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Your say this week
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editor
April 5, 2005 at 04:35
In February 2003 I suffered a serious fall – no fault of my own – at my workplace, breaking both my arms. I had three hours in surgery, three days in hospital, seven weeks in bilateral plasters and three months of work .
Under the current Tasmanian Workers Compensation legislation, which is a no-blame system, I have learnt that I am unable to be compensated for pain and suffering; it is not written into the legislation. There is also loss of my ex-partner’s wages and job due to the care I needed.
And I am unable to use common law (sue) as I do not pass the criteria of a 30% loss of whole bodily function.
Under the legislation my employer was required to implement a return to work program within two weeks of the date of the fall. I had the choice to try and sign it or take the risk of having my income cancelled.
Under the legislation, if I fail to return to work due to physical limitations I will be faced with the dilemma of my income being reduced by 30%, if not more.
This is only the beginning of a very unfair legislation, modified by the Labor Government in 2002, that favours the insurance companies and covers all employed Tasmanians.
It severely disadvantages the rights of the injured worker, causes social unrest within homes and financially burdens people .
What was the Labor Government thinking?
B Pease
editor
April 5, 2005 at 05:03
Dear Minister April 1, 2005
One can only be amazed at the speed and efficiency of Tasmania Police in regard to the recent investigation into “allegations of impropriety” surrounding certain events on King Island.
On Tuesday (March 29) we had Commander Wilkinson demanding an explanation and vowing that the report would soon be on his desk.
Friday, just three days later, Commissioner McCreadie holds a press conference to announce the findings of the inquiry!
As a complete contrast, consider the following:
My son’s legal representative delivered by hand a submission to Internal Affairs on December 20, 2004 asking for an investigation into “allegations of impropriety” by members of Tasmania Police.
On February 16, 2005 two officers from Internal Affairs visit my son and tell him the investigation is now under way. They are “investigating alleged improprieties by a member or members of Tasmania Police”.
“Whatever the outcome,” they tell him, “we are not here to help your case.” They also tell him “you are not too badly off in here.”
Just for the record, “in here” is Risdon Prison!
Via my son’s legal representative, we (the family) are told that the investigation should be finalised “mid-April.” It will then go to an assessment officer, who will make a decision as to what action, if any, is to be taken.
My question is, obviously, what is the difference between the two cases?
I would suggest that the allegations raised by our son’s legal representative are much more important than a “suspected” case of or allegation of drink driving!
Peter Randall April 1, 2005
RISDON VALE
editor
April 5, 2005 at 11:38
Senator Ian Campbell
Minister for Environment & Heritage
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
29th Mar, 2005
Dear Senator Campbell,
Recherche Bay – Site of the scientific exploration & visit by Bruni d’Entrecasteaux (1792-3)
I write concerning the proposed logging of the north-east peninsula and associated sites at Recherche Bay in Southern Tasmania.
As you will be aware, this is the site of a significant French expedition in the late eighteenth century, prior to Tasmania (then van Diemen’s Land) being claimed by the British. The significance of this scientific expedition is mirrored in the geographical names of many places in Southern Tasmania to this day. Bruny Island, the d’Entrecasteaux Channel, and the Labillardière Peninsula (named after Jacques-Julien Houtou de La Billardière, one of the naturalists on the expedition) are just three that honour the event.
As you know, the land is privately owned, at present. At first sight, the owners’ wish to make a return on their ‘investment’ might not seem all that unreasonable. It is, however, short-sighted and selfish, given the international historical, cultural and scientific importance of the site.
Only you can show leadership and over-ride the Tasmanian Heritage Minister’s bloody-mindedness. His assurances that logging will cause no harm are an inept response by him to the importance of the site. It was the vision of the former Premier of Tasmania that the site be preserved in its entirety. Please do not let Australia lose another important opportunity to show the world community that we care.
Yours sincerely,
David Halse Rogers.
