This is what these Forestry ‘contractors’ do to OUR Forests

‘Legal’ Environmental Vandalism photo taken from: sbs.com.au

Our Forestry ‘Contractors’ at Work photo taken from: tasmaniantimes.com

Lovely…photo taken from: habitatadvocate.com.au

The Federal Government in its desperation to hang on to the seats of Braddon & Bass at the next Federal Election decided ‘to compensate’ (‘bribe’, in other words) Tasmania‘s  Forestry Contractors to end the decades long ‘Forest Wars’ that have raged in this State. The community was not consulted widely during any stage of negotiations and it culminated in the rort known as the ’Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement‘ - ‘the bribe’ was worth nearly $300,000,000!

Please see Crikey’s take on the issue dated 05 December 2012. Here’s an extract:

It comes at a time when most major players in the forest industry have either folded or suffered severe balance sheet losses. The cash cows of managed investment schemes and woodchipping that contributed 90% of profits and cash flow have disappeared.

Furthermore, growers who outlaid $1 billion to plant trees under managed investment schemes in Tasmania will suffer losses of 80%.

Forestry Tasmania is a cadaver, completely and utterly insolvent. It is now selling timber below the cost of harvesting, cartage, roading and other direct costs. Payment of overheads such as wages will require cash injections from the government. It needs a new model that secures higher prices. Cash deficits and accounting losses are projected to last at least another five years.

The amount of money on the table tends to sway opinions; $276 million implies $12 billion for Australia as a whole if the gross-up is on a per capita basis, or $17 billion on a GDP basis.

Relatively speaking, $276 million for Tasmania is a lot of money. Tasmania is sometimes labelled a mendicant state, but anyone who thinks beggars can’t be choosers obviously never met former independent senator Brian Harradine. Uncle Brian obtained riches beyond his wildest dreams when the sale of the first tranche of Telstra was manoeuvred through federal Parliament. His achievement provided a template for future carpetbaggers. Demands for more money, or compensation to be polite, are not uncommon.

But how much? Forestry Tasmania in its recent annual report estimated a $97 million fall in the value of its forest estate if further areas are removed from production as contemplated by the agreement. Why is more required?

The IGA funds are already being dispersed. Head of the queue was Gunns, given $23 million as a belated ex gratia payment after it had already decided to relinquish its sawlog entitlements. Next was $11.5 million to Forestry Tasmania as payment for monies owed by an insolvent Gunns. Hardly in keeping with the spirit of the IGA?

An initial amount of $43 million was released a couple of months ago; and, of course, no sooner had the process of handing out this relatively minor amount begun, than it was found to be corrupt (by the Federal Government itself no less)  - Who would’ve guessed?

Just to demonstrate…

The average Tasmanian pays $150 a ton for firewood. The Tasmanian Forestry Industry Gunns Limited & Ta Ann have signed a deal with the Government here to be supplied prime timber for $10 a ton for the next 20 years!

Firstly…

Forestry Contractors in this State are nepotistic & corrupt. They are nothing more than environmental vandals who believe that God put the forests here for them to slash, burn, exploit & generally do with as they see fit. Some of them even sport stickers on their bumpers saying: “give it back” (the arrogance – as if THEY alone own Tasmania’s  Forests).

But Secondly, and more importantly… 

Since WHEN do we compensate ‘contractors’ of any sort? –  The whole point of hiring ‘contractors’ over ‘employees’ in the first place is that we DON’T have to compensate them if their services are no longer required! If that wasn’t enough, they THEN have the absolute gall to claim all of their work-related expenses against their tax (thereby ‘hitting up’ the taxpayer yet again).

These ‘contractors’ and their ‘union’ (the Tasmania’s Forest Industry Association) are nothing more than a bunch of NEPOTISTIC & CORRUPT ENVIRONMENTAL VANDALS! – And… they’re not averse to using violence when it suits them. One of the major problems is that the majority of our ‘illustrious’, supposedly ‘honourable’ politicians epitomise nothing more than the “Unrepresentative Swill“ that Paul Keating once described the Australian Senate as; and, it’s no surprise that they’re right up to their proverbial necks in it too.

‘Everyone else’ Protestors who gain absolutely nothing personally photo taken from: abc.net.au

Forestry ‘Contractors’ protesting about how much money they’ll lose photo taken from: smh.com.au

And now, they want to get their greedy hands on the Tarkine Forest too…

Tarkine Forest photo taken from: worldexpeditions.com

Tarkine Forest photo taken from: theaustralian.com.au

Tarkine Forest

Following in President Obama’s steps, the Australian Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, changed the guidelines on March 10.

It’s a strange situation – great news but it’s truly a tragedy it didn’t happen sooner. Around 68,000 women die from unsafe abortions every year. Obviously Australian aid is not going to save that many women, but this is still certainly a step in the right direction.

The reality though is that neither Fielding or Xenophon actually stand up for the little guy.

For Xenophon and Fielding the temptation to turn into their own versions of Brian Harradine (former Senator for Tasmania) must be absolutely fantastic. However, while Fielding seems to be the Parliament’s clown, Xenophon is proving to be a lot more savvy than his clown-ish friend on the cross benches.

The federal government knew that it would have a difficult Senate to work with, however, as the populists take up any charge worthy of a stunt or two, their work is made even harder. A tight legislative agenda is looming for both houses of our federal Parliament, and there is a very strong potential for this to become bogged down in the shenanigans of the populists. In my humble opinion the most important pieces of legislation that will test them will relate to anything on climate change and industrial relations.

Anything that relates to the economy put forward by the government is likely to get the (eventual) nod as this is something that is persistently on everyone’s lips. Although things like paid maternity leave seem to be forgotten in the earnest effort to shield our economy (big business) with bail-outs (notwithstanding the long-term economic benefit of paid maternity leave), the environment and climate change, education at primary, secondary and tertiary levels are all in need of bailing out.  It seems that the government’s priorities to re-invest in Australians and Australia is being lost in the populist push to save the economy. (Of course it should be noted that big business is working over time to ensure the government doesn’t invest in the long term future of Australia; it would mean less corporate welfare and subsidies.)

Xenophon and Fielding will certainly be tested over the next 12 to 18 months.  I wonder who will play the populist card the most to seek a continued supporter base (albeit an elastic and vengeful supporter base).

Let me know what you think! Vote in the Poll!