Download scorecard:
scorecard_2_sides.pdf

So, can we now have that forestry debate?

Peter Skillern, Our Common Ground
10.03.10 11:24 am

After the Greens released their forestry policy today, Our Common Ground again called for a dedicated leaders’ debate on forestry issues.

The coalition, which seeks to end old fights over forestry, said there is no excuse for Will Hodgman, David Bartlett and Nick McKim not to dedicate a couple of hours to something so fundamental to Tasmania’s culture, environment and economy.

“There is no reason we can’t have a dedicated debate on forestry policy,” said Peter Skillern, spokesperson for Our Common Ground.

Mr Skillern noted the forestry-related events that have happened since the election was called:

• A drop in Gunns profit of 98 per cent

• FEA in Launceston suspending share trading on the ASX

• Forest contractors still struggling

• A toxic water scandal in St Helens

“For decades, Tasmanian politics has pretended that markets for our products are not changing,” said Mr Skillern.  “Well, look where we are now: an industry in crisis, and Tasmania importing timber products from New Zealand.”

He said there is no excuse for Tasmanians to be denied a meaningful debate about an issue so central to the state’s economic development and brand.

Our Common Ground is a coalition of community and business leaders, environment groups and timber workers who are committed to finding a solution to Tasmania’s forestry conflict.

GREENS DELIVER NEW TIMBER JOBS WHILE PROTECTING HIGH CONSERVATION VALUE FORESTS

Nick McKim MP Greens Leader Kim Booth MP Greens Forests spokesperson
09.03.10 4:10 pm

mps.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today released their Forest Transition Strategy 2010 (FTS) which will create more jobs and wealth in the Tasmanian timber industry, while protecting world-renowned high conservation value forests.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that the Greens’ FTS will heal community wounds caused by decades of division on forest policy, and will result in a timber industry that every Tasmanian can be proud of.

Mr McKim also said that the Greens’ FTS will create 542 more jobs in the timber industry within five years by using timber more efficiently, retooling sawmills to achieve higher recovery rates, and managing the plantation estate to deliver more high grade sawlogs.

“The Greens have a sensible plan to create more timber jobs, save our magnificent high conservation value forests, and deliver a timber industry that each and every Tasmanian can be proud of.”

“This not only can be done, it must be done for our forests, our timber workers, and for Tasmania’s future.”

“For too long Tasmania’s magnificent high conservation value forests have been desecrated for woodchips, for too long the plight of forest workers has been ignored, and for too long our people have been divided by this debate. The Greens stand ready to deliver a solution.”

“Labor and Liberal have buried their heads in the sand for far too long, and it is the forest workers who are bearing the brunt. The industry must be restructured so that it can provide sustainable jobs, meet the expectations of international markets, and operate in a way that respects Tasmania’s high conservation value forests.”

“The Greens’ Forest Transition Strategy delivers a sustainable future for our forests, Tasmania’s timber industry, and the workers and families that rely on it for support.”

“Assistance will be provided to any timber industry workers who are already doing in tough through no fault of their own, including vocational training, wage subsidies, relocation costs, and income support.”

Download: Tasmania’s Forests: The Way Forward – A Forest Transition Strategy to Protect Forests and Create Sustainable Jobs, launched by Nick McKim MP, March 2010:

Forest_Transition_Strategy_More_Jobs_Less_Logs_N_McKim_MP.pdf

Don’t miss the forum

Will Mooney
09.03.10 8:20 am

The Huon Valley Environment Centre and Environment Tasmania are hosting a community forum about wood fired power stations between 12.30-1.30 pm at the Hobart Town Hall on Thursday March the 18th.
Speakers including Alistair Graham (Humane Society International), Dr Peter McQuillan (Utas school of Geography and Environmental Studies) and Will Mooney (Huon Valley Environment Centre) will discuss the potential environmental and community impacts of plans to burn native forests for power generation in Tasmania. Other speakers have been invited and will be announced closer to the date.
With sales of native forest woodchips declining, the Tasmanian forestry industry is desperate to lock in markets to entrench large scale, destructive logging. With an election looming, now is a critical time for Tasmanians to express their concerns and SAY NO TO WOOD FIRED POWER!