PS: Also, if you haven’t given your preferences for Heritage Tasmania’s poll on heritage sites, please go to http://www.heritage.tas.gov.au and put Recherche Bay as one of your three preferences (preferably number 1). Do it now, as you only have until 13th April, 2005!
Frank Strie
April 5, 2005 at 14:44
“The outlook for woodfibre demand remains strong with new pulping capacity now on line in China and continued economic growth in the region,” Mr Gay said.
…GUNNS plans to raise $80 million over the next four years to plant 1000ha of vines.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,12747967%255E462,00.html
Gunns higher prices
By Kevin Andrusiak
04apr05
AUSTRALIA’S monopoly woodchip exporter Gunns is pushing for big increases in woodchip prices for next year, following other resource companies that have cashed in on heavy Asian demand.
A self-imposed deadline to reveal contract prices with its Japanese customers for 2005 passed last week without any announcement by Gunns, with industry sources saying prices are indeed the sticking point.
Gunns representatives were unavailable, but sources said price negotiations, to set the benchmark for the Australian industry, were expected to conclude within days.
“Some years it is settled quickly and some years it drags out,” the source said. “Unofficially, Gunns are pushing hard for a price increase.”
etc, etc…….
BUT: Is there such as thing as a wine glut?
Let’s have a quick look: http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=wine+glut&meta=
Australia faces red wine glut in 2005 – decanter.com – the route …
Australia is facing a red wine glut in 2005, says a recent report.
http://www.decanter.com/news/60602.html – 41k – Cached – Similar pages
Wine glut hurting grape growers here
… a vineyard manager in the UC Davis Viticulture Program, said new vineyards in
the Central Valley are responsible for much of the wine glut. …
http://www.ptreyeslight.com/stories/july31_03/wine_glut.html – 8k – Cached – Similar pages
Record grape crush adds to red-wine glut – News – http://www.smh.com.au
This year’s record grape crush is a mixed bag for Australia’s 1700-plus wine
producers. – Sydney Morning Herald Online.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/05/23/1085250869208.html – 28k – Cached – Similar pages
New Wine Glut Coming
… 02.08.05 New Wine Glut Coming. A study commissioned by the French wine fair
Vinexpo is predicting a global wine surplus by 2008 equal to that of 2000. …
http://www.winesandvines.com/headline_02_08_05_glut.html – 12k – 4 Apr 2005 – Cached – Similar pages
Economist.com
… Globalisation of the world wine business may lead to a wine glut. …
taking advantage of the grape glut to launch cheaper “own-label†varietal wines. …
http://www.economist.com/surveys/ displayStory.cfm?Story_id=327372 – Similar pages
US News: Fruit of the wine glut; Wine Spectator picks (7/21/03)
… The current wine glut has oversupplied the US market with upwards of 100
million cases from California, South America, Australia, even Europe–and …
http://www.markels.com/U.S. News – Fruit of the wine glut; Wine Spectator picks (7-21-03).htm – 46k – Cached – Similar pages
tvnz.co.nz Global wine glut not slowing down NZ
… Vine planting unaffected by glut in wine market (02:11). Nov 14, 2004. Fears of
a worldwide glut in wine and a soaring dollar haven’t slowed down the …
tvnz.co.nz/view/news_business_ story_skin/458846?format=html – 47k – Cached – Similar pages
SA wine industry faces challenge of rising global wine glut
SA wine industry faces challenge of rising global wine glut. 01 April 2004 by
Lynn Bolin. Exhibiting an ‘enthusiasm for the future’ The current large …
http://www.dewijnhoek.com/engdewijnhoek/SAwineindustry.htm – 5k – Cached – Similar page
Dave Groves
April 6, 2005 at 13:26
TRAC Tamar Residents Action Committee
Les Rochester, Coordinator, 6394 7260, [email protected]
Visit our web site http://www.tamar-trac.com
How will the pulp mill chimney emissions affect you?
How will the Piper’s River Dam affect your water?
How will the pulp mill’s extra woodchips be transported?
Find out at a public meeting on Friday April 08, 7 p.m. at Sir Raymond Ferrall Centre,
UTAS, Alanvale.
