Dear Senator Macdonald,

I found your media release referring to people who are genuinely concerned about the consequencess of industrial clearfell conversion ‘forestry’ (‘The Bong Brigade’) highly offensive.

However it does reveal your values and beliefs.

Do you not realise that you are being duped by Timber Communities Australia? Their history clearly demonstrates that they are a corporate funded propaganda organisation.

You could (if you wished) convince me that you are fit for the high office you currently occupy if you took the trouble to read a book called A Short History of Progress by Ronald Wright. Do you really wish to be judged by history as one of those who helped create an Australian version of Easter Island?

The federally-funded 2020 vision pays (through 100% tax breaks) for the conversion of wet mixed native forests to dry monoculture plantations which represent a severe fire risk and are consuming vast quantities of water and polluting catchment areas with dangerous chemicals banned in countries which have more enlightened regulators and politicians.

For your information I do have a job. I am a staff specialist physician at the Royal Hobart Hospital. I have a brother who is a farmer who has suffered major financial losses because of the impacts of the 2020 vision.

These impacts have been presented to the senate inquiry into the impacts of the “vision” in Tasmania by myself and many others and thus far appear to have been studiously ignored.

I am not anti-forestry either. I grew up in an area where the principle industries were agriculture and forestry. There really was not a problem till the industrialisation of woodchipping and plantation conversion occurred.

Your government has created a monster.

The future of ecologically sustainable forestry and Tasmanian agriculture (not to mention aquaculture, leatherwood honey production and tourism) is threatened by your party and their policies.

I would like a response.

When I recently presented my concerns to you (regarding the dangerous chemical regimes employed in plantation establishment and maintenance) I was referred to Senator Colbeck who provided only dismissive pap.

Can you do better than this?

Dr Frank Nicklason
West Hobart

That Press Release:

Barbeque an Opportunity to Grill Protestors
4 August 2005

Australian Forestry and Conservation Minister Senator Ian Macdonald has urged communities across the south coast and Monaro to attend a barbeque in Cobargo this Saturday to show their support for the timber industry.

Senator Macdonald said the gathering, being organised by Timber Communities Australia, was being held to take a stand against irrational anti-forestry campaigns across the nation.

“Too often, the only rallies we see are from the bong brigade who have got time to hang around and protest against everything,” Senator Macdonald said.

“This weekend provides an opportunity for ordinary Australians, who cannot afford to drop their jobs to get their message across, to come together and lend their support to a sustainable and viable industry.”

Senator Macdonald said the gathering would send a message to ‘anti-everything’ protestors that a sustainable timber industry provided the backbone of rural communities across the nation.

“The Wandella Logging Crew down here has been under siege for seven weeks by uninformed demonstrators,” Senator Macdonald said.

“These timber workers and the sustainable industry they work in, support regional towns, like Cobargo, where Timber Communities Australia has chosen to hold the event.

“This region has been scientifically assessed under the Regional Forest Agreement for its sustainable values and, yet, these protesters still aren’t satisfied. It just goes to show how superficial and irrational these so-called ‘green’ ideals are.”

Senator Macdonald commended TCA for their tireless efforts to support the timber industry, and urged those residents not directly employed in the timber industry to also attend to show their support.

Further inquiries:
Senator Macdonald’s office:
http://www.mffc.gov.au/releases/2005/05149m.html