Details: HERE

Public Forum: What’s in our water?

Anne
09.03.10 7:33 am

Again, following the ABC’s recent Australian Story featuring Alison Bleaney and the question about what’s in our water, please note details of the public forum being held on Sunday 14th March at Civic Square, Launceston at 1pm.
Details are attached, & if you are in a position to print some of these out and letterbox in your area to help advertise this event, please consider doing so.
Water is a vital resource for us all, and our politicians (and would-be politicians) need to be made abundantly aware we ALL expect clean, safe, chemical-free water wherever we live in this state.
Please also consider forwarding details of this rally to everyone on your networks.

Download:
Water_Rally_Flyer_Front_final.pdf
Water_Rally_Flyer_Back_final.pdf

SHOOTERS SHAMEFUL BEHAVIOUR

Against Animal cruelty Tasmania
08.03.10 10:00 am

MEDIA RELEASE

SHOOTERS SHAMEFUL BEHAVIOUR

seven shots and 3 minutes to kill a duck is not instant or humane

Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania (AACT) were at the frontline this weekend for the start of the annual recreational duck killing season and have reported two horrific incidents of animal cruelty. 

AACT with the support of the Tasmanian Conservation Trust (TCT) and Wildlife Tasmania witnessed first hand the bloody assault on defenceless ducks.

AACT spokesperson Chris Simcox said: “This weekend we witnessed two incidents where ducks were shot down and left to flap around in agony while they were peppered with shot after shot by lazy incompetent shooters.  One shooter was observed to take seven shots to kill one duck, taking 2-3 minutes to finally end the bird’s agony. This is not the instant death that shooter representatives tell the public about. To make these incidents worse, both shooters failed to concentrate solely on finishing the bird they had shot, stopping to take aim at other ducks flying over-head.

“These incidents have been reported to the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment’s, Wildlife Enforcement Branch and we expect them to investigate them as violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Because shooters are required to license duck shooting hides, it should been an easy matter to identify the culprits.”

“We also collected wounded birds that the shooters abandoned to die a slow death, probably taking more than 30 minutes,” Mr Simcox continued. “This level of cruelty is simply intolerable and research polls show that the majority of people want it stopped now.”

TCT Director Peter McGlone joined the AACT protesters at Moulting Lagoon yesterday and added that:  “The protesters witnessed two horrific incidents of animal cruelty in the first two hours of the duck shooting season, we can only guess at the horrific cruelty ducks suffer throughout the rest of the season while no one is watching.”

“These incidents are clearly just the tip of iceberg and highlight that recreational duck shooting is inherently cruel and must be banned in Tasmania as it has been in New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland, Mr McGlone concluded.”

The duck shooting season continues until 6 June.  AACT will be watching the wetlands throughout the season to protect native waterbirds.

Immediate Ban of Duck Shooting.

Peter Power Wildlife Tasmania
08.03.10 9:57 am

Media Release

Immediate Ban of Duck Shooting.

Wildlife Tasmania is appalled that the Tasmanian Labor and Liberal
Parties condone the mass slaughter of Tasmania’s native birds, this so
called sport is not acceptable and should be banned immediately.
For three months of every year licensed Tasmanians are permitted to make
their way onto beautiful State public wetlands and shoot native ducks.
Shoot dead or not… collect, cook and eat.. or not. It’s all sport.
Apparently.
We have grave concerns for the birds that are injured and left to die a
slow and painful death, this is not sport…its a barbaric act of
vandalism on our native birds.
All recreational hunting should be up for review after the upcoming
State elections.
Wildlife Tasmania supports Action Against Cruelty Tasmania and Tasmanian
Conservation Trust in their call to ban Duck Shooting Seasons in Tasmania.

