Mr Fletcher

Frank Nicklason

Mr Fletcher did not disclose in his article that he has a pecuniary interest in Gunns. (He recently acted as a lobbyist of Legislative Councillors, pushing for fast tracking of the Gunns pulpmill proposal, presumably for a fee). In the same issue of The Advocate Independent MLC for Murchison Ruth Forrest (a nurse) raised the question of air quality monitoring in relation to forestry burns of “waste timber” on clearfells. I congratulate Ruth. It is clearly appropriate for health professionals and politicians to speak up on such issues.

Dear Editor

In his opinion piece (The Advocate 14/4) former MLC Tony Fletcher has accused some high profile doctors and dentists “of concentrating all their public efforts on saving the forests”. Mr Fletcher asks the question; “Are we as Tasmanians too obsessed with our commitment to global environmental effort?” He believes this “obsession” is “irrational at a time when our health system is groaning under the weight of unmet demand and the standard of service is falling”. Is Mr Fletcher aware of the importance of air and water quality as determinants of population health?

Although not specifically named, I guess I am one of those people whom Mr Fletcher believes is “obsessed by the environment”.

I was asked by concerned members of the Burnie community to investigate the possibility of health risks associated with the woodchip stockpiles on their wharf as they had not had satisfaction with previous requests for help. As a consequence of calling for an independent health risk assesssment of the piles I have been sued for defamation by Gunns Limited. Local dentist Dr Peter Pullinger was also sued by Gunns for voicing his health concerns regards the piles publicly, although after over two years the company has elected not to proceed with the case.

Mr Fletcher did not disclose in his article that he has a pecuniary interest in Gunns. (He recently acted as a lobbyist of Legislative Councillors, pushing for fast tracking of the Gunns pulpmill proposal, presumably for a fee).

In the same issue of The Advocate Independent MLC for Murchison Ruth Forrest (a nurse) raised the question of air quality monitoring in relation to forestry burns of “waste timber” on clearfells. I congratulate Ruth. It is clearly appropriate for health professionals and politicians to speak up on such issues.

Ruth’s stand is nothing more or less than I did with respect to the woodchip piles nor is it any different from the way that Dr Jim Markos in Launceston has spoken and acted for the air quality of the Tamar Valley.

Dr Alison Bleaney at St Helens, similarly, has been a staunch advocate for the right of her community to clean drinking water, uncontaminated by chemicals aerially sprayed in tree plantation activities.

Dr Frank Nicklason

West Hobart