My email has been running hot with torrents of outrage at the QLD governments announcement of a 3 month moratorium on clearing of regrowth that came into effect at midnight last night.
Interesting that the most vigorous outrage expressed has been from the leaders of the State Farming Organizations (SFO’s).
My question is why?
They knew it was coming if Anna Bligh won the election on March 24th, but chose the remain silent on behalf to the very same farmers they are now trying to rally to the cause.
Not only did I predict exactly this outcome, I pointed out not only the political intrigue behind it, who is responsible (WWF) and how our state farming bodies sat back and let it happen. Here is the efforts we made to try and spur the SFO’s and farmers into action … while it still counted for something.
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9th March - If Labor wins QLD election on Green Vote – Clearing regrowth will end. from that article …Mark my words – WWF has made its position clear, if Anna Bligh’s Labor government is returned, the Green’s will be holding them to account. ……. WWF will still take Premier Anna Bligh – if re-elected to task over the clearing of regrowth. Hold your breath Australia ……. and pray.
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9th March – John Cotter & AgForce high Stakes Gamble on QLD election. In This article AgForce President states their plan of action … “It would be easy for us to talk about a whole range of issues that you understand and would like to hear us talking about on your behalf such as vegetation management …. However, we trust you understand that (we won’t be)…I wrote As the peak farmer organization AgForce and John Cotter are taking an enormous gamble with the livelihoods of thousands of rural Queenslander’s with this insane policy of ignoring it’s members issues and views.
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11th March – Greens expose AgForce as Amateurs in State politics game. In that article I wrote … We’ll look back and say John Cotter and AgForced took a massive punt. If Labor gets up, AgForce will have given away farmers ability to control regrowth without a squeak – Why would any farmer want to belong to a farm body that did that?
Then – due to a total lack of interest I published:
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12th March – OK I’ll stop flogging the AgForce V’s Greens banning Regrowth Treatment Dead Horse … from that article … If Labor get up on March 21, they will ban the treating of regrowth. Watch the howls of protest come from AgForce and QLD farmers then. All I say is – you were warned, but you chose to remain silent, when it mattered.
Then the announcement was made by Bligh that she was taking this as policy to the election:
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17th March – As Predicted AgForce got it wrong – now QLD farmers must pay the price…. from that article … Agmates and indeed your own members were demanding that AgForce ‘get on the front foot’ on this issue at the start of the campaign, but your President John Cotter and your executive decided that ‘keeping mum’ on the issue during the campaign was the ‘best’ approach. Well Andrew, disastrously you were wrong and look at the price your members and Queensland farmers will now pay.
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17th March – Who was fighting the Greens as they stole the rights to clear regrowth? .. from that article … Or maybe it’s that they have known all along that the LNP will win the election this Saturday and the Tree Clearing Laws will remain unchanged. If the LNP does win, I will bow to AgForce, QFF, PRA and ABA’s superior knowledge and wisdom.In fact I will gladly apologize to them all publicly here on Agmates for questioning their deliberate strategy of complete inaction on this issue.
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This outcome is a blight on – AgForce, Queensland Farmers Federation, Property Rights Australia and Australian Beef Association – not one of them did a thing to fight this, while they still had a chance to influence the outcome.
Now when its happened, these organizations are wanting to rally their members into ‘a regrowth uprising’. The challenge is that any protest or radical action now will just see farmers portrayed by the media as ‘red necks’ or ‘environmental vandals’.
It would be far more productive for farmers to turn the anger and focus onto these farm organizations that have once again let them down so badly. These organizations should be completely disbanded and started again from scratch with a whole new structure and strategy. Rather than a regrowth uprising against the government it should be a membership uprising against the SFO’s.
It suits the leaders of these organizations to stir up farmers and focus their frustration away from their inept performance. It however is a waste of farmers time and energy – Its a done deal – was the night Anna Bligh won the election. Bligh is not going to budge – the Green vote helped her win her historic election – not the farmer & Indigenous vote – She has a debt & it’s now time for here to ‘pay the piper’ being WWF and their political arm The QLD Greens.
But hey … what would I know?
Agmates Founder
Steve Truman
END
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Have Your say!
April 9, 2009 at 9:42 pm
I’m not trying to teach you guys how to suck eggs, but this is the sort of opposition you have to contend with:
http://www.wilderness.org.au/regions/queensland/media-releases
And this is only one of many NGO’s that have Premier Bligh and Labor’s ear (and has the polly by the short and curlies)
April 9, 2009 at 9:17 pm
we need farmers to unite and unite behind one voice - wouldn’t that be a great thing – I was very impressed with the banana farmers a month ago speaking out against importing bananas from the Phillipines , there was 300 of them but it still isn’t enough power. We ain’t united with them worse luck so we are all much weaker.
