John Biggs
The worst example of government complicity in chemical spraying, which still haunts me, was Kons’ cowardly, dishonest and malevolent attack on the Carpenters whose property was sprayed a few years ago and their water supply contaminated. He, the Minister responsible, instead of doing what he was sworn in to do – which is to look after the interests of the people — was photographed on the front page of the Mercury drinking a glass of water that was alleged to be from the Carpenter’s supply, while sneering at them for being whingers. To my mind that was even worse than his entanglement with the Cooper affair and lying about it. But in this instance, instead of being severely criticised for such disgraceful and unministerial behaviour towards the injured party, he was congratulated for his hairy-chested support of those who did the injuring. One main way out of this deeply undemocratic situation we find ourselves in must lie in the next State election. Realistically, the Greens could hold the balance of power. The question is: with whom? I know it’s from Tweedledum to Tweedledee, but to my mind Labor has well and truly done its dash for the time being at least, which suggests a Green-Liberal accord (but I’m open to suggestions about that). The most important thing we must try to do, despite the best efforts of the mighty Tasmanian establishment, is to correct this widespread impression that the Greens are bug-eyed extremists. A large majority of Tasmanians would surely agree that the Government should … Read more, Comment here
