And more to the point, Jan Davis, where was the protest from the TFGA when this happened?

Published as comment on Jan Davis’ article

A great deal more information is required on this matter ( Jan Davis: No need to fear, if we clear ).

From memory it was Bryan Green who was responsible for this daylight theft of private rights and value from Tasmanian land owners.

I own a farm property that has on it a large area of native bush and a smaller area of previously cleared land adjacent to the cleared land that is reverting slowly to forest. I was one of the first in my district to install wallaby proof fencing, back in ’97. That fencing enclosed the better pasture, and left the cleared but reverting land unfenced. I intend to fence that reverting land and clear it. It is now early stage regrowth native forest. The fencing will be not only wallaby proof but devils, quoll and everything but snake proof, because that is what is now required to keep the plagues of wallabies in my area out of pasture.

I will not be in a financial position to undertake that activity before Jan 1st, due in very large part to activities by a government entity that are entirely beyond my control. What do I do, other than act illegally? We are told agriculture is the next big thing, but then get crap like this put in our way. My intent was to diversify my livestock on a small scale, manage the weed issues and the wallaby plague in the process and have a more profitable and sustainable enterprise. In pursuit of yet more green votes my opportunity has been aborted by a former minister whose integrity is the subject of mirth and derision.

Then there is the pine plantation I planted on some other, poorer ground. In hindsight and with better knowledge some of that ground can be improved for pasture so those pines would not be replanted. We were repeatedly told plantations were just another crop. What of that?

Then there is the neighbouring plantation owned by one of the bankrupt companies. It would make a fantastic berry block, but if, as you claim, it cannot be cleared we have just locked the state out of a far more profitable industry, and for what purpose. exactly?

Where does one find the legislation and regulations underpinning this nonsense?

Where is the compensation for this loss of rights and value?

And more to the point, Jan Davis, where was the protest from the TFGA when this happened? That lack of protest had, as I recall, a great deal to do with my refusal to belong, and it prompted a number of farmers I know to take a similar stance.

What is the TFGA going to do about it now, beyond writing a few words?

We need hard information that we can use to attack this theft of our property.