If you tuned in to ABC Radio show ‘Drive’ on Friday evening (22 July) you would have spent the rest of the evening wiping the sour grapes stains off your car seats. Poor old Barnsy was beside himself with grief due to the clean bowling of the John Gay juggernaut attempt to stifle free speech and debate.
Whilst Barnsy’s dribbling misery was embarrassing, it was a real hoot. Greg clearly has trouble coming to terms with the usual practice of high profile lawyers doing pro-bono work on high profile cases. I suppose Greg reckons it is alright for anyone, but not if you’re a green. Greg says that silks should take on cases of Risdon prisoners, but Greg, they already do. I attended a trial a few years ago that had two rather scary ‘gentlemen’ being tried for an execution type murder that involved a shotgun and bulldozer. One was already serving a sentence for a double rape and was pulled out of prison to stand trial for this murder that he committed about 12 years previously. His lawyer is a well known QC and now a politician, yet this prisoner was from a one horse town (Rossarden), a regular low life and had been serving his sentence for rape for 2 years at the time of the trial. How did he get this level of defence? The other defendant was represented by a QC who is Tasmania’s best known criminal lawyer.
The press coverage is the obvious reason these guys were on their feet but Greg reckons the Gunns 20 should pay for their own defence. Did it occur to Greg that Bob Brown and Peg Putt are actually elected to speak their mind and for others? Why should people have to bankrupt themselves in order to rebut the surreptitious charges by a billion dollar company headed by millionaire rednecks? One of the defendants is an old granny from Lucaston. Should she be bankrupted by the super rich because she told them where to get off? What about the others who probably have no assets? Should they just fold and let injustice and bullying rule the day?
Unfortunately Greg made the silly mistake of blaming the judge and inferred that a different outcome would have resulted if another judge had been presiding! Any judge could see (because most of us did) that if this case did not fall over at this juncture, it would have fallen over on appeal costing Gunns even more than it will now. Maybe Greg should turn his sights on the legal team arguing for Gunns. They are the ones laughing all the way to the bank as they are doing what their client wants, no matter how air-headed the pursuit. From all this you can see lawyers either love rich clients on a treasure hunt or poor ones if the case has a high profile. What is obvious here is the Gunns lawyers will continue to make a packet as long as the proposed pulp mill is in limbo, as this is the whole reason for this waste of court time in the first place.
It is that reason that Gunns will carry on with this as they are not obviously listening to any reason (much to the delight of their lawyers), and who needs reason when playing tactics like this. You only have to think of the mess the MacDonalds corporation got themselves in when they took on protestors in court. Justice Bongiorno is trying to kill this off early and Gunns should not be allowed to tie up court time just to tie up protest action, as how many people have urgent cases waiting while this debacle continues.
I could almost see Greg crying into his ‘Power Ice’ beer (or was it a ‘Fruity Lexia’ 4 litre cask?) as he spat that this is not the end of the matter and Gunns will bounce back and tread on those who dare to criticise. Sorry to disappoint you Greg but don’t chuck those hankies away just yet.
Eddie Storace
Hobart
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“We can all dream”
Hydro will guarantee water flows down the Cataract Gorge, but the fine print negates that assertion.
The proponent of the proposed pulp mill is obviously panicking over water supply to quench the thirst of their fifty thousand litres per minute fresh water guzzler.
Gunns are searching the north of the state to find water, but if it’s not there, then it’s not there.
Curries, Pipers and now Trevallyn have been announced. There is always the Ringarooma, perhaps the highland lakes or save all that pipe work and install a nuclear powered desalination plant at Long Reach. They have the land to do it apparently.
The proponent boasts that they will put power back into the grid, but how will this power be made?
They will burn around three thousand tonnes per day of various “substances” to achieve this goal.
What would be the effect on a community already heavily suffering respiratory problems?
When will these people wake up and see that they are 100% off the mark?
This project is set to fail in Tasmania.