Brady's Bunch
April 6, 2005 at 16:58
Congratulations to TRAC,
This website offers real information and now there is also the opportunity to come to a public meeting!
Great stuff, see you all on Friday, because the “trampling over the locals” has got to stop.
There are Sheep in Tasmania, yes, but not so many in the Tamar Valley.
Wrong choice John
phill Parsons
April 7, 2005 at 01:31
The Values of the West
In response to the desires of the Wadeye aboriginal community PM Howard is proposing changes to land rights legislation to allow leasehold ownership and to ease the approval of mining.
Few if any indigenous communities are isolated from the influences of the dominant culture[s] as shown by the school murders in the USA, logging of pygmy lands or the incidence of the diseases of affluence such as diabetes.
The pressure on the cooperative structures that developed in times of tribal life are enourmous, the physical pressure of invasion of ‘empty’ or ‘under used lands’ may be much less but the cultural pressures remain.
Whoever your gods, whatever your dreamtime it appears to be failing, the lore not passed to a generation exposed to the emptiness of modern materialism. This is not restricted to indigenous communities.
Whilst Howard’s changes may be flowing from the communities and may assist the transition of an ancient culture into the modern world and the retention of community through family relationships and some common beliefs the dangers of exacerbating the emptiness of accumulation that can result in the collapse of community.
The test of a successful program is local management supported by culturally aware structures so that the way forward can be found by the communities.
A strange position for the embodiment of the great father knows best that lay in the 1950s. Perhaps there is a change going on in his values but I think he is still driven by the winning dream and is acting in step with Pauline.
Bruce Montgomery
April 7, 2005 at 07:40
You tried to explain the merits of the new layout of the tastimes website to me the other day whilst astride your satanic velocipede in the street.
“Latest in bloggery architecture,” you said. I am not convinced. I find it awful to navigate. There is no logic or structure to it. Where do you run something like this bleat? Am I the voice in the wilderness? (In your dreams, Monty).
Also, did you know that Paddypower is offering the odds on the next Pope? http://www.paddypower.com/bet?action=show_type_by_main_market&category=SPECIALS&ev_class_id=45&id=520
After his missive today to The Mercury, my money’s on Gerard Castles. It’s
between him and Hummes of Brazil.
Regards,
Bruce Montgomery
Dr Kevin Bonham
April 7, 2005 at 21:11
I think the most disappointing aspect of the new setup is that those articles on which comments have been received do not float to the top. This means that once an article falls off the top page the debate usually becomes limited to the few people who were already involved in it. Sometimes I have found an article while looking through the second or third pages and seen several comments’ worth of debate that it would have been interesting to read at the time. I’m also unsure if you can subscribe to a thread (thus getting emails when new comments are posted)
without posting a comment to it.
The “most recent entries” list on the right is rather pointless as you can see what the entries are just by scrolling down the main page. If there was a link to entries with the most recent comments instead that would be much more useful.
Obviously the new site is much easier to use, especially for the Editor. However I do miss the way debates could keep staying at the top in the Letters section on the old site and feel that the debate on this one is more in the nature of fleeting and isolated skirmishes, rather than a situation where everything can be followed easily by everyone (whether they like it or not!)
phill Parsons
April 8, 2005 at 02:52
Ambulation among the stumps
Stumping around the hustings, Howard in a last ditch attempt to ensure his Ming promised to ‘Save Tasmania’s Forests’ or at least a lot of unthreatened bits, at the end of the last election campaign. Agreement was to be by the 1st of December.
On the Stump his opponent had offered $800million to conserve forests and restructure the industry to increase the processing for the flow on economic benefits to offset any possible reduction in the primary production.
Hopping onto Howard’s Stump in Launceston to defend his perception of his political arse and his true redneckery, the Labor member for Lyons, big Dick Adams deserted his leader, his party and his colleagues to side with the enemy and Tasmanian Labor Premier Lennon, the keeper of the lords of the forest keys.