Australia only has enough food and groceries in shops to last 8 – 10 days – scary stuff in shaky times.
Apparently I heard twice today with this clearing regrowth buisness the PMAV ( Property Map of Assessable Vegetation) maps that were locked in last year overide the maps that came out yesterday. Two goverment departments have different maps it seems . MAD
We and many people I know can still pull the regrowth agreed to . But in 3 months after the moratorium it may all change again – so best to get the clearing done now
April 9, 2009 at 8:02 pm
G’day, Eye on the outback,
I remember back a few years when there was a transport strike, trucks blockading major roads etc.
That’s when the supermarket shelves looked like supermarket shelves in Moscow during communism.
No forget that idea, the spectre of farmers produce rotting on the side of the road is not the image that should be projected to the buying public.
But the idea of stopping food at the source, may warrant further thought, as an attention getter.
Steve’s avatar suggestion is a beauty
April 9, 2009 at 3:56 pm
You make a good point about modern young town clowns being badly brainwashed.
Many of them probably don’t know that milk comes from cows, and couldn’t particularly care.
Their idea of reality is “reality TV”.
The best hope for the next generation are those youngsters reared in traditional families (i.e. a father and stay-at-home mother) far away from the relentless modern mass-media filth and inner city feedlots (aka shopping malls). Sorry if that slightly off-topic opinion offends anyone.
April 9, 2009 at 1:43 pm
G’day Eye on the Outback,
Great post. I’ve published it as a contributors article.
You can see it here
Also found what I think is a good Avatar for you – see photo below
If you need help to upload this or another photo to represent you online here is a link to a help video
Well done mate – I’ve voted for you above and also given your article the Thumbs up – should promote some good discussion on this topic as it is vital that farmers find a way forward on this issue.
April 9, 2009 at 1:06 pm
It would be preferable if every farmer could sit in the same bus going in the same direction – but not if the driver is asleep at the wheel.
Agforce bosses need to read the bottom line: If you’ve been neutered, it’s time to resign.
April 9, 2009 at 12:32 pm
sorry forgot to put the link in to the smh yarn!!!
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/remember-farmers-feed-us-all-20090402-9kwn.html?page=-1
April 9, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Steve,
This yarn in the SMH is a ripper and sums up the problems facing farmers very well when it comes to perceptions vs reality.
I strongly believe the only way we can turn around the argument is to state the simple fact agriculture is food security – without it you will starve.
Was at a Press Club lunch yesterday (yep am living it up) were Kate Carnell the CEO of the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) was the guest speaker.
The AFGC represents food and grocery processors and manufactures.
She made during her speech a very frightening observation.
At any one time Australia only has enough food and groceries in stops to last 8 – 10 days. If any thing went majorly pearshaped any where along the production and logistical chain this country would go hungry very quickly.
I strongly believe that ‘food security’ is the only way that we can get the message out that farmers are vital and not environmental vandals hell bent on the destruction of the globe.
If it were an easy message to sell it would have been done by now – the biggest problem is there are so many chefs in the kitchen (read farm organisations) that the messages tend to get confused.
Farmers fighting farmers whether it is over water or any other issue is self defeating – we need farmers to unite and unite behind one voice.
I take your point that some SFO’s do not seem to be up to the task but it is pointless to reinvent the wheel – we just need to get farmers politically aware and motivated and off their butts and attending those annoying meetings on a cold winters night.
Cheers
April 9, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Thanks for the updates Jeff.
Let’s hope further less-biased debates will be forthcoming before the government enshrines their global warming dogma into law.
The agenda seems to be as follows:
1. Radically reduce arable land to slash the food supply
2. Institute aggressive population-control measures e.g. the forced abortions in China to control the contrived overpopulation
China is the model, China is the model – a mantra even Krudd has started chanting with increasing fervour.
God help us all.
April 9, 2009 at 11:38 am
If you go to Youtube, there is also the “The Great Global Warming Swindle” debate from the ABC.
This is a cut down , edited version, with a waste of time debate filling in a half hour. This version is also in episodes, but is extremely biased in the editing and presentation, (presenter Tony Jones – say no more.)
So just look for the “Great Global Warming Swindle”
April 9, 2009 at 11:31 am
G’day AveMaria again,(so soon)
Interesting article in the CF News on GM seeds. Especially the explanation of the effects of ‘terminator seeds’ on nearby plants and their seeds. Oh but they now say that ‘terminator seeds’ don’t exist, just theoretical.
