I have just given AgForce a ‘flogging’ for meekly allowing the Greens to coerce the Labor government into banning the clearing of regrowth.
Let me tell you that the other QLD farmer organizations are no better. Lets go through them:
Queensland Farmers Federation (QFF), QLD’s 2nd largest farmer lobby group.
Here is a link to QFF’s one and only press release during the QLD election campaign (at least they had one).
The QFF election policy statement is a 26 page document of the critical issues that are impacting on Queensland farmers. I’d post their statement on the regrowth issue here, but there isn’t one. That’s right in 26 pages its does not rate a mention. Nothing. Incredible.
OK, no joy there. So lets turn to Australian Property Rights. This groups sole issue is vegetation management in QLD and it is recognized as the states leading advocacy group on vegetation management and property rights.
When we go to their web site incredibly we find – nothing. Here is a link to their Press releases.
To his full credit President John Purcell did write a very good article published on Agmates. You can see it here. I am aware that John has been in ill health and this is in no way a criticism of him. My question is where is the rest on the PRA organization when its members needed them.
Finally lets look at the Australian Beef Association (ABA)
When we go to their web site what do we find, surprise, surprise – nothing.
Agmates has been the only media or organization attacking this issue. Obviously I’m the idiot here. Its not an issue at all. Apparently QLD farmers and their representative organizations don’t care two hoots that a re-elected Labor government was preparing to and now has banned the clearing of regrowth.
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.
Who knows, you’ve gotta get lucky sometimes. 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.
END
*****
Have your say!
March 20, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Is anyone aware of this Government Office?:
http://www.edo.org.au/edoqld/
This one is specifically Queensland, but ther is a complete network that covers all states and territories. Using our tax dollars to fund litigation against anyone who dares to clear land, and any other ‘development’.
Surely with some sort of balance, there could be an Office of Rural Development
March 20, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Here here to all of you and thank God for Agmates! I think that most of our industry bodies and media organisations are scared toothless tigers. The trouble is most cannot counter with concise punching rebuttle to extreme views – especially when the media drag out those really old images of dozers clearing without explanation. The extremist greenies are dangerous with their minority yet influential views and yes we are all so flat out trying to keep our businesses viable in this very difficult regulatory environment. We need to become more organised like the Pakkies and march the streets like they did to reinstate their judges or like the French Farming Blockades. These countries know what it is to starve and have no rights! We were thinking about parking the 375 in a threatening position on the corner of parliament house until someone listened properly. Sadly a very extreme and probably not a very smart move – but necessary? I wish the wider community could see the benefits to controlling regrowth. There is more carbon sinking in these areas than most would realise and they have no right to change the rules halfway when we have huge investment stakes and have complied and locked in our PMAVs which has been an enormous impost to our business. We have some very dear friends who are members of the Wilderness Society and they were so surprised to learn that cleared areas of around 30 – 40 years ago were actually not virgin ecosystems that they are looking at today. Sure there has been some indiscriminate clearning which is nothing short of environmental vandalism but by god the majority of it isn’t. Do we want to become a fire ball like Victoria that struggles to produce anything now. We are certainly heading that way. Rashida I love tea – excellent comment!
March 19, 2009 at 10:48 pm
G’day Guest,
I’ll echo Rays thoughyts here by just saying welcome to the Agmates online rural & regional community.
Good to have your thoughts as someone who is impacted by this disgraceful push by the Greens to stop the treatment of regrowth.
Its all in the lap of the gods now whether Anna Bligh and her Labor mob get up and this madness is enforced.
Pleased you like our community site – and hope you’ll tell your mates about us.
Cheers – Agmates Founder – Steve
March 19, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Hi “Guest”,
Good for you! I think you’ll find that though we have some pretty strong opinions here, you are amongst people that care about you and yours! Keep your thoughts coming…
You are one of the folks I referred to in a post a couple of days ago, too busy, tired or otherwise to get onto a keyboard. Well, I’m glad you made the shift to coming out and having a say. Cheers!
Ray Jamieson
March 19, 2009 at 9:01 pm
good to see acouple of other groups being tarred with your brush agmate.After lurking on the sidelinesfor a couple months i’ll come out .As a12600 acre property with 2500a of remnant 2000a of farmed and the rest 8-18″ regrowth i am scared as hell but i still could not see the point of taking it to the”people “.I was at the P R A [not a financial member] march i didnt feel anything was acheived . i beleive education and more organisation can acheive ,if done well, but who knows what well is.Maybe a few sausage or steak sizzles instead of battle drums.[ for now] .THIS SITE ROCKS
March 18, 2009 at 11:20 am
G’day Rashida.
Terrific comment – Sad but so true. See below.
March 18, 2009 at 10:50 am
Hi Ray,
During the Gamba Grass debate I saw many farmers go to ground (some in our industry group). I recognised that not all farmers have the time to write letters and go to meetings so I went looking and found a group of like minded people from Katherine- Arhnem- Nth QLD. Together we found and supplied data, scientific research, personal anecdotes and opened doors through being strong and determined to stand up for our industry. HOW did we do it you ask? Well we get our money from the cattle industry and supporting the industry (seed sales, consulting etc) not government funding! So we only had a loyalty to country families, the future of grazing properties and our kids. Not our next funding cheque or political step!
Many farmers gave me their support but pleaded with me not to name them in my papers as they didnt want to be targeted by greenies, the media or the government.
Another group of people were “sure” that the government wouldnt try and cripple the industry as it was so big and after all we grow food! These farmers read the paper and laugh at the extreme people but dont realise how much clout these extreme people have!
You’ll find alot of useful people in the rural industry are right here on agmates and if they are encouraged they will be great allys in this.
People are like teabags, they dont know how strong they are until their in hot water! So right now Id call this hot water so come on QLD lets see some colour!!!
March 17, 2009 at 8:52 pm
It’s been 22 years since I either raked or pulled regrowth from the Queensland rural countryside, to improve a graziers farm profitability. However, I doubt that it has become any less important to them! I also cannot believe the vacuum on this topic, as it was the main focus of my business back then!
Is it that the organisations representing the farming community are scared of taking a position? Do they think it’s a non-issue? Are they so confident, as suggested, that they don’t foresee a problem after the election? Or have they laid down arms, not even going into battle on this one? Regardless, their silence is inexcusable.
Almost as bad is the silence of the farming community also! The representative organisations can only work with motions from the grass roots members, or is there a need for some regrowth there in the membership, with some of the dead wood being pulled out? Whilst it could be said that an individual grazier might not have time, resources or literary skills to pen a letter, surely someone in the bush who is currently threatened by this looming challenge must be able to get near a keyboard? I would have thought that the organisations should be asking these questions as a matter of responsibility to their memberships, but the reality that not one response is being made on the subject suggests that the horse is not only dead, but has been buried long ago, and that noone cares!
Ray Jamieson
Former Earthmoving and Construction Owner Operator in S E Qld
March 17, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Agmate Steve,
It’s called stealth, the reason I read as much as possible of the journals and articles from Greenpeace, Bush Heritage, Wilderness Society, National Parks Association, The Australian Greens etc, ad nauseum, to try and keep track of it.
For instance, who is aware that the green corridors you hear a little about, is a green swathe from the Grampians (Vic) up to Cape York? The Eastlink Project.
No it’s not a conspiracy theory, read about it in the above journals.
Then there is in WA, what is called Gondwana Link (Bush Heritage, The Nature Conservancy), and all assisted by the Federal government (the documentation is available). No the TSR aren’t the only ‘nature links’.
And people wonder how or why farmers organisations appear to be a bit tardy.