St Helens water supply update

DHHS
07.03.10 8:24 am

Dr Roscoe Taylor

Director of Public Health Dr Roscoe Taylor has again written to St Helens residents in conjunction with the Mayor of Break O’Day Council and Ben Lomond Water providing the community with an update on their drinking water supply. (letter below).
The letter includes the results of recent water testing in the George River for common compounds from eucalyptus trees.
“I’m pleased to be able to inform residents that testing done on treated and untreated water samples taken from the George River last weekend has come back negative to common compounds from eucalypts.
“This is helpful information and should provide residents with an extra level of assurance about their drinking water supply.
“Previous testing in 2005 looked at concentrated surface foam and scum.  As might be expected, this did show eucalyptus leaf compounds in the foam. These latest samples were from the body of the water itself where the drinking water is drawn.
“Interestingly, another sample taken from a different river (not used for drinking water) within a native forest did show the presence of a very small amount of a eucalyptus substance.
“I am still waiting to hear more about the work that is reportedly underway to identify the chemical makeup of the alleged tree toxin which was highlighted by the recent Australian Story program.
“The letter also highlights that the Tasmanian Cancer Registry has now examined preliminary data for 2007 and advised that there is no indication of rising cancer rates in the area,” Dr Taylor said.
The letters were sent yesterday and should start arriving in letter boxes today.
More information about St Helens water quality and the Department of Health and Human Service’s original investigation can be found at http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au

Letter below
Department of Health and Human Services
POPULATION HEALTH
GPO Box 125, HOBART TAS 7001, Australia
Ph: 1800 671 738
Fax: (03) 6222 7407
Web: http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
File Number: PPH01059
4 March 2010
Update on St Helens drinking water
Dear Resident,
We’d like to give you the latest information about your town’s drinking water.
At the request of the Director of Public Health, Ben Lomond Water Authority has added an extra step to the water treatment process to make sure there is no risk to public health. It involves a special carbon treatment process that removes any unknown harmful substances in the water not already removed by the normal treatment process.
This precautionary step has been funded by the Tasmanian Government, and will stay in place while water safety is further investigated. The need for it will be re-assessed as information becomes available.
There is as yet no scientific evidence to show your drinking water was unsafe for humans before we took this step. The tests shown on the Australian Story were on untreated water from the George River. Your drinking water is fully treated, and this will very significantly reduce any toxins or particles that might be present.
The scientists who appeared on Australian Story do not claim their work means the water is a health risk to people – just that it needs more investigation. The tests they did were of a very sensitive type, and how relevant those tests are to human health is not yet known.
More work is needed and Environment Protection Authority chairperson John Ramsay is setting up an independent panel of scientists to review all information and advise on the next steps. More details on this should be available next week.
In the meantime, we are trying to obtain the scientific information we need and are testing more water samples.
Some results are already available.
Tests results for known chemicals from eucalyptus trees have come back negative. These tests were done on treated and untreated water samples taken from the George River last weekend.
Another sample taken from a different river (not used for drinking water) within a native forest showed the presence of a very small amount of a eucalyptus substance. The type of test used was very sensitive, meaning it could trace tiny amounts of substances (as little as 0.2 micrograms per litre).
The test results so far do not prove that there is no problem however they are helpful.
Toxicity testing using a type of water flea is underway and as yet there are no signs of a problem.
The letter we wrote to you last week mentioned the normal cancer statistics for Break O’Day for the years 2002 – 2006. The Tasmanian Cancer Registry has now examined preliminary data for 2007 and advised that there is no indication of rising cancer rates in the area.
It may take months to complete this investigation because the science is very complex. We will write to you through the Break O’Day Council to keep you informed. More information is also available on the DHHS website: http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au.
Your sincerely

Dr Roscoe Taylor                 Robert Legge             Barry Cash
Director of Public Health       Break O’Day Mayor     Chief Executive, Ben Lomond Water

CALL FOR AN END TO ANNUAL DUCK SHOOTING SEASON

Cassy O'Connor, Greens Environment and Coasts spokesperson
07.03.10 8:14 am

Our Wetlands Should Be Celebrated, not Turned into Shooting Galleries

mps.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today called for an immediate end to the recreational shooting of native ducks describing the opening of the annual season as a shameful day that needs to be removed from the Tasmanian calendar.

