VISITORS to Tasmania often look at its forests, spectacular mountains, pristine coast and gentle farmlands, and conclude the island is a tranquil paradise.
But those who come to live here from the mainland or farther afield discover an ugly undercurrent beneath the tourist brochure beauty.
The conflict over how best to use the state’s natural assets has eaten away at Tasmania since the unsuccessful campaign to stop the flooding of Lake Pedder in the early 1970s.
Things reached fever pitch during the Franklin Dam dispute in the early 80s, while the equally passionate debate over native forest logging keeps the conflict alive.
Last weekend, the home of Gunns timber group boss John Gay allegedly was attacked. Police allege obscenities were painted on the fence at Gay’s Launceston mansion and a smoke bomb dumped on his doorstep.
Immediately, those in the timber industry and its corner, which includes most members of the two main political parties that receive donations from Gunns, jumped on the news. Former Labor premier Paul Lennon declared the attack undoubtedly the “orchestrated” work of opponents of Gunns’ pulp mill. Anti-mill groups denied any involvement and condemned the alleged attack.
Later this week, police revealed they had charged a 20-year-old local man in relation to the alleged incident. Police now allege it was a drunken prank involving young men. Whatever the motivation for the alleged attack, the nasty truth is that violence is a reality in the forest debate. Protesters and loggers claim to have been assaulted by one another. Industry figures claim their pets have been poisoned, while former Greens MP Peg Putt once had shots fired at her house.
The even nastier truth is that pollies of all colours share the blame by stoking the flames with inflammatory comments. Greens talk of “rape” and “vandalism” of the forests, and “climate change criminals”, while Labor and Libs use words like “terrorists” and “ferals” to dehumanise anti-logging activists. Read more here
Matthew Denholm, The Australian
