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

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.

...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

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

"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)

Think again.Read this report in today's Mercury

Tasmania forestry talks head for crash

Matt Denholm writes in the Australian

Our Callous, Heartless State Government.

"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

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.

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?

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

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

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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.

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.

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

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

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.

A must listen Here

The Examiner exposed again on Gunns reporting.

``.........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

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

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.

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.

Racism alive and well in Tassy and Here
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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

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

"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

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"

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

Racism alive and well at Tasmanian AFL Footy matches

Here   Here   Here    Here