Greens Environment and Coasts spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP said that the State’s internationally acclaimed and recognised Ramsar-listed wetlands, and other significant coastal habitats for shore-birds, must receive greater recognition and be managed to protect their special natural features and wildlife.

“It is a stain upon Tasmania’s reputation that our internationally acclaimed wetlands, such as Moulting Lagoon, are still turned into a recreational shooting gallery with our native duck species being treated as targets,” Ms O’Connor said.

“We need an end to this barbaric practice that shatters such beautiful autumn days as we have seen, and which also shatters the havens that our wetlands and other significant coastal and water habitats should be.”

“For nine months of the year our native duck species are protected, and it is utterly inexplicable that they then are treated as shooting targets for the remaining three months.”

“These habitats are also very significant for other waterfowl and threatened species, and it is past time that they were protected and managed to enhance their important ecological features and wildlife.”

“It has long been Tasmanian Greens’ policy to end the recreational shooting of native ducks, and we will continue to advocate for this and seek the necessary legislative change.”

“Lets stop the killing, remove this shooting weekend from Tasmania’s calendar, and lets start celebrating the unique and wonderful life that is our wetlands, waterways, and coastal habitats,” Ms O’Connor said.

Public forum on Restoring Trust: How to solve governance issues critical to Tasmania’s future

Our Common Ground
07.03.10 7:24 am

Conflicts of interest and poor governance continue to dog Tasmania’s environment. Yet we have heard little on how fundamental governance issues will be resolved by any future government.

There is a widespread perception that there is one law for forestry and another for everyone else. Now the water toxin revelations in St Helens have created a crisis of public confidence in our drinking water.

How will each party restore public trust and improve governance?

Our Common Ground is holding a public forum in Launceston. We have asked Labor, the Liberals and the Greens how they would:
• remove conflicts of interest in ministerial portfolios;

• remove conflicts of interest in government bodies;

• fix the regulation of forestry so that there is a level playing field; and

• properly investigate and fix the contamination of our drinking water catchments with toxins.

Join us in Launceston to hear their answers.
12.30 pm Thursday 11 March
Function room 6, Grand Chancellor, 29 Cameron St, Launceston

Invited speakers: representatives of all political parties and regulatory authorities.
Other Speakers: Dr Andrew Lohrey, Peter Cundall, Dr Wynne Russell, Dr Andreas Ernst, Dr Phill Pullinger.

For updates and info, sign up at http://www.ourcommonground.org.au

Download:

Forest__Water_Governance_Forum-Flyer.pdf

Ethics party meeting

Ethics and Sustainability Party
05.03.10 5:02 pm

There will be a meeting of members (see partial list at http://www.tec.tas.gov.au/pages/Media/PDF/HoA/5987M_38x6_6.1_RegistrationNewPoliticalParty.pdf )
of the Ethics & Sustainability Party and any persons possibly interested in becoming members,
at 134 Elphin Rd, Newstead in Launceston at 7:45PM on Tuesday 9 March.

Please RSVP by email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you will be attending just to give us an idea of numbers. Feel free to turn up regardless
anyway but having an estimate of how many will be attending will assist with preparations.

Members of the media, environmental or ethical governance groups are also very welcome.

GREENS DELIVER FAIR AND EQUITABLE BUYOUT PACKAGE FOR FOREST CONTRACTORS

Nick McKim Greens Leader
05.03.10 4:25 pm

Buyouts Not Bailouts
mps.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today launched their cost-neutral Buyouts Not Bailouts: Delivering a Fair Exit Package for Tasmanian Forest Contractors policy initiative, which will provide for a dignified exit from the industry for the 30 percent of contractors who have been identified as facing financial ruin.

Greens Leader Nick McKim, who launched today’s initiative with Forestry spokesperson Kim Booth MP, said the Greens will deliver a fair and equitable exit package to assist Tasmanian forest contractors who are facing financial ruin due to the harsh and oppressive contracts imposed upon them by Forestry Tasmania and Gunns, the deliberate over-capacity in the industry, and the inevitable downturn in the industry due to a global glut of un-differentiated forest products.

“We need an industry that not only respects the people working in it, but is truly socially, environmentally and economically sustainable. This is the first step in the Greens’ plan to deliver this,” said Mr McKim.

“Some contractors are facing financial ruin through no fault of their own, and only the Greens have a plan to help them.”

“We will engage the Auditor-General to determine a fair level of compensation for those contractors seeking to leave the industry, which will remove the politics from the issue and ensure an open and transparent process.”

Mr McKim also said that the short-term, politically expedient bailout packages being offered by Labor and Liberal fail to provide any solutions to the real issues facing the industry, and serve only to extend the uncertainty and financial pain facing contractors.

“Short-term, politically expedient bailout packages will not solve the fundamental problems within the industry. A long-term solution is required and that is exactly what this initiative will deliver.”

Attached: Buyouts Not Bailouts: Delivering a Fair Exit Package for Tasmanian Forest Contractors, launched by Greens Leader Nick McKim and Greens Forestry spokesperson Kim Booth, March 2010.

Political parties must commit to banning recreational killing of ducks and other wildlife

Tasmanian Conservation Trust Inc
05.03.10 10:54 am

Media Release

Political parties must commit to banning recreational killing of ducks and other wildlife

Media Conference

11am, Friday 5 March 2010

Parliament House

With the annual open season on duck shooting about to commence on 6 March, Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania (AACT), the Tasmanian Conservation Trust (TCT) and Wildlife Tasmania are calling on all political parties to commit to ending all government-licensed recreational killing of native wildlife.

“Every year we are faced with the cruel and senseless slaughter of native waterbirds in Tasmania at the hands of a minority group wielding shotguns,” announced Chris Simcox, spokesperson for AACT. “This brutal and cowardly attack on native ducks is government-sanctioned and subsidised with taxpayer dollars.  Other states have recognised the cruelty inherent in duck shooting and Tasmania should follow them by banning it. Quite rightly the majority of Tasmanians are in favour of an immediate end to this barbarity.”

TCT Director Peter McGlone supported this position and added that: “While our protest this weekend will focus on saving ducks, we want to draw attention to the up-coming recreational slaughter of short-tailed shearwater (starting 3 April) and brown quail (starting 1 May) and the year-round wallaby season.”

“In the lead up to the 2010 state election we have a historic opportunity to take Tasmania in a new direction in its treatment of native animals and all the three political parties should commit to stop recreational killing,” Mr McGlone added.

The duck shooting season starts on Saturday 6 March 2010.  Rescuers are heading to Moulting Lagoon to save the lives of native ducks which are in the firing line.  Throughout the season rescuers will be watching the wetlands to ensure the safety of native waterbirds.

For the 2010 state election, AACT, TCT and Wildlife Tasmania want all political parties to commit to ending all recreational hunting open seasons for the following native species:

- wild duck (black duck, grey teal, chestnut teal, mountain duck, wood duck)

- short-tailed shearwater

- Bennett’s and rufus wallabies

- brown quail

Our groups believe that recreational killing of native wildlife species must be banned because it causes unjustifiable animal cruelty and because killing in the name of recreation or sport is abhorrent and promotes a culture of killing and disrespect for wildlife and animals generally.

Ph:  03 62 343552
2nd fl, 191-193 Liverpool St, Hobart 7000
Email : .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Fax: 03 62 312491

Web: http://www.tct.org.au

Garrett to consider devils as critically endangered

Senator Christine Milne
05.03.10 10:39 am

Greens deputy leader, Senator Christine Milne has welcomed a decision by the Federal Minister for Environment to consider uplisting the Tasmanian devil’s status from endangered to critically endangered.

