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 scaremongering”. I questioned “was he not aware of the relationship of the Triazine group of chemicals to cancer”, 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
