valley at all. They imposed that pulp mill on the Tamar because their economics wanted it there and they tried to fit up the environmental conditions to make it acceptable.

We know this now from leaked documents that have become available. One of these leaked documents says: - "The process is critical to the defence of the Bell Bay site. If we are seen to be pushing flimsy arguments I believe there is a real risk you could be asked to better justify the choice of sites (ie undertake a detailed site selection process) which will result in additional costs and time delays. The site selection documentation is already significantly deficient in what is required in the Guidelines, given that a detailed assessment process did not take place. We only have some flora and fauna memos, a heritage memo and a very brief desktop report conducted by JP to substantiate the claim that Bell Bay is the preferred site".

The leaked document goes on to say that the documentation falls well short of guideline requirements and:

"Drawing attention to these deficiencies would not be beneficial".

No, indeed it would not. It would tell the community there was never a proper assessment of the site in the first place.

In fact these documents say: - "As Tony Dale and Julian Green have repeatedly stated, Addressing Section 5 (Site Selection) of the Guidelines is a critical requirement … The assessment process undertaken and documented by Gunns falls well short of the Guideline requirement and assessment which would be typically undertaken for such a project. By tampering or attempting to enhance that process you run a serious risk of jeopardising the validity of the site selection and consequently threatening the project approvals".

Absolutely right. That is correspondence between Gunns and the consultants. The consultants were clearly being told here, and the consultants were also telling Gunns, that they were on very flimsy ground indeed. Interestingly, they go on to say: - It is the marginal difference in rankings of Hampshire vs. Bell Bay the greens will run a hundred miles an hour with. They will quote ... saying that Hampshire is a better site from an environmental perspective based on—

that is blacked out in this— and not Gunns. This is a Gunns project where we have everything at risk and you have not. It will be the Gunns staff that defend this position in he hearings and ... Your people are clearly not taking note ... Please make the changes in accordance with our instructions".

Les Baker
General Manager - Bell Bay Pulp Mill Project,
Executive Director - Gunns Plantations.
....................
Very clearly, there was never a process to assess the site. Then in March 2007, Gunns insisted that they pull out of the process because be RPDC was taking too long—in other words, it was too detailed. They knew they could not meet those site selection guidelines so they pulled out, making up a pathetic excuse that it was taking too long, that they had to have a fast-tracked process—an abuse of the process—and it would cost a million dollars a day while the deferral went on. That was in March 2007. It has cost them many millions of dollars and we are now in 2011. That was merely John Gay and Gunns instructing Premier Lennon at the time to blow up the proper assessment process, to put a fast-tracked process in place because Gunns could not withstand the assessment rigour which was going to be required.
The Australian then launch into this and suggest it has been a seven-year process involving deliberations by three federal ministers, and so on. They go on to say that there is a proper democratic process—there was not a proper democratic process; there was a fast-tracked process by a government, there was a quisling of the company and it corrupted the process. From that day onwards there was no community support because they saw what had gone on.
There is also discussion about social licence. Why are they so desperate to get the environment movement or the Greens to say something positive about their Gunns pulp mill project? It is because there is not a single, respectable joint venture partner anywhere in the world who will touch this toxic project as long as they recognise that the community is opposed to it. And there will be protests against it because it is not in an appropriate site for a pulp mill and because it will pollute. It will put organochlorins into Bass Strait. Far from the promised totally chlorine free process, we now have an elemental chlorine free light process, which we are supposed to welcome. Well, I don’t. They promised it would be totally chlorine free and it should be totally chlorine free.
Secondly, it is a craft process which is a sulfur process. There will be fugitive emissions of rotten egg gas in a valley famous for its food, wines and tourism. That is just unacceptable. Yesterday we had the Western Australian EPA rejecting a coalmine in the Margaret River area because it is seriously a conflict of interest between Margaret River and what it stands for and a coalmine. They can see that clearly in Western Australia and this is precisely the same. There are 30 vineyards and a wine route in the Tamar Valley which the federal government put $100,000 into promoting. You cannot put a stinking pulp mill into the middle of a winegrowing area and expect to maintain your reputation. Margaret River understands that, the Western Australian government understands that and the Western Australian EPA understands that; the Tasmanian government and the Tasmanian EPA clearly do not understand that, but the people of the Tamar Valley understand that absolutely, which is why they continue to oppose this project.
It is absolutely imperative that we get some clear understanding about what is going on and this notion of social licence. That mill will never have a social licence in Tasmania because the process approving it was corrupted. It goes right back to the time of the Howard government when Minister Turnbull was the federal minister. In the original discussions with the Tasmanian government, there was a deliberate decision to minimise the level of oversight the Commonwealth would have of this project and left the rest to Tasmanian knowing full well that the Tasmanian government would never pursue a rigorous assessment. Tasmanians got that message loud and clear when the RPDC process was abandoned at the behest of Gunns and the premiere of the day fast tracked the project at the behest of the company and foisted this onto a valley where it is not wanted and where there will never be a social licence.
For the benefit of the Australian, who does not understand the concept of the social licence, in order to make any timber or paper product today you need FSC—Forest Stewardship Council certification. Part of that is community support through the social chamber of the FSC. Gunns are never going to have that for a project like this. Joint venture partners need to be on notice that the community does not accept this pulp mill. We have had nothing but double-talk from the company and from Forestry Tasmania throughout this entire process. We now have a forest agency in Tasmania which is on its knees in spite of the millions the Commonwealth has provided to it over time. It gives away the Tasmanian forests and the Tasmanian people have had enough. They want their high conservation value forest protected. They want the logging industry out of native forests. They want to make sure that downstream processing in Tasmania is ecologically sustainable and appropriately assessed, not what we have had put on the table as a result of this Gunns proposal.
It is lazy, disingenuous, disrespectful and abusive of people in the Tamar Valley to say, ‘This has been going on for seven years. For goodness sake, get over it. Just accept the pulp mill.’ You would not accept a development which was shoved into your backyard and undermined your industries when there was not a proper assessment process and for which, as these documents demonstrate, they did not do a proper assessment of the site in the first place. It would not have met the site selection guidelines. That is something the Commonwealth clearly needs to get into its head in terms of supporting this particular project and Bill Kelty needs to get the idea out of his head at once that protecting native forests is some kind of trade-off for agreement for the pulp mill. There is no social licence, no support, and Senator Bob Brown and I have made perfectly clear, from the point of view of the Australian Greens, that we will not and do not support the Gunns process. It was corruptly approved and has to go back to square one if they want there to be any hope of getting social approval for this mill.