Probably explains the Svalbard Seed Vault that has been built and is being stocked with seeds from around the planet.
Described in some articles as “Doomsday Vault”. Has been built by the Norwegian Government (Svalbard is Norwegian Territory) and a consortium of “philanthropists” – Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation amongst others. Also mentioned but not confirmed – Monsanto and the Swiss GM corporation Syngenta.
Bill and Melinda gates Foundation must spend $1.5bn USD each year to keep their charity tax staus.
I wouldn’t be the first person to ask – Why? As there is over 1500 seed banks already existing at present.
April 9, 2009 at 11:15 am
G’day AveMaria,
Don’t wait for the DVD on TGGWS. it’s available on Youtube now in an episodic version, about 10 min bites. (Youtube limitation).
You can pick some holes in TGGWS, as Martin Durkin says in later interviews, he is not a scientist, he’s a journalist. But the holes aren’t as big as the obvious untruths (read lies) in Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth”
Yep, as my avatar says – “The sun’s to Blame”
April 9, 2009 at 11:06 am
Very sad.
April 9, 2009 at 11:02 am
Hi Steve – we have an Easter invasion headed our way, so have to look after the priorities of life – mowing, cleaning flyscreens, that sort of thing, lest I fall foul of she who must (sometimes) be obeyed. O:-)
But the job losses are related to a a downturn in the aluminium industry and the pending decision on Chinalco’s buy into Rio Tinto haven’t been factored in yet. Could be the tip of the iceberg and just another reason Anna went early.If I get a chance I will re-visit that topic (newspoll released yesterday show 60 percent of Australians are opposed to it).
Meanwhile little Kev is going to give us all (90 percent anyway) access to $43 billion worth of high speed broadband so we can download movies faster on his bonus plasma TV’s – if you dont live in the bush.
That’s not going to help put food on our plates and get the Murray flowing again.
Why do I keep thinking of Nero playing his fiddle while Rome crashes and burns.
Oh well, back to cleaning windows.
April 9, 2009 at 10:20 am
G’day John Mikko,
Was hoping to see a piece from you on the impacts on the Gladstone community from the Rio job lossees announced this week.<img src=”http://js-kit.com/extra/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/img/smiley-smile.gif” title=”Smile” border=”0″ alt=”Smile”/>
April 9, 2009 at 10:07 am
Let’s not fall for the “bait and switch” likely to follow this silly woody weed protection program.
Ok, Ok, the farmers are up in arms over our new landclearing laws – let’s placate them by removing all restrictions on GM crops including the new terminator seeds….
http://www.cfnews.org/gm-threat.htm
It’s truly a sad day when our government give more protection to woody weeds than pre-born baby humans.
April 9, 2009 at 9:39 am
I can understand Steve’s frustration – he tried to warn everybody who follows this site well before the election. I’m no farmer but I realised what he was trying to tell you all and its repercussions, tried to get some more vocal support happening, but complacency ruled until, as he says, it was too late. There was also a statement from some farm body executive – Agforce? protesting about the regrowth policy AFTER the election, which I suggested was too little, too late, or shutting the gate after the horse had bolted.
Someone else said, no it’s a good thing (the belated statement).
Well, I don’t think you can blame voters in non-rural areas who generally wouldn’t have a clue about the ban or its implications, but you people and particularly your ogranisations should have been shouting from your roof-tops, writing to newspapers, protesting on this forum.
Laws can be repealed and both Beattie and Bligh have shown they are masters of the backflip when they see they’ve created strong disapproval, but it would have been much better to protest before they were adopted.
Doesn’t affect me directly but indirectly, it will probably affect us all.
Meanwhile, I’ll go back to having fun and stirring when the mood strikes. Life’s too short to waste.
Have a happy and safe Easter. =-X
April 9, 2009 at 9:28 am
This global warming/climate change/carbon trading scam is an invention of new world order population control freaks.
If you have any loot left, please try to find a copy of the DVD entitled “The Great Global Warming Swindle: a documentary by Martin Durkin” and pass one around.
The only other advice is to hold tight to the Holy Rosary – a far better bet than bothering with your local farmers’ organisation, most of whom are goose-stepping to the globalists tune.
April 9, 2009 at 8:22 am
Yes Jeff it is a bit like that – don’t know how it is all going to come about but I know this system of the last 50 years and more is showing major flaws . A huge amount of information is coming to the surface which is different to what we have been told like the following http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-469983/Britain-protecting-biggest-heroin-crop-time.html
That is interesting about that vegan add – SBS seems to have increased the times it appears - last night I saw it twice within a couple of hours – all I can say is terrible and unbelievable that they would show such rubbish. SBS and ABC have gone mad with the global warming propaganda.
