Lyons Labor MP votes against own farmers

Lyons Labor MP, Dick Adams has voted in Parliament to lock-up the land of Midlands and East Coast farmers.

Mr Adams joined with Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, and all other Labor MPs to block a further attempt by the Liberal Party to stop the listing of native grasslands on Tasmanian farmland, a listing which is vehemently opposed by farmers.

Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Tasmanian Liberal Senator Richard Colbeck said Mr Adams didn’t even have the backbone to speak on the matter when given the opportunity.

“Dick Adams has betrayed the farmers of his electorate who he said he would stand up for,” Senator Colbeck said.

In June, Mr Adams, in response to Minister Garrett announcing his decision to lock up the grasslands, said:

“The farmers have gone through enough lately with the drought and all the traumas that was associated with that. Now this new threat looming is not reasonable and I will fight it.”

“In Parliament, however, Mr Adams subscribed to the old theory, ‘if you can’t fight’em, then you oughta join’em’.

“Mr Adams rolled over to those who fail to recognise the hard work undertaken by farmers to protect and sustain the grasslands on their farms.

“Mr Adams and Labor’s action in Parliament confirms the Rudd Government is out of touch on rural issues and that Labor does not trust farmers to manage sensitive areas on private property.”

Last week in Senate Estimates Hearings, the Government gave no reason for Minister Garrett rejecting a funding application from NRM North to assist farmers with rehabilitating the grasslands – just one week after the same Minister told them to apply for such funding.

It was also revealed most of the ‘special deal’ offered to Independent Senators for their support of this move was not so special at all as the measures offered were going to happen anyway.

“The deception from the Rudd Labor Government knows no bounds,” Senator Colbeck said.

“Tasmania’s rural community, particularly those affected farmers in the Northern Midlands and on the East Coast, will be incredibly disappointed in Mr Adams and his Labor colleagues.

“Mr Adams demonstrated clearly that he will say one thing when in his electorate, but once in Canberra he follows the orders of his masters such as Minister Garrett who has little regard for farmers or their futures.

“As Mr Garrett said during the 2007 election campaign, ‘once we get in, we will just change it all.’
Senator Richard Colbeck – Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry