On Friday night as I was settling in with a glass of pinot for the Federer v Tsonga match at the Australian Open.
I noticed a TV ad where Labor Bass candidate Scott Mclean was inviting the public to his campaign launch at Royal Park, Launceston (Saturday January 31). The event was described as ‘Politics in the park’.
Sounds interactive, me thunk. My type of political launch. Better go along and pay my respects.
So, on Saturday on a sunny verandah next to Hallams Restaraunt in Royal Park, a few of Launceston’s Labor Party faithful gathered.
This place has a lovely outlook on the high tide across to the entrance to the cataract gorge. But on the low tide….hmmmm??
Surprisingly Federal Minister for Resources, Energy & Tourism, Martin Ferguson had popped down for the event. Also present was the Federal member for Lyons Dick Adams and Chief Government Whip in the Senate – Kerry O’Brien. However, notable by her absence was the Federal member for Bass – Jodie Campbell. Now, I had only walked past Ms Campbell in Launceston a day or two before. There was also another Jodie sighting in Launceston on Sunday. So it was fairly clear that the member for Bass was in town. So why the no-show?
HERE is the video of the event.
There is a great cameo by a local yachtie who heckled both McLean and Ferguson throughout their speeches.
This fellow shouted and interjected from the deck of his yacht in dry dock at the Tamar Yacht club some 50 metres away.
He may well have had a VB breakfast but he rightly pointed out that the launch was conveniently being conducted on the river’s high tide when there was of course no sign of the Tamar Basin’s awful silt problem. The yachtie pointed towards the north east and bellowed at Minister Ferguson “what about the forestry” and then he pointed back at the river yelling “it’s the forestry causing the silt”.
Keep an eye out at when the camera pans over towards Martin Ferguson.
Ferguson had seen a protester move by him with a large placard. Ferguson grinned and then moved in front of her to block her sign from view. I noticed this and pointed the camera at Ferguson. You can see him then look at the camera and quickly move away from the protester and her sign.
Not long after I asked my first question.
During this time Dick Adams berated me telling me repeatedly “to get my own platform and that this wasn’t a media event”.
I replied that this in fact was my platform.
You can just hear Mr Adams call me a “mongrel”. You can see Mr Adams’ aggressive body language as I point the camera at him. Many people were witness to this and clearly heard him call me a mongrel.
At no time during the event did I return the compliment to Mr Adams or anyone else present.
Anne Layton-Bennett’s article (HERE: Dick does mongrel during Scott McLean’s walk in the park) on this event covers a fair bit of what happened after the speeches had finished. I had a conversation with Mr McLean and the following is a summary of some of my questions and Mr Mclean’s responses.
Mr Mclean could not put a figure on how many new full time Tasmanian jobs would be available during the construction of the Gunns pulp mill, and neither did he think that this was an important point. I pointed out to Mr McLean that indeed Tasmanian jobs at the proposed pulp mill is a crucial issue especially considering that along with the urgency of Gunns’ financial needs, the promise of 2000 new full time jobs was cited by the former Premier Lennon as the key reason for allowing Gunns to wriggle out of the RPDC assessment and be given a parliamentary fast track assessment.
I also pointed out to Mr Mclean that the other point in relation to Tasmanian pulp mill jobs was whether there would be enough jobs to in some way justify the likely loss of other existing jobs and businesses in the Tamar Valley due to the impacts of the pulp mill. Mr McLean said that potential job losses were only based on assumptions yet he agreed with me that the reason it was this way was because the government had refused to undertake a proper cost-benefit analysis.
I challenged Mr McLean that should he be elected he should see to it that a cost/benefit analysis of all impacts of the pulp mill would be undertaken. He emphatically agreed that he would do this (cough, cough).
I challenged Mr McLean that he was afraid to be seen criticising Gunns and sticking up for his workers when Gunns were laying them off. We both agreed that job losses could be attributed to a down-turn in the wood chip industry yet Mr McLean maintained that the down-turn in the demand for wood chips was the fault of ‘Greenies’.
As for Dick Adams, his behaviour towards myself and others dissenters present was at best inappropriate and at worst threatening and offensive. There were enough witnesses present to testify to this fact. The way in which he spoke to two of the female protesters was objectionable and intimidating and no publicly elected official whether they be Green, Liberal or Labor should ever deal with protesters in the way Mr Adams did on Saturday. Indeed Scott McLean, who it has to be said maintained self control and engaged in a reasonable and polite fashion with protesters, had to intervene and usher away Mr Adams – presumably before Mr Adams created an even greater scene than he already had.
I reminded Mr Adams that he was my elected member and that rather than abusing us, he should listen. Mr Adams’ response was to hiss, Snarl and point saying “I don’t care what people like you think”.
Well whatever I think or whatever Mr Adams thinks, my friends and I had a legal right to be there, ask questions and protest.
It was a public event, in a public area, to which the public were invited, staged by publicly elected officials who are on the public pay role. I am shocked that after all his years serving as a democratically elected official in our democratic Parliament Mr Adams does not understand and respect these basic democratic rights.
Picture: Dick Adams at another event
Pete Godfrey
February 1, 2010 at 12:59
Well done Rick. Glad you went and had your say and spoke for us as well.
Obvoiously Mr Adams only believes voters are there to vote him in and then they are best to be ignored until the next election.
If you don’t vote for him then bugger off seems to be the response.
Oh well he looks like Mr Creosote in the Monty Python movie maybe he will go the same way soon
Concerned Resident
February 1, 2010 at 14:04
Sounds like another ‘BRAIN SNAP’ Labor pollie.
Maree
February 1, 2010 at 17:32
On saturday Rick merely filled the void that has been created by a woefully inadequate local media. Even if the media had been there you can guarantee the questions would have been soft.
Rick never abused anyone and merely asked a few pointed questions. Scotty McLean is a big boy.
He will face far worse from opposition parties than what Rick served up to him if he gets elected. I tip my hat to pilko. He,s got more balls than a lot of our local seasoned journos.
crud
February 1, 2010 at 18:24
Anonymous Personal Observation Deleted
salamander
February 1, 2010 at 19:11
Where do they breed these () Labor stooges? Scott McLean said right at the beginning “There is nothing wrong with what’s going on”, which sounds like an admission that there definitely is.
Dick Adams’ behaviour is very surprising, I would have thought he could keep his cool better than that – perhaps an indication of stress? As many know, it is very stressful when you know you may lose your job – but most lose it due to reasons that are not their own fault. Blatant incompetence, however, is a good and justifiable reason for getting the sack.
Rachel Howell
February 1, 2010 at 19:42
Scott Mclean Launch – The ‘Woman with the sign’
I hope Dick Adams’s response to my sign is not representative of the Labor party. Unfortunately the LibLab response to the widespread chemical spraying of plantations in this state so far suggests they are indeed more concerned with Gunns and forestry profits than with the health and wellbeing of the citizens they are meant to represent. My sign at the launch read:
Yes to
FSC=forestry jobs
No to
poison water and cancer sprays.
How about you Scott Mclean?
I did not get an answer from Scott, however Dick Adams came up to me very aggressively yelling in my face and banging on my sign “You’re just scaremongeringâ€. I questioned “was he not aware of the relationship of the Triazine group of chemicals to cancerâ€, he continued ranting in a manner unbecoming to anyone representing public office, obviously embarrassing many others in the vicinity to the point of his being led away.
Scott mentioned his sensible wish to have jobs for young people. My suggestion to Scott is what good are the jobs if you have poisoned our young people? Just two days later my concerns were reinforced. To be reading that a Forest Practices plan has been hurriedly signed off for a Lilydale coup, when the LCC has identified the area for water catchment protection simply demonstrates how absurd and obscene the Forest Practices Authority is, part of the industry Mr McLean and Mr Adams so wholeheartedly support.
The health of the Lilydale community is bound to be compromised as water, drawn directly below the area to be logged and regularly sprayed, will be contaminated. Requests from those affected and by the LCC to allow a hydrologist to make scientific recommendations have been refused.
What is there to hide?
The health problems from some of the chemicals used in plantations are well documented and accepted; in other countries they have been banned. Even more frightening are the studies now showing low levels of some of these chemicals are causing horrific health problems. Remember David Llewellyn’s reassurance that chemicals found in an alarmingly high number of our rivers are in low concentrations? Water is becoming the new gold, so valuable, so scarce. In Tasmania our LibLab party is helping to pollute and give away massive quantities of our precious water to obscenities like a pulp mill and thousands of hectares of thirsty plantations. Greed, ignorance, desperation to be elected, easily manipulated, just plain fools – or all of the above?
Such a blatant example of the disgraceful way some in the forest industry and in politics seem to operate does the industry no favours. It is encouraging that the voting public are beginning to realise the extent and the dangers of the plantation cancer that is overtaking Tasmania, reducing and contaminating their water supply and jeopardising their health. When will the LibLabs actually realise or admit they have been betraying the public good and that the precautionary principle is there for good reason?
Rachel Howell
Anna
February 2, 2010 at 00:15
Well done Mr Pilkington
Thank goodness someone is putting themselves out there representing so many of us who are unheard.
Thankyou so much for your guts and passion around these issues.
I say Dick Adams needs to go next election…what say all??!!
Red Bob
February 2, 2010 at 00:28
Maybe this will be deleted as an `anonymous personal observation’?
If not, can I say this – I would never vote for Scott McLean, I may never vote for Labor again, and I was rather displeased with that appalling pulp mill legislation.
But Scott McLean – and indeed every individual – deserves respect. He convened the public gathering and deserved to be heard in silence.
After, you could give applause or not, boo or hiss, ask questions, try to mount your own soapbox – whatever.
Your interjections were rude and what did they achieve? Some manufactured outrage at Dick’s rude response to your response.
I would go as far as to say you weren’t offended by Dick and would have preferred if he’d gone further – thereby giving you a real story.