John Gay has stated that he may take his mill overseas.
Maybe he can build a cleaner mill over there than he can here because of the cheap labour available.
I wish him well in his overseas venture.
Dave Groves
Kayena
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It has been said that babies and politicians have one thing in common; both need changing regularly and for the same reasons.
While that’s a funny analogy to most of us, the truth is not far behind when it comes to those Politicians who favor greedy and socially (environmentally) irresponsible friends to take more than they should.
Some would argue that those few are good for the economy but most would recognize that for those few to take more out of greed, others will have to do with less than they need.
The cry ‘What about me, it isn’t fair’ can be heard globally and many are up in arms to challenge and stop the greedy.
But change will not come easy; only with knowledge and a free choice in a Democracy can we hope to make a difference, and we have to start at home. The slogan ‘Think globally, act locally’ says it all.
Many ‘unsung heroes’ in our community are doing just that. They quietly support others to become the best they can be, and empower those who know that there has to be a better way of doing things by providing them with the tools needed to make a difference.
The Huon Ratepayers Association is such a community facilitator. This Association was formed a year ago in response to, what was considered at the time, poor accountability from Huon Valley Council Management and most Councillors.
The Association started with 14 members, which tripled when this Council threatened to sue one member over an allegation he made that information supplied by Council had been misleading (independent advice supported the allegation).
Some apology was made to, eventually, settle ruffled Council feathers but, after all that, the Association was granted funding by the Tasmanian Office of Post Compulsory Education and Training to offer a Course of study to its Members about Local Government and how to express opinions without getting sued or SLAPPed.
Council Management is not yet convinced that such education is good for the community but he said that the Association is happy to work with Council to arrive at a point where leadership in a Democracy is seen as the power to influence events not to control events on the whims of a few against a majority opinion.
Anyone can apply to attend the Association’s FREE 18 hour training Course, which will be offered over Saturdays 13th, 20th and 27th of August 2005, with a possible repeat or advanced Course in September.
A donation of $36 is asked for to defray advertising and incidental costs.
Funds are limited and preference will be given to Leaders in the Community, especially Independent Councillor Candidates, especially women.
The Course will be delivered at the Huon Open Learning Centre by TAFE and Adult Education lecturers with Guest Speaker expertise from Government and the Public.
Non-members may attend, subject to availability, fee applies. (hint; become a Member of the Association and do the Course for free!).
Subjects include; interpersonal communication and responsible assertiveness, formal and casual writing, word processing, email and internet, Law, Local Government Act, planning schemes, meeting procedures and rewards for duties.
Call Chris on (03) 6266 3090. Email; [email protected] Web; www.huonratepayers.websyte.com.au to register your interest in attending.
Elections are this October; check that you’re correctly enrolled to vote. Call Commonwealth Electoral Roll on 1800 801 701 or the Huon Valley Council General Manager’s Roll on 6264 8400 and let’s make an informed decision on who is going to represent us for the next four years!
** Closing date for Councillor Candidacy is September 26th. **
The Huon Ratepayers Association supports;
* Independent Councillors, and reminds all that being a Councillor isn’t easy, if the job is done well. Rewards are about $8,000 a year, deputy Mayor $17,500, Mayor $35,000 plus extras, and then there are the often more important rewards of Power, Social Standing and Influence.
* Responsible and sustainable Tourism developments, especially in the Huonville district.
* Off street parking and landscaping in small townships with a high tourist potential.
* Appropriate training for Councilors and Candidates (no junkets).
* The Association calls on Council to support after hours health and dental care, especially for the elderly and disadvantaged, and to make public any support that has been granted to businesses in the past.
The Huon Ratepayers Association is NOT aligned with any creed or political party; they are not for profit and aim to be impartial. ABN 41 408 775 775
Chris Bergh
Public Officer of the Association
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“Breathe, Breathe in the air, don’t be afraid to care”: Pink Floyd
As national air quality standards have been exceeded 10 times in Launceston this year (Mercury 19 July 05) the Federal Government is “lashing out” with a million dollar donation to industries in Launceston to help them find alternatives to wood fired boilers.
At the other end of the valley, they plan to give the proponent of the proposed pulp mill a five million dollar “gift” to “kick it along”.
From the latest scope guideline revision from the proponent, that means burning 3000 tonnes of “substances” every day and pumping the waste into the atmosphere.
The pulp industries’ expert response to this was, “mother nature will take care of it” (McCubbin 4th March 05).
So we have the government actually supporting massive emissions at one end of the valley with a helping hand from good old Mother Nature and we watch national air quality standards breached regularly at the other end of the valley.
Does this make sense to anyone?
What will the future of the Tamar Valley be?
Will we rename Tamar Valley, “Asthma Alley”?
And,
Well, well, well. $50,000 from the State Government to support all the farmers of Tasmania (Mercury 02 July 2005) to help them survive.
How can our State Government justify such extravagance?
Who will pay for the next top of the range chauffer driven limousine, with televisions in the headrests (The Advocate, June 2005) if they spend taxpayers’ money on the breadwinners of this state?
Perhaps they could take an ever so small percentage from the many millions of taxpayers’ hard earned dollars that have been squandered thus far on advertising the alleged benefits of the proposed pulp mill.
Pity these farmers were not the proponent of the proposed pulp mill.
I reckon things would be quite different.
This just goes to show how much this government really cares about Tasmania’s hard working farmers who feed the masses.
They will spend the unprecedented amount of 10 cents per person to support our farmers.
Our leaders swan around in top of the range cars with televisions in the headrests and make out they are supporting this state’s breadwinners with a handout per capita that wouldn’t buy a bite from an apple.
As I look at the North East’s magnificent deep red soil now contaminated with monoculture woodchip plantation instead of lush food, I can see who our State Government really cares about.
Can you?
And,
The debacle continues with the proponent of the proposed pulp mill now saying that the enormous fresh water supply that this mill requires will come from Trevallyn.
A couple of weeks ago they said the mill may be built overseas.
A few weeks before that they said they now need 550% more land at Bell Bay (actually the site is Longreach or has it moved?).
Does the proponent have any idea what they are doing?
Are they just spinning a chocolate wheel each week for new ideas?
How many submissions will the community have to lodge with the RDPC?
If they are making this proposal up as they go along, what sort of mill could we wind up with?
Will that be another spin on the chocolate wheel?
I am happy I don’t have any money invested in this project when no-one seems to know what they are doing.
I’ll bet there are some nervous investors out there.
I can’t wait for the next “spin” to see what amazing new twist these “experts” come up with.
As I have said before, “for now, sit back, relax and enjoy the show!”
Dave Groves
Kayena
“We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect. ” – Aldo Leopold
David Mohr
July 25, 2005 at 10:13
All of a sudden there is an extra 26 gigalitres of water to supply the pulp mill each year! When members of the community in Launceston ask for more water to be released through the Cataract Gorge to alleviate the silt levels in the Tamar River basin it can’t be found.
Why are we building the Meander Dam when we are told we have a spare 26 gigalitres of water which could be used for irrigation on Northern Tasmania’s farms.
Are the Hydro sure that this level of water taken from the Trevallyn Dam is sustainable in to the future given that rainfall is projected to decrease in the coming years?
How many sacrifices do the population of Launceston and the Tamar valley have to make to accomodate this mill?
Brenda Rosser
July 26, 2005 at 06:07
It is not appropriate for our representatives to be directing woodchip sourcing from unsustainably managed monoculture tree plantations.
I didn’t hear a word about the destructive nature of this part of the industry when certain prominent environmentalists were advocating these plantations as an appropriate source.
It’s not a simple equation of deducting wood chips from old-growth logging.
Nippon. Stay out of Tasmania altogether!
Brenda Rosser
‘Pesticide Abuse in Tasmania’
http://www.geocities.com/rosserbj
Rick Pilkington
July 26, 2005 at 13:20
I didn’t hear Barns on drive. However from Eddie Storaces report it doesn’t sound like I missed too much. Following the recent news of the Victorian Supreme Court judge’s scathing dismissal of the Gunns writ, which I believe emphasizes the true nature of this disingeuous writ, i was going to ask Greg Barns if he still stood by the article he wrote last year “This is not about free speech”.
An article that established Barns as one of the few legal commentators in the land to publicly pursue a line of support for this very dubious writ.
Eddie, you have saved me the effort.
As someone once said on this website Barns has a “blindspot when it comes to green voice”.
Barns seems to harbour an irrational hatred of any voice that advocates a greater protection of ‘natural’ Tasmania. This blindspot is something I was attempting to highlight in my response to Barns recent ill-tempered assassination of the Tasmanian Times.
In this response I questioned his real motive publishing such a piece. I felt some much needed context around the timing and nature of his article was required. I felt and still feel strongly that his rant was an inadeqaute platform from which to launch a focus on the shortcomings of he Tasmanian Times.
The Tasmanian Times deserves better.
Anon Observer
July 27, 2005 at 02:22
To pick up on a recent thread re the quality of writing on the Tasmanian Times, and seeking feedback from people who have been put off of contributing to the site…
The kind of rant just spewed forth by Mr Storace is exactly the kind of writing that does Tasmanian Times a huge disservice. Reading this simply adds validity to the opinion expressed in Mr Barns’ column in the Mercury, not detracts!
I don’t care if he’s right or wrong, Mr Storace could simply do better. Try sleeping on it, Mr Storace. Write your article then wait a while. Read with fresh eyes a day or two later, then see if you are properly making your point or if you are accidentally making yourself look like a right tosspot.
Anon Observer
lhayward
July 28, 2005 at 06:29
Tasmania has something very special which it is failing to bottle and export, a kind of clownish chicanery that has the potential to entertain the world.
So it was with Mr Lennon’s outrage at the leaking of the Solicitor-General’s assessment that the Meander Dam is an economic dud, the same conclusion reached by the project’s initial feasibility study. This escape of a little common sense was described by the Government as a potentially criminal “security breach”.
It emerged at about the same time that summer releases from the dam would just happen to prove quite handy for slaking some of the gargantuan thirst of the proposed Gunns pulp mill, which will require around 36 gigalitres of fresh water yearly if it operates at full capacity.
The local tabloids respectfully reported the dam’s endorsement by the Meander Resource Management Group, though not the fact that the Group is an offshoot of Timber Communities Australia. The Natural State’s notion of an economic sage, Bruce Felmingham, likewise chivalrously declined to connect any dots in questioning the dam’s logic.
It could get even better, perhaps with the transfer of the State’s Treasury to a private account a la the gambit of the land swap affair. The Government could then get on with distributing the public’s resources to its friends in privacy. The public certainly wouldn’t care.
John Hayward
Weegena
David Mohr
July 29, 2005 at 04:40
It appears clear that future requests for increased flows through the Cataract Gorge will not be looked upon favourably.
Andrew Livingston (Examiner July 29) Stated “Any request for increased flows down the Gorge will be considered by Hydro Tasmania as a commercial transaction.”
In other words “Its our water and if Launceston residents want extra water flowing through the Gorge to alleviate the silt build up they will have to pay for it.”
With reduced rainfall for Eastern Australia predicted for the future water availability will be a huge issue.
It has been a while now since the Gorge has been in flood and this has coincided with unprecedented silt levels in the Tamar River Basin.
The issue of where the silt comes can be debated but what is clear is that increased flows through Cataract Gorge can assist reducing silt levels.
The pulp mill and its associated water needs is a double whammy for the environment in the Tamar Valley. It means further build up of silt in the river plus 300kg of particulates per day pumped into the Tamar Valley airshed.