A very exciting political future …

Nostradamus

Rumours abounded in the past few days that Greens leader Peg Putt would be resigning her seat and Nick McKim would become the new leader. He has. For political tragics, this is a very exciting development. Without in any way disparaging Ms. Putt who has been a very astute leader of the opposition, de facto if not de jure, there is a very exciting political future with three young leaders battling it out. There is the disappointment of not having a female leader mixing it with the boys but that will come with time. A count-back in Denison will most certainly give feisty Cassie O’Connor the seat. That being the case, all I hope is that her services will not be lost to the campaign to save Ralph’s Bay.
“IN THE sand he drew a line with his army sabre. Five days, six days, seven days ten, Travis held and held again.” (From the Battle of the Alamo)

We have become more familiar of late with the phrase, “drawing a line in the sand.” New Premier “Jed” Bartlett drew a line in the sand in the government’s dealings with Gunn’s Pty Ltd. a few days ago on June 30, in relation to the sovereign risk agreement over the great northern pulp mill stating that he had given John Gay until November 30 to commence construction, after which time, government financial support would no longer be guaranteed.

The most recent possible origin for the phrase is an incident said to have taken place during the siege of the Alamo in 1836, when William Barret Travis drew a line in the sand with his sword and urged those willing to stay and defend the fort to step across it. Unfortunately, this heroic story seems to have been invented by a 19th century promoter long after the fall of the Alamo. But the myth itself probably greatly popularized the phrase, so it does count as an origin of sorts even if the incident itself was apocryphal – the moral being never let the facts stand in the way of a good story.

But will the government hold to that line in the sand? Granted the Tamar Valley Mill is a veritable political hot potato, with surveys showing a majority of the state against the mill, albeit more pronounced in the South than the North. This is to be expected but those who appear to conduct phone-in campaigns to talk-back radio or strut around claiming that it’s “just those bloody greenies” who are opposed to the mill, are making a serious error in judgment. Now more than ever before, all major political parties have a green tinge and that is not wholly unexpected, given the massive concern about the environment generally and climate change in particular. The problem of pollution in the Tamar Valley, already notorious for the high level of asthma sufferers, is scarcely going to be seen to be ameliorated by a pulp mill, irrespective of whether it’s clean and green.

From a purely political standpoint, it is unfortunate that Tasmania needs such large industrial projects based on forest products. I find myself in agreement with the Greens when it comes to old-growth forests, especially the Styx Valley. However, we must also face the fact that the economy is beginning to slow down and a recession is a distinct possibility with its partner in misery, unemployment in close attendance. That means job losses and I have a great deal of sympathy for the people of Scottsdale with the closing of the Auspine Mill. I have never believed that pulp or chips make the best use of timber. Selective harvesting for veneers, housing frames, furniture, the work of craftsmen is all necessary part of the state’s economy.

However, such is the power of John Gay, a man with the antediluvian mentality seen in the days of Edmund (” I am Tasmania”) Rouse that his company continues to pursue a course of action that would be considered over-the-top in the larger states. The man simply can’t help himself – like another “big red” an ex-Liberal Premier on the company board – he is a master of bullying and brinkmanship. This is corporate fascism and it thrives where there is little competition and government has limited options in attracting investment. (And no, tourism will never replace big industries).

Only such barefaced cheek and unbridled arrogance permits the manner of the closure of the mill at Scottsdale and with it, the inevitable retrenchment of 130 workers. It is possible to feel extremely sympathetic towards those put out of work in an area of the state where employment prospects are limited. But what of those who have been so vociferous over the years in support of the Forest industries – Gay’s weasel Barry Chipman of the front group Timber Communities Australia and the denizen of the C.F.M.E.U. who was so enthusiastic about the Howard government’s deals on forestry which were very cozy with the former premier? As a number of people have noted on the Tasmanian Times website they have been prominent by their absence – for all their bullshit and braggadocio in the past they can now be counted as missing in action – so much for people looking after your interests! It is a great pity that the practice of tarring and feathering of people and running them out of town on a rail has lapsed.

Environment Minister Paula Wriedt and the Premier have every reason to feel dudded by Gay and Gunn’s over the Scottsdale closure. After all, the company had been in receipt of federal government funding to retain jobs. Now, the company has the barefaced cheek to assert that they are entitled to the balance of the $4.5 million promised by the federal government on the understanding that no jobs will be lost. Jed and his minister should have known the old axiom about those who deal with the devil, perforce must use a long spoon. It’s a bit late to cry out that you’ve been had when you have a whole history of the company’s dealing with government to serve as a history, blueprint or investigative tool for what they might get up to next. As the philosopher Santyana observed: “those who cannot remember the past are doomed to fulfil it,” although in modern parlance, we tend to use the word repeat, rather than fulfil. One can but hope that our Premier and his new infrastructure minister learn from this episode.