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The Australain Newspapers Editorial referred to by Milne (below)
........"Accusing the Tasmanian government of being a "company quisling" may get brownie points with the GetUp! crowd but it's an undergraduate comment from a mature politician. And what exactly does Senator Milne mean when she says Gunns does not have a "social licence" to operate a mill? Under our system of government, companies must conform to specific legislated requirements in situations such as these. Those requirements are formulated through a democratic process in which elected governments decide the economic, social and environmental trade-offs for development. The Greens should respect the decision".......Full Editorial Here

ENGO Forests Peace Deal Shit Sandwich just gets Shittier.

2011-03-22T23:04:00.000+11:00

Secret Report. Secret talks with Gunns pulp mill partners and talk of a pulp mill trade off.

Here and Here

Launcestons Matt Goss one of world cycling's hottest properties

2011-03-22T11:02:00.001+11:00

Here and Here

An excellent video of Sundays Pulp Mill Protest at the Batman Bridge

2011-03-22T09:59:00.000+11:00

Here

Richard Flanagan Speech at Batman Bridge Anti Pulp Mill Protest on You Tube....and....You Tube video of over 1000 Protesters taking to the Bridge

2011-03-20T23:41:00.002+11:00

One Thousand Pulp Mill protesters on Batman Bridge
Richard Flanagan Part 1
Richard Flanagan Part 2
Richard Flanagan Part 3

1600 Anti-pulp mill Protesters gather at Batman Bridge. "A fantastic show of community strength and unity" says Lucy Landon Lane.........and........A Power Greater than Money: Richard Flanagans speech delivered today at the Batman Bridge Protest.....and.....as a community rallies, Gunns million dollar CEO talks up his Noosa holiday home.

2011-03-20T20:29:00.002+11:00

Over 1600 protesters gathered at the Batman Bridge Reserve today to voice their continued opposition to the Tamar Valley pulp mill. The Peaceful Community Protest, organised by Pulp the Mill, included speakers from all the anti-pulp mill groups as well as Peter Cundall, Richard Flanagan and Kim Booth, in a show of unity and strength. Lucy Landon-Lane, spokeswoman from Pulp the Mill said, “Today was a fantastic show of community strength and unity in the fight against the pulp mill. As a symbolic act of crossing these troubled waters to success, all protesters walked along the Batman Bridge with their banners. There were so many people that when we spanned the bridge, we couldn’t fit everyone on and had to start coming back the other side.” “Peter Cundall and Richard Flanagan both received a standing ovation from an enthusiastic and vocal crowd, sending a loud message to Gunns, potential joint venture partners and the Government that the community is gathering momentum and solidarity for the final phase of the campaign and will not stop until this pulp mill is dead.” she said.

“We will never give up! Never. never give up!” said Peter Cundall to an adoring crowd.

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'The Power greater than Money'

Richard Flanagan - Batman Reserve anti pulp mill rally, Sunday March 20 2011.

