Letters to the Editor, February 20, 2020

In your Letters to the Editor today: Shane Martin, forestry, and climate change.

Dustin Martin with his father Shane Martin in Auckland.

In your Letters to the Editor today: Shane Martin, forestry, and climate change.

Dusty’s dad decision doubts

THE Tasmanian Liberals policy is that anyone who claims to be Aboriginal is accepted. Likewise, when asked about Bruce Pascoe’s claim to being Tasmanian Aboriginal, Ken Wyatt, federal Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, said Bruce’s word was good enough. He was in. To be fair and consistent, the same approach must be applied to Shane Martin’s claim to be a Tasmanian Aboriginal. Taking Shane at his word would be pretty popular, at least with Tiger supporters. It would fit with the very reason the Liberals brought in their policy — to be popular.

Michael Mansell , Launceston

Donation reform

PREMIER Gutwein is reported in the Mercury as being “cool” on the idea of public funding of Tasmanian election campaigns. But where does he think the Liberal’s election money comes from now? It works like this. The gambling industry is a big supporter of Liberal electoral campaigns. They suck up people’s wages, pensions and benefits into poker machines. The money goes to clubs, then to Federal Hotels and other industry businesses and gambling lobby groups and then to the Liberal Party as donations and in kind support. Electoral reform requiring public funding of elections is critically needed to make open what is currently an unpleasant secret. Premier, it’s time for reform.

Roland Browne , Hobart

Once upon a time

HOBART was once an idyllic backwater. You didn’t need a king’s ransom to live here. There was bugger all tourism (and tourists), half price housing and rents, plentiful parking right outside the door, traffic nirvana, freedom to fish anywhere at the wharf, cheap crayfish, abalone, scallops, lamb chops, T-bone steaks, apples, cherries, water rates, petrol and stamps. Great footy at North Hobart oval, five day trading, sport and delicious family roast dinners every weekend, drive ins, trains, plenty of huge couta, flounder, flathead and muttonbirds, no rabbits on twitter, nor any Trivago or funeral insurance ads. Those were the days!

Steve Bailey , Glenorchy

Elwick safety

THE Elwick racing complex has had $40 million or more spent on it in recent years. Whether this was justified, can be left to the judgment of others. One recent correspondent was pleased the $12 million upgrade of the racing surface provided safety, which had been lacking. As a long time walker on Wilkinson’s Point, it is far from safe because of lack of security. The dilapidated outer fencing on the Loyd Rd side, opposite the military base, offers ample opportunity of providing illegal entry. It would be irresponsible to elaborate further.

Harvey Bullen , Glenorchy

Burning issue

THE pile-on against Senator Abetz on these pages is spectacular, but the writers seem to be studiously ignoring what he actually said. I have yet to hear anyone argue that excessive fuel loads don’t make fires more intense and don’t make wildfires more likely. One can claim it is unfair to blame green philosophy, but the notion that if the forests are left alone they will return to some prehistoric state is fanciful. Calls to cool the climate of the world also have little practical application in this context.

Richard McCure , Sandy Bay

A famous ship indeed

I READ with interest reader Rosemary Sandford’s thoughts on the Nairana, a very famous ship indeed (Letters, February 18). Nairana is an Aboriginal word, Tasmanian ferries often had Aboriginal names, Taroona, Coogee, Loongana, to name a few. Nairana was being built in Scotland for the Bass Strait run before being requisitioned by the British Navy for service in World War I as a seaplane carrier.

My grandfather George Ovens was a flight mechanic on the carrier. Nairana’s most famous service was during the Russian Revolution when she was sent to attack and seize the Russian city of Archangel in combination with other vessels during the Russian Revolution. The first time a carrier had been used in an attack on a port city. The Royal Navy was so impressed by the actions of the vessel, they named another carrier after her during World War II.

After WWI, she was returned to her owners to resume the Bass Strait run. She went on to become the longest serving ferry on the Bass Strait run, including being the only ferry operating across Bass Strait during WWII.

Rosemary mentioned an incident involving three fatalities at the entrance to Port Philip Bay. Nothing unusual about that, the entrance to Port Phillip Bay can be one of the world’s most dangerous, casualties have occurred in relatively recent times, even with the best of modern safety equipment and weather reporting. Nairana carried many passengers and crew safely across Bass Strait despite being only a fraction the size of a modern Bass Strait ferry.

I congratulate Sealink on naming their vessel after such an illustrious ship, I only hope she is worthy of the name.

Christian Bell , Mt Nelson

Parking pain

YES, I agree with the idea to bring back the old coin-operated parking meters. I never use the new ones, it’s too much mucking around. The city ambience has changed. It’s parking meter madness.

Wayne McDonald , Taroona

Forestry facts on fire, felling and fuel loads

READER Peter Gibbs (Letters, February 17) makes incorrect claims. There is no Tasmanian evidence that burning after harvest removes a forest’s ability to retain moisture, nor that burning results in forest ecosystems drying out, making them more susceptible to fire.

In fact, wet eucalypt forests that support some of Tasmania’s iconic big trees have probably been burnt many times in the past 15,000 years but still have topsoils containing some of the highest natural carbon values measured in the state for this forest type.

Very few areas of native forests are replaced by plantations. The practice of conversion in state forests stopped years ago. Nor are plantations “firebombs in waiting”. Of course, a catastrophic fire will consume anything in its path, sparing neither plantations nor native forest. But generally fires in plantations are easier to control than fires in native forest, because of better access for firefighters, and permanent, maintained firebreaks.

