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News
Listen before the listing
LAST week I wrote about the
opportunities and challenges of
the coming year. I focused on
COVID and economic as well
as trade issues.
As it was the first column
for the year, I could not cover
all the various aspects that may
and will affect us over the next
12 months but I hope to do so
over the coming weeks.
That said, let us have a look at
an emerging, however familiar,
issue that threatens once again
our ability to farm.
In this case the new claim
that white gum in wet forests
is a threatened species in
TFGA
MATTERS
Marcus McShane
Tasmania and that the species
and associated environment
should be listed under the
federal Environmental Protection
and Biodiversity Conservation
Act.
I know, we have heard all this
before and on every occasion,
we are assured that it will not
impact farmers, but it always
does.
The last example of this was
the listing of the Eucalyptus
ovata and Eucalyptus brookeriana communities and what a
farce that was.
When asked about the
scientific process undertaken
to ascertain if indeed those
communities were threatened,
the federal minister was less
than impressive.
The benchmarks used were
significantly out of date and
compromised, and the so-called
scientific panel was unable to
advise where and how much
was already reserved within the
near 60 per cent of Tasmania
that has already been locked up.
The reason was simple, they
do not include anything already
reserved, but would rather
apply more constraints on the
farming community instead.
Sadly, we are once again on
this merry-go-round, and once
again it is presided over by a
federal Coalition government
that claims to represent and
understand
agriculture
–
apparently except when it
comes to listings under the
EPBC Act and the impacts of
its shoot-from-the-hip approach
to international diplomacy.
It is Tasmanian farmers who
end up carrying the weight of
these decisions, it is lock-ups
by stealth as anyone can submit
that a species should be listed,
and they are never named.
Some may say it’s farmers
having a whinge again. Well
let me say that this continued
and unrelenting constraint of
agriculture and our ability to
produce food and fibre at ever
diminishing margins is simply
not sustainable. The cry for
cheap food, while at the same
time regulating agriculture to
the point of no return, is not
only counterproductive but will
lead to an accelerated departure
from the sector for many.
A departure that will not be
replaced by a new generation,
when they know they will face
the same equation of diminishing returns. The broader
community needs to awaken to
the fact that a very small, but
very vocal, group of individuals
is slowly strangling the
existence of agriculture in this
state. This not so much a call
to arms as it is a call to implore
farmers and the community
alike to wake up to what is
happening around them.
Marcus McShane is president
of the Tasmanian Farmers
and Graziers Association
READER’S
PICTURE
Summer
in full
swing
This picture shows the state’s
harvest season at its most
spectacular.
Reader Lynette Fish sent in
this photo that captures the
shadows lengthening and the
golden light as oats are headed
and the straw is baled.
The picture was taken at her
property at Oatlands.
If you have weather images
or photos of farming life you’d
like to share with other readers,
email high-resolution images to
leena@fontpr.com.au with your
contact details.
Ructions on King Island over seismic testing
ROGER HANSON
OPPOSITION
to
seismic
surveying in Bass Strait by
global oil and gas exploration
company
ConocoPhillips is
growing.
Industry bodies and politicians are supporting calls to
stop the testing until science
proves it won’t affect King
Island’s valuable rock-lobster
industry.
The company wants to look
for reserves in Otway Basin
about 25km off the west coast
of the island.
At its last meeting the King
Island Council voted unanimously to oppose the survey
12 TASMANIAN COUNTRY Friday, January 29, 2021
unless there is definite research
proving such testing will not
cause any detrimental impact
on fisheries and marine
environments. The council
backs its King Island Brand
Management
Group
in
lobbying the Federal Government for a moratorium on
marine seismic surveying.
There
is
concern the
testing might put at risk the
island’s $23 million seafood
industry.
Federal Member for Braddon
Gavin Pearce said the locals’
concerns were genuine and he
supported the council’s motion.
“Unless
the
company
can provide evidence-based
answers the testing should not
go ahead,” Mr Pearce said.
Mr Pearce said ConocoPhillips had to answer any
legitimate concerns and take
part in community consultation.
He said he had met company
representatives and would meet
them again over the issue.
The head of the Scallop
Fishermen’s Association of
Tasmania also opposes the
testing.
In a letter to ConocoPhillips
Australia, King Island Mayor
Julie Arnold said anything
that put at risk a sustainable
industry and damaged the local
economy and employment
must be closely scrutinised.