Property prices seem to be dropping fast , a grazing property 14,000 acres around here , owner wanted 4.2 million. He had one offer of 3,3 million at auction yesterday but didn’t take it. I think he should have because I believe all propery prices will fall a lot – somebody said 40% in the near future.
April 8, 2009 at 11:55 pm
The only hope was lost many, many months ago. The SFO’s had the opportunity to link the subject of regrowth clearing to a reduction in food production. They also had the opportunity to highlight food production as the looming crisis that it is. They chose to do neither. They should be held accountable. Unfortunately while that may make some feel better it will do nothing to solve the problems. Changing a policy that has just received an overwhelming support from the electorate is a pipedream. So, at least, for the term of the current QLD Government we had best learn to live with it. I wouldn’t be holding my breath that the opposition will be swayed to reverse this policy if it were elected.
April 8, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Sue M
I’m not sure I would class that as singing.<img src=”http://js-kit.com/extra/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/img/smiley-undecided.gif” title=”Undecided” border=”0″ alt=”Undecided”/>
April 8, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Hi Charlie
You tube thingy not happening.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7HYYKEbfLk&feature=PlayList&p=22AD49F64314E1E3&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=3
April 8, 2009 at 11:10 pm
G’day FHTSFTKS,
To do what you state above would require the second coming of J.C.
And you know what happened the first time, the Power brokers (Romans) nailed Him to a Cross, because they didn’t like his interference with the ‘system’.
April 8, 2009 at 11:02 pm
G’day FHTSFTKS,
You mentioned the GO VEG advert that gives me the willies. It is from Supreme Master TV, a satellite, cable and internet TV system that has tentacles across the world.
The head of the cult is Ching Hai, a Vietnamese female with history – see Wikipedia under: “Ching Hai”
If you Google “Supreme Master TV”, you get some interesting programming, you can learn about being a Vegan, use the search box and place in it “James Hansen”, a NASA scientist (?) who advises Al Gore and our own Prime Minister KRudd on Climate Change, and how we only have 4 years to tipping point.
Ching Hai pushes the Vegan diet, which even inludes vegan cheese.
It’s enough to make you forget all about Anna Bligh and take up chanting mantras.
April 8, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Steve
Something about teaching pigs to sing ?
The only recourse left in NSW is through the courts and that’s working well so far !
QLD has different land tenure so I think you’re out of luck. After all the warnings going back a long time why whinge now when it’s too late ? They really are slow on the uptake !
April 8, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Well ain’t that the million dollar question – turning it around peacefully !!! A lot of people talk about thinking globally and acting locally in communites. A LOT of people are thinking about how to save ourselves because they don’t like this new world order nonsense being offered. It is DEFINITELY not healthy for us.
One article I read said -
‘The real focus must be on local community. At the moment nationalism is an excuse for racism, prejudice, xenophobia and all kinds of bigotry. In addition, centralized national governments are used as a cover by certain groups and organisations .
I see an inter-connected society starting at the local level with some regional, national and global syncronisation. A person can be a member of a local community where his main loyalty and benefits lie with local representatives that meet at a regional and national level.
In some respects, thats how things already are but I am saying without the millions of very expensive civil servants and government officials. These people are a real drain on society and dont really deliver the goods in any respect.
The average person can be involved on many levels a person might be a local carpenter, doctor or whatever but also be a regional representative and involved in global discussions on architecture, medicine, engineering, etc, etc. With modern technology such as the computer and internets we do not even have to leave the house to be involved in global issues and discussion. Instead of leaving it all to self-appointed officials who thrash things out in secret meetings. ‘
I just saw the add again on SBS called GO VEG stating that livestock are one of the main causes wrecking the planet so the brainwashing of urban communities goes on.
It does worry me that the young next generation in the city are very brainwashed and know next to nothing about farmers and farming. Although I do hear city people more and more say they want to buy Australian food and products so hopefully the move that way is getting bigger.
April 8, 2009 at 6:24 pm
I’ve made my suggestion – but how to you propose ‘turning it around’?
April 8, 2009 at 6:10 pm
We are all in this mess together Steve - a big problem in farmer’s organizations has been and very likely still is is that leaders are still lovers of global corporatist ’free trade’ and many probably haven’t realized or don’t want to realize that it has to change BIG TIME. It has gone waaaaaaay too far down the globalist track.
Turning it round ain’t going to be easy and many will resist.