Well, what’s been happening? I write a letter regarding intimidation by the forest industry, (See letters) leave the state for six days and the whole place falls into rack and ruin!
Just like war-torn Iraq everyone is scrambling for the high moral ground. The conservative federal and state politicians of all parties spruik, “They must obey the law.” Media columnists of the right wing conservative shock-jock variety almost wet themselves as they line up to mimic, “They must obey the law.” The illiterate rednecks slavishly repeat, “They must obey the law.”
Why is the law as it is? Because governments have kowtowed to national and international woodchip interests and provided a deregulated (there is no law) environment. As I have often stated in Tasmanian Times, “Governments govern their own constituency alone at the peril of unity in the community.” The escalation of hatred between the warring parties is no different to human nature in other areas of the world. Paul Lennon and John Howard wanted the power and prestige of leadership and have to accept the responsibilities of leadership in this sorry state. As John is keen to preach, “With your rights there are responsibilities.”
The forest industry speaks often of sustainability. The sustainability of old growth logging — unsustainable. The sustainability of forest workers jobs – unsustainable. The sustainability of environmental protection – unsustainable. An international trade agreement between the Australian and Japanese governments to supply Mitsubishi Paper with 6 million tonnes of woodchips per annum, however, is sustainable if the right legislative framework is introduced. We’ll call it the Regional Forest Agreement and get industry experts to frame the laws to deliver the 2020 vision.
We all know about the lack of legal controls over our “best practice” industry but let us examine the laws transgressed by our evil greens and eco-terrorists. In our home valley of Lucaston, a number of residents were concerned about the proposed logging by Gunns. We met with local landowners, North Forest Products and Council. State government representatives were as scarce as hen’s teeth and demonstrated all the leadership of the third wether from the rear (One could argue several resembled the third wether from the rear).
Several landowners, being normal people and sound of mind at the time, created signs stating, “Please Don’t Log Lucaston.” A reasonable request one might suppose. These signs were placed on their own private property and violently destroyed one night around 1am by people who trespassed. I cannot confirm the offending parties were cowardly rednecks, log truck drivers, forestry contractors, Forestry Tasmania employees or the Board of Gunns. I would dare not state such an accusation for fear of retribution. Our situation in Lucaston escalated.
I could speak of the use of a cattle prod on a person by a local landowner or the premeditated and unprovoked attack on a documentary filmmaker by a log truck driver but I need not be concerned. The law will protect and provide justice for all. The government will govern for all.
Opinion and freedom of speech are beautiful things. Much more beautiful than base human nature.