Supposedly Commonwealth and presumably Tasmanian officials have been working 36hour weeks since then. Yes folks that 6 months of more stumps and still no agreement. Is this Tasmanian Labor’s revenge, embarrass Howard as they did the former Labor leader, or is there a real issue over which forest not threatened by logging they will ‘save’.
At the same time Gay’s long rumoured dinner promise has appeared, the Pulp Mill now at the stage of the Integrated Impact Statement draft guidelines available for comment before the assessment of what could be seen as the downstream processing arm of Labor policy.
Here will be a sea of stumps, obstacles to the unpaid public commentors in what is being pushed as a done deal, $2 million from Tasmanian Government stumpage being spent to promote this development, having forgone $800 million had a Labor government had been sent to Canberra last October.
The amount of woodchip to be processed here and/or exported has become a floating feast as the negotiations over stumpage focus Gunns and their Japanese buyers. Will these negotiations see Forestry Tasmania’s bottom line improve?.
Stumps me how this so valuable a resource can so poorly return to a business enterprise. Is it the third word, government, which makes this organization a rationalist’s anachronism. Perhaps a bold move to hive off the community obligations would improve this organization’s bottom line. Its power surely lies in the position of the forest sector in the economy not on what its internal structure manages.
I am also stumped to understand how Howard’s office ever thought that a dispute dividing Tasmanian society since 1973 was to be solved in 10 weeks or so. This is the policy arm that crashed and burned Federal Labor in Tasmania. Will the eyebrows of the 66 billion dollar man also be singed.
Why isn’t the fourth estate closely examining this mercurial agreement, surely their masters have something to advocate. The Mercury’s chief reporter certainly did before the election, now all is hooray for pulp fiction, it’s all cargo today.
Beazely is right to leave the running to the Environment spokesperson Albanese, he and Lennon’s running dog can bash it out, all deniable in 2008 when the dispute over the forest will be 35 and I predict alive and well, living on until it is at least 50. Tasmania itself appears stumped by this fundament.
phill Parsons
April 8, 2005 at 03:01
Publish at our peril
Comment in Comments box at the end of each article.
Everything else: Click on Comments, below.
Following on Monty.
Am I missing the place for new streams of comment or does the moderator determine that.
Jane Rankin-Reid
April 8, 2005 at 04:07
Dear Lindsay,
I heartily agree with Monty and Bonham’s recent comments re this invaluable website’s awkward redesign and usability. Paradoxically, in over-organisising its categories, Tas Times has become so much less accessable and as a consequence, the site is in real danger of losing its organic immediacy henceforth. Can’t you send your web masters out onto the net to find a more suitable model to replicate?
love,
Jane RR
nudger jones
April 8, 2005 at 08:05
I just tried to send Monty a message, clicking on the little pink thing above. The address came up as , wait for it: [email protected]
Is Monty having his own litle AFD joke with us all? Or is something more sinister afoot. A Gucci foot, too, if its Brucie wucie.
And Mr Tuffin, are you still considering that other matter about which we correponded at great length and which you promised to sort out once your mind was no longer addled by the Wild Turkey. Should I start to believe you are still inebriated.
And Monty you old rooster, how about putting up your proper e-mail address so we might catch up with each other.
I am hoping for a job as your loyal assistant doing PR for the forests. I know it’s not as socially acceptable as, say, Oscar being the mouthpiece for the Reformed Valley Flooders, but I hear the pay is superb. I have a good inside knowledge of government, having worked in the architectural blight in Murray Street. I’ve probably got enough dirt of enough pollies to scare them into voting to log Franklin Square when the time comes, as I am sure it will. Without the trees how much easier would it be so see the statues of our forefathers. Or to get to the famous Franklin Square dunnies without slipping on all those messy leavs. What an inner city institution those dunnies are, hay Mont, but I am rambling. I do miss having intellectual intercourse with you Monty. Please make contact soon if only to say thanks but no thanks.
Cheers
Your old mate Nudger