Anne Layton-Bennett
February 2, 2010 at 00:31
I’ve just returned from seeing the film Avatar. If you forget the special effects for a moment and concentrate on the story, it’s actually very relevant to what we’re facing here in Tasmania with the pulp mill, poisoned water catchments, forest destruction. and the total disregard for our natural resources generally.
And all because of greed.
It’s a film that every Labor and Liberal sitting (and would be) politician should see. As well as every member of Gunns Board.
If they did they might just possibly get what motivates the many thousands of us that oppose this mill. (and all those other wilful and despicable environmental acts of vandalism and destruction that are politically condoned in this state).
As #7 has said. Water is our most precious commodity. No living thing can exist without it. And anyone in authority who knowingly endorses such contamination from poisonous pesticides, either though aerial spraying or leaching into waterways is a disgrace to the position they hold.
john Hayward
February 2, 2010 at 12:34
If I see a notice that some mobster is going to be buried, I don’t take it as an invitation meant for me. Similarly, an event featuring Big Dick, Woodchip McLean, and Marn Fersn is meant for da boys, and any of their associates with similar reading deficiencies, only.
John Hayward
Red Bob
February 2, 2010 at 12:49
Re: John Hayward (#11), love it!
whishy
February 2, 2010 at 18:56
Good work Rick ! You are one brave soul. What irked me the most about McLeans speech was the repeated claim (5 times ?) Timber Worker Job losses are “For No Good Reason†?? Is this Scott Mc Cleans Bass election mantra ? Surely not !
How about I give you a few good reasons to think about Scott :
Reason number 1: You EXPORT product into in a highly competitive global industry, and your product is too expensive. The $A appreciation against the $US has made many Australian export products very expensive in the past 12 months. In fact, woodchips for example are nearly 50% more expensive in foreign currency terms than they were this time last year. This is a good excuse for buyers of chips to find them cheaper elsewhere. Or, if you have $US contracts for sales (for example pulp, iron ore etc) your revenue is 50% lower in $A terms than it was last year. Only those industry’s that can sustain their $A profit margins during the tough times will survive, those that cant are financially unsustainable.
Reason number 2 : You OPERATE in a highly competitive global market, and your $A costs of production have risen dramatically. Think of McCains and the NW Paper and Pulp businesses being shut down for the same reason. With the $A expected to remain strong against other currency’s into the future, all Australian exporters will have to make dramatic changes to their businesses to remain viable, not just Forestry in Tasmania. Unless you cut wages dramatically, invest in technology to get much more efficient ,or get your wood for free, there isn’t much you can do about this in Tasmania.
Reason number 3 : Your product is a boring commodity (un-differentiated) woodchips or pulp…pretty hard to tell customers they should pay more for your chips or pulp when you cant realistically brand your product as being superior. Start making or investing in products that are different or superior to your competitors, or it’s a dead end.
Reason number 4: Your industry has been propped up by tax payer subsidies, especially cheap timber, for years. You might think Forestry Tasmania and the lib/lab governments have been your friends, but in fact they have been the root cause of your lack of financial sustainability. Why would you need to get more efficient and competitive while your friends have been milk feeding you profits from the teat for so long ? Stop operating the industry for short term gains and think about long term restructuring. Mark Latham looked at this back in 2004, but you stabbed him in the back ! It’s an interesting exercise to imagine what the forest industry would look like now if they had taken Latham’s big money and bit the bullet…an article for another time perhaps.
Reason number 5: The structure of the forestry industry in Tasmania is suspect. It seems to me there is pretty much two main buyers of forestry worker services and products in this state : Forestry Tasmania and Gunn’s. It’s technical term is a “monopsonyâ€. Why aren’ t their more players ? If your answer is the industry can’t sustain more players (economies of scale etc) then you just support my macro concerns on the industry…it is barely viable.
Reason number 6 (related to reason number 5): Id suggest there is a lack of effective leadership and representation in the industry for forestry workers. Pilko’s first challenge to McClean on the attached video about a business downsizing “they aren’t the words of a union representative†raises the issue perfectly. Can the CFEMU afford to rock the boat on downsizing, restructuring in this state with such concentrated power in the hands of the big players ? What can they realistically do except ask for more government handouts and sweet deals (setting themselves up for further falls down the track) ? ? Forestry workers need to cut their ties and brake ranks with their current leadership and representation, start their own lobby groups and strategic investment strategies for their own future.
Reason number 7 : Forest’s and Timber, especially high conservation areas, are no longer a resource to be utilized for profits and wages, their preservation is increasingly becoming part of the solution for global climate change. This is a fact that will build over time and will be formalized, and must be recognised by the Tasmanian government and forestry workers in planning for the future. Overseas buyers of woodchips (such as the Japanese), pulp or any product made from such high conservation timber will, like it or not, share this concern. Social and ethical responsibility, all part of FSC, all part of the future.
Its high time people like McClean stopped blaming others for their woes and take some responsibility for their actions. They live and operate in a competitive and cut throat global village, which is also becoming increasingly connected and aware of environmental, social and ethical issues.