ANZ BANK chief economist Saul Eslake,a former Smithton boy who has stated he would like to die in Tasmania, is a respected commentator well worth listening to.
He recently restated his longstanding view that Tasmanian industry should shift from it’s current emphasis on bulk production of low value added commodities such as woodchips and potatoes. (Mercury 29/8)
Eslake goes on to say that: “To my mind Tasmanians are still more resistant to social and economic change … than many of their mainland counterparts”.
I have not seen the evidence for or against this belief but I am aware of the negative effect federal tax policy has had in this regard.
The so-called ‘2020 vision’ removes impediments to the increase of Australia’s plantation estate by (amonst other things) providing a 100% tax break for developing short rotation, broadacre pulpwood plantations whether they be on prime agricultural land or on clearfelled native forests.
This policy threatens the long-term viability of a Tasmanian Specialty Timber industry, the organic agriculture and aquaculture sectors, leatherwood honey production and eco-tourism. These industries are all of the type that Eslake (and many other Tasmanians) would like to see supported by all levels of government.
Mr Eslake could greatly assist Tasmanians by lobbying the Prime Minister and the Treasurer to remove this tax incentive which unfairly favours an outdated and destructive activity. The money saved would, no doubt, be appreciated by farmers (and others) wishing to diversify and differentiate into niche market products.
He could also ensure that his own financial institution did not support any company’s involvement in these activities as they have done in the past.
Frank Nicklason
West Hobart
David Mohr
September 15, 2005 at 09:59
Now that the CSIRO modelling has shown that plantations in our catchment areas have reduced water flows in our creeks and rivers will Steve Kons apologise to Dr David Leaman for trying to discredit his work in recent years.
What will happen in response to the findings of the CSIRO? Will the mad rush to create plantations on farmland and in place of native forest just continue unabated?
On a perfect viewing day on the slopes of Ben Lomond yesterday one could easily see Bass Strait in the distance.
In the foreground in the Blessington area and beyond to the eastern slopes of Mt Barrow and Mt Arthur it was a patchwork of clearfell and plantation with patches of native forest mainly on the higher slopes.
What is this doing to our water catchments in Northern Tasmania?
Will it be too late when we find out the answer to that question.
Dave Groves
September 16, 2005 at 01:35
Dave,
I was out on the Tamar River on Tuesday, so I can tell you what is going on with our water catchments.
Visibility was about 2 inches; the Tamar was brown, just like the ground you were looking at.
My guess is that the brown stuff you were looking at on Wednesday will be in the Tamar by Friday.
There are no roots, traditionally what holds the soil together, on these swathes of land and with some help from “mother nature†and gravity the brown stuff runs into the clear stuff and abracadabra brown Tamar.
This will of course be denied by the powers that be, because those who remove the roots are doing a great job and have been doing it for years and no latte sippin’ mainlander is gunna tell us how to do our job!
Really Dave, you just have to cast your eyes around the state to see what great leaps of progress the white boys have made in the last 200 years.
We have air that gives asthma, soil that fills our waterways; water that is undrinkable and various cancers that are more prolific here than on the big rock.
So Dave, kick back, enjoy a blue carrot or two and be awed at the progress as our fearless leaders continue their endless quest.
Dave Groves
September 16, 2005 at 09:53
Geoff, great to hear you are diving in the river.
Spaceman on earth.
Low Head seems to be a hotspot for diving, the fishing can be good and the vistas are awesome!
Takes some courage I reckon. I surfed for years when I was young and fearless and didn’t think about what was in the drink with me too much.
Tried some snorkelling, but I find it hard to relax since “Jaws†polluted my mind.
Anyhow I agree that soil will find its way to the rivers without the help of the “white boysâ€, but even round my way I can see that feeble siltation retention allows glorious topsoil to go from terra firma to the deep blue with the greatest of ease.
I have worked most of my life in landscape design and construction, earthmoving and civil works etc, so although I am no hydrologist or scientist I do have a good understanding of what to do and what not to do when it comes to keeping the brown out of the clear.
Again I call for a completely independent Environmental Protection Agency to stop the rot and start a process to make this state the place it should be.
Yes, some try to do the right thing. A little education would work wonders for those folk.
Others know and just don’t give a rats. They need to be sorted.
Time will tell.
Anyhow, Low Head should be clear in a few weeks if the rain keeps a low profile.
Happy diving.
Brenda Rosser
September 16, 2005 at 15:36
Senator Shayne Murphy:
“In the area of taxation, the current application of the taxation system as an incentive for private investment in the plantation industry has led to an influx of managed investment companies with little or no experience in plantation or, indeed, forestry matters. They have been more interested in fees and charges than developing a long-term, viable and sustainable industry. This has also led to excessively high costs in plantation establishment.
Many companies have used monies paid by investors to buy land for themselves. Indeed, it was the evidence of at least one company to a different committee inquiry that at least half of the money paid by an investor was used to buy land.
However, had the investor bought the land, the purchase would have been considered a capital purchase and therefore not deductible under existing tax laws.
It should therefore be of concern that investment companies are using monies that an investor has claimed a 100 per cent deduction for to buy land at often very high prices.
This seems to provide an unfair advantage over other possible land purchasers who do not have the advantage of claiming the purchase cost as a tax deduction.”
http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee
/rrat_ctte/completed_inquiries/2002-04
/plantation_forests/report/15minority.htm
AND
ABC News,
Tuesday 13th September 2005
New prospectus, Gunns Ltd.
Seeking to raise $120 million.
70% of money will be used to acquire land for the purpose of plantations.