Agmates Editor Steve Truman writes:
Anti - farmer Green groups & weed warriors and have unloaded the second volley at State and Federal politicians in their ongoing campaign to have the QLD & NT governments ban Gamba Grass.
This is no surprise as we flagged this was on in our article Greens Pressure QLD Government to ban Gamba, Buffel Grass & Leucaena on the 18th of March.
If you read the Green propaganda - Gamba grass is “Australia’s Worst Weed”. The only thing they don’t say but imply is that the fires of Hell are actually Gamba Grass fires - it’s so bad.
On Monday with great fan fare they released this to the Media - It had also been delivered to the following politicians:
- Paul Henderson – Chief minister of the NT
- Anna Bligh – Premier QLD
- Peter Garrett – Minister for the Environment.
- Tim Mulherin – Minister Primary Industries QLD
- Andrew McNamara – Minister Climate Change and Sustainability QLD
- Craig Wallace – Minister Natural Resources and Water QLD
- Christopher Natt – Minister for Primary Industries NT
- Loenard Kiely –
Minister Parks and Wildlife & Natural Resources – NT - Senator Penny Wong – Minister Climate Change and Water
An Open letter from Scientists calling for a ban on Gamba Grass Across Northern Australia
The Agmates article exposed the tactics to be used by the greens and the issue has been picked up ABC rural radio and to a small extent by Rural Press.
One result of our exposing their tactics is that the CRC has removed Leucaena from their web site and does not mention it. I’m told this is because the Leucaena growers have in place a state government recognized code of practice.
However if you go to their site you’ll see Buffel grass listed as a major weed that must be stamped out: Below is the photo and text from the site:
Buffel grass at Uluru (Ayres Rock NT)
Cenchrus ciliaris
Like gamba grass and mission grass, buffel grass is an African native introduced to Australia as a pastoral species. Highly competitive and drought tolerant, buffel grass has opened vast tracts of land to grazing, increasing carrying capacity in central and northern Australia. But the spread of buffel grass has been disastrous for the environment as it out-competes native grasses and spreads fire into ecosystems not naturally accustomed to frequent burning. It also threatens the environmental integrity of landmarks like Uluru (Ayers Rock), NT (seen here). Projections are that buffel grass could cover 58% of mainland Australia.
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What we need is a Gamba grass growers association, that can develop an industry ‘code of practice’ that will satisfy State Governments. We don’t need State Governments passing legislation that hurts producers and economic productivity, all to satisfy the Anti - farming Green Hysteria and their supposed green vote.
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Update 1. 03/04/08 @ 11pm
The Qld Government today declared Gamba Grass a Class 2 Weed. There are 3 categories: The definition of a C2 weed is:
C2 Weeds: plants are established in the State and have, or could have, an adverse economic, environmental or social impact. Landowners must take reasonable steps to keep land free of Class 2 plants. It is an offence to keep or sell Class 2 plants without a permit
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Update 2. 04/04/08 @ 11.30am
Ministers Statement on the ban. John Rains calls for action from Peak bodies to protect Tropical pastures.
Have your say!
Should the NT Governments follow WA & QLD and Ban Gamba Grass?
Leave your answer below of click on the Blue word Comments and leave your reply.
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Tags: Buffel Grass, Gamba Grass
Without Buffel grass, a great part of qld. would run hardly any stock at all.
Buffel has been one of the greatest things ever imported into this country, I would like to see these people trying to make a living out here without it.
Dont lose hope yet the fight is not over.
The people demanding we get rid of our pastures are all linked to the Savanna Research CRC in Darwin which is the international centre for all things linked to the savanna.
If Northern Graziers are shut down then this means 3rd world countries (that are the Savanna region), places with limited arable land and areas struggling with political and social upheavals will now have to fill the market place we would leave open (it is not economic to transport food from Europe and America at the same rate we do from Australia due to distance) To do this they would have to exploit the remaining savanna.
Gamba Grass is used overseas for ecologically sustainable reasons such as erosion control and carbon sequestration. Clearly the eco- warriors did not look into these options.
The social and economic effects of putting Northern Graziers out of business will be devastating. Graziers have chosen to build their dreams on keeping trade balanced (export cattle so environmentalists can drive imported cars) and also domestic beef. We can now see from all arguments that this is a large push to get rid of farming. Which will put world pressure on developing countries to fill the gap. Food is a valuable global commodity!
What the 200 scientists have done is socially, economically and environmentally irresponsible. There is no clean green way of getting rid of our pasture without grazing cattle on it.
However I will leave the solution finding up to our “bright bunch” of scientists who can now work out how to…
1. Financially support Australian Producers disadvantaged by the Gamba banning decision.
2. Solve the Asian beef shortage if we can no longer produce it for them.
3. Teach other countries the principals of sustainable agriculture and land management so that they can fill the gap without exploiting the savanna.
4. Work out how to get rid of Gamba without destroying the environment.
5. Stop the next drought in Australia so our southern counterparts are able to foot the bill and feed 100% of the Aussie population.
Good luck!