......"Seven long years ago Paul Lennon and John Gay decided they would build their pulp mill. The people did not agree. They tried to silence us, to intimidate us, to threaten us, to break us and destroy us. Lately they’ve even tried to flatter us and to divide us. And after seven long years I am here today to say Gunns has still not won. And I am here today to say if it takes another seven years Gunns will never win.

For seven long years we have had arrayed against us on all sides the immense power of great parties, of governments, of unions, of paid up cronies in media and front groups.

And all that combined power was in craven servitude to the wealth of one company. That wealth was stolen from our forests and our taxes, and it was made from the selling of our soul.

To get their mill in the face of the people’s opposition, they perverted Parliament, they cowed the public service, they sued some, assassinated the characters of others, they spat on our laws and even had their lawyers write new ones that placed their mill beyond the law, they stacked every sphere of public life, every board and department, with their despicable bullying cronies.

Yet the paradox is that this battle destroyed not us, but them. It destroyed Paul Lennon. It destroyed Robin Gray. It destroyed John Gay. It will destroy Greg L’Estrange. But we are still here. And, after seven long years, we are stronger than ever. Gunns did not win then, they will not win now, and they will never win.

To agree to this mill is to say to everyone in Tasmania—every man, woman and child—that in the end might is right, greed is good, that the only law is the dollar, and that the corruption of our public life is not just acceptable but the only way to get anything done in Tasmania"..........Full Speech Here.

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Gunns Million dollar man's 'Noosa Holiday Home'

1500 people rally against Gunns Pulp mill at Batman Bridge

2011-03-20T14:31:00.001+11:00

Launcestons Matt Goss wins Milan San Remo. You little bewdy Gossy!!

2011-03-20T02:52:00.002+11:00

Swimming makes me hungry.

2011-03-19T15:37:00.001+11:00

After a 3.1km swim (longest swim in a while) at the Launceston Acquatic (where i was stunned to see to teenagers humping in the spa- maybe i shouldnt be surprised) i undid all the good work and chowed down on 1 pie, 2 hot dogs and some fruit to salve my conscience. I still may break open the chocolate yet.
Milan-San Remo tonight. Cant wait. Must not fall asleep. Big anti-pulp mill protest up the road from my house tomorrow. Hope to see lots of people coming in from different parts of Tassie.
Ciao
Pilko

Protest at Batman Bridge: Sunday March 20 11.30am

2011-03-19T11:52:00.000+11:00

Pulp the Mill has organized a Peaceful Community Protest at the Batman Bridge Reserve tomorrow (March 20) at 11.30 to show the unity and strength of community opposition to the pulp mill.

Speakers will include Peter Cundall, Richard Flanagan, Kim Booth, Vica Bayley and representatives from all anti-mill groups. At the end of the speeches, all protesters will be encouraged to line up along the footpath of the bridge to show that the community can and will cross these troubled waters and be triumphant.
Peter Cundall says, “If this mill is allowed to go ahead, everything clean, quiet and beautiful in the Tamar Valley will be relentlessly destroyed – and our children will suffer most of all. Only the people can stop this happening.”
Spokeswoman for Pulp the Mill, Lucy Landon-Lane commented on Gunns latest report which claimed that the mill will inject $10 billion into the states’ economy over the life of the mill, “Gunns commissioned Insight Economics Pty Ltd, at Monash University, to undertake a study of the potential economic impact of its proposed pulp mill but the analysis in this report is based on comprehensive data provided by Gunns. It therefore is not independent in any way. It did not assess the serious negative impacts on the existing sustainable businesses in the valley which rely on a clean environment.” .“It is important to note that the results show the gross impacts on the economy of the investment in the pulp mill. That is, no adjustments were made to Government or private household budgets to provide for the expenditure on the mill. This essentially means that the model assumes that no other investments are abandoned as a result of the mill. The study also does not take into account the subsidies that it will receive from Government; the health impacts it will impose on the community or the negative impacts on our environment.” She said. “If the state government was prepared to inject the same amount of money into our health system, education and sustainable agriculture, then more jobs would be created and our economy would flourish.”

Great Bike Ride....and....classic songs

2011-03-18T17:20:00.003+11:00

45km ride from gravelly beach into riverside (woolies) and return. Wind picked up on way home (always does..bugger). Getting stronger. Averages still crappola but spending more time in the saddle (my increasingly gruesome under carriage is testament to this). Love riding in the Tamar Valley.
Looking forward to a late night tomorrow night watching the first of this years Cycling Monuments - the 298km Milan-San Remo one day classic.
Ciao

My favourite Neil Diamond song
An awesome cover of my 2nd fave. Neil Diamond song

PILKO