Perhaps all might not be lost in Scottsdale, with the announcement by the federal government of an upgrading of the Defence Science and Technology Organization (food division) in that town. It is not known if or how many extra jobs will be created or if any will be suitable for former mill employees. Naturally enough, the federal government denied any connection between the closure of the mill and the extension of the DSTO facility but in some respects it’s not a bad trade-off. However, surely it would have been more feasible to have kept the Mill and refitted it for value-added products – a sawmiller’s cooperative springs to mind. And of course it would need subsidies but there appeared to be very few industries in this state that do not need some form of assistance.

Politically speaking, the biggest problem faced by our new Premier now the Parliament has risen for the winter recess and renovations is the ghastly or ghostly hand of the past. As Matthew Denholm in the Australian and Sue Neales in the Mercury have reported, there are ongoing police inquiries into government corruption and Senior Hobart barrister Stephen Estcourt QC has issued a statement through his lawyer which appears to confirm that he is the person under investigation but is adamant he has done nothing wrong. It would be imprudent to offer any further comment on the matter but these are the “Dragon’s teeth” sown in the days of the Lennon government. Mr. Bartlett could well do without such problems but at the very least, the case for an independent ICAC with real teeth has been bolstered and should be supported by all three major parties. Only when the indiscretions and mistakes of the past are uncovered and rectified will the Premier have smoother water in front of him. For the fact remains that despite those who sit behind him, I have heard many ALP members say that Jed Bartlett is the state’s “last, best hope,” (for the ALP that is).

I place more credibility on the words of those who have met him, worked with him or come across him in everyday situations. Described as a feather duster by one former state MP, it appears in contrast that young Jed is intelligent, articulate and quite possibly has a vision for the future. That would be a novel occurrence for the ALP as the previous two Premiers marched firmly back into the past. It could even be that we have some sort of Renaissance man in the top job, something that I for one would welcome.

Rumours abounded in the past few days that Greens leader Peg Putt would be resigning her seat and Nick McKim would become the new leader. He has. For political tragics, this is a very exciting development. Without in any way disparaging Ms. Putt who has been a very astute leader of the opposition, de facto if not de jure, there is a very exciting political future with three young leaders battling it out. There is the disappointment of not having a female leader mixing it with the boys but that will come with time. A count-back in Denison will most certainly give feisty Cassie O’Connor the seat. That being the case, all I hope is that her services will not be lost to the campaign to save Ralph’s Bay.

Time and other commitments have precluded me from commenting on the approach to climate change taken by the federal government. However, I will say en passant that I believe it is a great mistake to make an economist the grand panjandrum of Australia’s response to climate change. As Australia is responsible for a mere 1% of greenhouse emissions but sells the raw material of pollution, especially coal, as a vital export, there is no need to rush into precipitate action. The only thing we can say for certain is that the government and big companies will profit from imposts on domestic consumers. The Premier would be giving every Tasmanian a great fillip if he could persuade the Prime Minister to take three critical steps. The first is to subsidize examination of existing housing in order to get expert opinion on insulation and weatherproofing; subsidizing the same for all new buildings; continuing subsidies for the installation of solar power for domestic use and keeping the assistance for installing rainwater tanks to ensure that the most precious commodity, water, is effectively used and not wasted. Lastly, the Federal Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson, needs to lose his short-sighted views on the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) for motor vehicles. This is a resource that we have in abundance and it should not be flogged off overseas like LPG, nor should it be subject to a prohibitive excise. Mr. Bartlett would do well to flag an early intention by raising it with the Prime Minister at the next opportunity.

Finally and sadly, it should not escape the public notice that the funeral of Dr. Christopher James Newell, eminent Tasmanian bioethicist; Anglican priest and tireless worker for the disabled and underprivileged took place on 1 July. The state has been fortunate in enjoying the devotion of this most talented Christian gentleman. He will be greatly missed and through this column, I extend my sympathies to Bishop Phillip and Mrs. Newell, Christopher’s wife Jill and her family and to the families of his siblings. The Anglican Church in Tasmania could ill afford to lose a bright star.