Peter Spencer ends hunger strike protest

HUNGER striker Peter Spencer has ended his 52 day protest over farmers' property rights, but will continue his fight "on the ground".

Peter Spencer is taken to hospital after ending his 52-day hunger strike near Cooma in NSW. Picture: Kym Smith

HUNGER striker Peter Spencer has ended his 52 day protest over farmers' property rights and Australia's climate change responsibilities but will continue his fight "on the ground" supporters said today.

In a statement released shortly after 9:30 am today, his supporters said he would now be hospitalised until doctors could determine his medical condition.

"As much as the nation is concerned about me, my concerns are directed at the families of the hundreds of farmers who have suicided and the politicians who have failed to show any concern, compassion or morality for what the government has done to these families and the nation's Constitution. My committed stance on the tower was to press the point," Mr Spencer said.

His spokesman Alistair McRobert said Mr Spencer has been under increasing pressure from supporters about his welfare and in response has said, "On day 52 of his hunger strike, which was initiated to correspond with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at Copenhagen, Peter Spencer (61 years old) comes down from the suspended platform part way up a wind monitoring tower on his Shannon's Flat property "Saarahnlee" near Cooma, NSW," the statement said.

"Spencer's passive protest is not in vain. It has placed issues at the forefront of every Australian and gained unprecedented attention across Australia, and the world concerning thousands of Australian farming family's property rights which have been stolen to meet Australia's entire Kyoto Protocol International Treaty Obligations and in so doing, breaching Australia's Constitution."

His decision to end the hunger strike followed medical advice that there were increasing concerns about his electrolyte levels and other developing medical issues.

In the statement, his daughter Sarah Spencer said. "He is truly dedicated to making Australia a better place for all of us."

Mr Spencer, a father of six, said he survived on lemon juice, water, painkillers and vitamins throughout his hunger strike.

But his plight prompted a political row within the Coalition with NSW Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan criticising MPs including Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce, who backed his protest.

Fearing he might die, Senator Heffernan said all politicians should be urging him to come down.

It also caused a split within his family with Graham Spencer, Peter Spencer's brother, suggesting some of his supporters did not know the full story.

His protest was against strictions on land clearing, imposed as greenhouse gas abatement measures.

But Graham Spencer said his brother owed "more than a million dollars" to a family member after being given a loan to prevent the bank seizing his farm. "Peter doesn't owe money to the bank, but to the family," Graham Spencer said.

The Australian also revealed a previous incident occurred in August 1970 following the breakdown of Mr Spencer's first marriage and was an attempt to "get some attention".

Mr Spencer reportedly suffered a minor bullet wound to his chest, believed to be self-inflicted.