Finally, forest harvest is not deforestation. All state forests are regenerated after harvest. One only has to drive from Maydena through the Styx Valley to see how skilled foresters successfully regenerated native forests after harvest. Regeneration has been so successful many of these harvested and regenerated forests have qualified for World Heritage status.

Peter McIntosh, West Hobart

HOT TOPIC: CLIMATE CHANGE

The road to zero carbon

THE Federal Government recently announced it had committed $76 million to a tourism recovery package in a bid to protect jobs and support small business devastated by fires. Now serious and urgent attention needs to be taken to reduce the CO2 footprint of the tourism industry. A recent study showed that globally tourism is responsible for 8–10 per cent of emissions. Tourism is responsible for increasing CO2 and this is adding to planetary heating and making Australia even more vulnerable to major firestorms.

In Tasmania, rental vehicles should use our clean electricity rather than being run on fossil fuels. This would be better for our environment, make a positive contribution to climate change, create jobs and reduce imports. Tourism authorities and industry bodies at a state and federal level need to develop a comprehensive strategic plan to achieve zero carbon tourism.

Gerry White , Cradoc

Poor leadership

I FIND it impossible to understand the mentality of political leaders who refuse to act on climate change and allow fossil fuel companies to increase global carbon emissions in Australia and overseas through coal exports.

Climate change anxiety is now a recognised condition. Climate change is happening and catastrophic bushfires and other severe weather events are ample evidence of this. It takes a peculiar type of brain to negate all the science, statistics, and evidence, to dismiss environmental and human devastation and to recklessly and condescendingly ignore and denigrate all those who demand action.

Stop using public money to prop up the fossil fuel industry. Stop allowing the development of coalmines and gas explorations. Transition to 100 per cent renewable energies by 2030. We have the technology, our leaders just need the will power.

Sue Henn , Taroona

Sad legacy

AS custodians of the planet, we are doing a miserable job. The foremost problem lies with population growth. It has become the mathematical multiplier of our self-administered dilemma. Animals, vegetation, and even microbial organisms are distressed, collapsing or disappearing. When gazing skyward, exhaust belchings infest our air. The earth is feeling the heat, as fires rage and deplete our water. What legacy are we leaving our children’s children?

Jack Buzelin , Taroona

Coal’s global web

ACTIVISTS, scientists and citizens continue to protest construction of one of the world’s largest coal mines. Adani’s empire of mines, ships, power plants and ports depend on coal and taxpayer support. The Queensland Government dropped charges when the Adani-operated port exceeded pollution discharge by over 800 per cent at Abbot Point into the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

Wangan and Jagalingou homelands, ceremonial grounds and aquifers were granted to Adani, despite future irreversible drying of water sources. Queensland coal, exported to fuel an Adani power plant in Gooda, India, will be exported to Bangladesh. Farmers who protested destruction of their mango orchards, paddy land, coconut palms, were charged with trespassing. Adani Group has a 50-year commercial deal with a military subsidiary to construct an international port terminal in Yangon, Myanmar. In August, the UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar urged the global community to sever ties with the military and its companies. Revenue the military earns from domestic and foreign business deals enables it to conduct gross violations of human rights crimes with impunity.

Australian lawyer Chris Sidoti, one of three authors of a UN report that called for Myanmar’s armed forces to be prosecuted with genocide of Rohingya, warns that Australian coal from Adani mine will help fund Myanmar’s violation of human rights. It is time Australia cut its ties with Adani and stopped the Queensland mine.

Nancy Hudson-Rodd , North Hobart

Science of disbelief

OUR Government has no trouble engaging scientific and medical experts to explore ways of halting the spread of the coronavirus but is reluctant to use their professional knowledge in the area of climate change.

Ed Sianski , West Moonah

QUICK VIEW S

Luminous strip

RATHER than a fence around Sullivan’s Cove to prevent accidental and sometime fatal falls, I suggest a non-slip, fluorescent strip of 10cm wide be attached near the edges of wharfs, piers and docks. This thin strip of light may alert pedestrians to the proximity of water, particularly at night, without hindering access to moored boats.

Anthea Wallhead , Kettering

ScoMo on the ball

EVERY step the Morrison Government has taken to prevent the coronavirus entering Australia has been measured and successful.

Graeme Manning , West Hobart

Housing win

HATS off to Centrecare Evolve Housing chief executive Ben Wilson in delivering 197 new properties in 2019 and an additional 243 to be made available by year end 2020. A considerable contribution to ease affordable rental solutions in our state. Well done.

Stewart Edwards , Mount Stuart

Bulk-billing

SOME people haven’t got enough money for rent or food and sleep in the streets. How would the doctors who won’t bulk bill like to be in these positions?

Robyn Osta , Mt Nelson

Hydrogen lag

THE Tasmanian Government has no respect for the voter. They crow about achievements. What achievements? We have the longest hospital wait lists, the poorest educational outcomes and now we lag in planning for a hydrogen future.

Horst Schroeder , Devonport

Hospital delays

THE Royal Hobart Hospital debacle seems to be never ending (“Hospital delays hazy,” Mercury, February 18). Delays, extensions, mishaps, bureaucratic bungling and still no definite completion date. Shades of Yes Minister?

Chris Needham , Kingston

Planning

ALDERMAN Simon Fraser’s helpful article (Talking Point, February 19) might have added that locals have greater scope to shape future development in their area by participating in drafting local provisions schedules, currently underway, compared to commenting on development applications.

Peggy James , Howden

Shut up

ALL is quiet and asleep, not. It’s 6.10am and the Clarence council’s noisy, beeping street sweeper is in my street. Don’t council abide by their own noise restriction policy?

Philip Kelly , Lindisfarne