“This is encouraging news from Minister Garrett. Last year I called for the official process of uplisting to be opened following news of the devil’s continued decline.”

“Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease has to date decimated more than 70 percent of devil populations, meaning this iconic marsupial is now closer to extinction than some animals currently listed as critically threatened under the EPBC Act.”

“Should Minister Garrett and the Threatened Species Scientific Committee find the devil’s situation so dire as to uplist, it will be a code red emergency warning that the Tasmanian devil is just one step away from extinction in the wild.”

“Destructive development of key devil habitat will threaten its long-term survival. Building roads through the Tarkine, be it for tourists, logging or mining will open the devil’s final stronghold up to the ravages of a disease with no cure.”

“Minister Garrett is asking for nominations to be submitted to his department by 25 March. I am therefore calling on members of the public and the scientific community to draw on new and additional information demonstrating the full extent of the devil’s diminished status.”

“Nominations are vital if we are to have any hope of preserving the Tasmanian devil. An uplisting to critically endangered will mean a new threat abatement plan will be drawn to counter direct threats to the devil including the opening of the Tarkine region to development.”

“If we cannot find a cure for the disease, the least we should be doing is protecting the devil’s final stronghold.”

For information on how to make nominations, visit the government’s biodiversity page on:

http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/nominations.html#process

Toxic Heavy Metals Taskforce puzzled by MMG conclusions

Kay Seltitzas, Toxic Heavy Metals Taskforce Tasmania
05.03.10 9:54 am

Toxic Heavy Metals Taskforce Tasmania

Media Release

Friday 5 March 2010

Toxic Heavy Metals Taskforce puzzled by MMG conclusions

The Toxic Heavy Metals Taskforce Tasmania finds that there is little they can comment on regarding the initial findings of the MMG Environmental Investigations in Rosebery to date as they did not release any data publicly.

Spokespersons for the Taskforce Kay Seltitzas and Marsha Stejskal said:

“We believe that the results of MMG’s investigation will ultimately be tainted, as they are not independently conducting the testing in Rosebery.”

Mine Manager John Lamb was unable to reassure the residents that the town was safe when asked this specific question during the meeting in Rosebery on March 4 2010. He said that he could not, as requested, make public the safety of the town at this time.

The Taskforce notes that the area in Rosebery where all the affected residents live has the greatest levels of Lead, Arsenic and Cadmium present.

Miss Stejskal said: “This is not surprising to us as we have been affected by Arsenic, Lead, Manganese and also Cadmium. The testing carried out by ourselves, the EPA DHHS and the Mine’s own results clearly demonstrated these high levels in 2008. It Would be interesting to see the cadmium levels as in 2008 initially study, cadmium was elevated as well “

Kay Seltitzas said: “We urge MMG to provide a pamphlet to the residents with information about all of the metals in HIL’s excedences in Rosebery and would ask the mine to test for aluminium and iron that was found in high levels on the poisoned residents properties in 2008”.

Marsha Stejskal also believes the mines should not only test for Aluminium but also Vanadium, Iron, Strontium, Cobalt and Tungsten.

“I think it is really important for MMG to test for as many heavy and light toxic metals as possible.”

Marsha Stejskal is appalled with MMG mine manager John Lamb’s statement “... It appears the heavy metals in the soil are not readily absorbed by the body”

“I would like to ask John Lamb, when did he become an expert on heavy metals? Heavy metals are absorbed through various different ways, for example through breathing, through the eyes, or skin.  Children are at an even greater risk as they often put their hands in their mouths and digest…dust would play large roll in heavy metal contamination.”

Marsha Stejskal said “Contamination has nothing to do with old houses as MMG mine manager John Lamb stated….It would be very difficult to arrive to this conclusion based on the results of soil testing only

For further comment please contact Kay Seltitzas on 0400546677 or (03) 62655776

Marsha Stejskal on 0448364690