What does Bob Brown have to gain?

JOHN HAWKINS

With regard to John Gay’s Article (The Examiner).

I ask, what does Bob Brown have to gain from trying to prevent the destruction of Tasmania’s remaining native forests suitable for wood chips? I suggest nothing but denigration, aggravation and personal expense caused by the likes of John Gay, Eric Abetz, Robin Gray and many other of their Forestry Industry cohorts.

If you reverse the question John Gay and Gunns have gained the worst possible outcome for the chippable native forests of Tasmania. Only by collusion over the last 20 years with corrupt Governments and Forestry Tasmania has the woodchip industry won this right, and yet, it only exists by virtue of the public purse and the taxpayer.

Tasmania’s remaining loggable native forests have a long term future in the saw log industry, an industry that will keep many future generations of Tasmanians gainfully employed. The exporting of 6 million tonnes as woodchips from this island which will occur, Mill or no Mill, at the disgraceful price of $12 a tonne delivered to Gunns, I suggest, is a subsidy that no Australian can continue to afford.

John Hawkins
Tuesday, 07 July 2009