Don’t get me started, Jan
ECOTOURISM
I SETTLED down to read what Jan Davis had to say in Talking Point about ecotourism in Tasmania ( Mercury, July 25). It’s good to seek balanced opinions and, let’s face it, we’ve had an imbalance of Government spruiking the unlimited benefits to flow from this latest honey pot.
According to Jan, it’s the greenies and NIMBYs behind it, not the Government. Ecotourism, says Jan, is shutting down industries like forestry and fish farms, cable cars, destroying jobs and harming local economies. Hang on a minute. It’s the Government that wants to shut down all these things. I’m confused. My guess is that neither side of the argument is trying to shut down or lock up anything, just trying to get a semblance of sensible planning and management for the long-term.
Tourism, along with hospitality, is the backbone of the economy now. The problem is in sustaining the industry in the long-term, and that’s another issue that may get addressed if certain pollies get their heads out of the sand.
Industries like forestry, particularly woodchips, have not been successful in Tasmania since clearfelling started. It only existed with heavy subsidisation by ratepayers. It returns little to the state apart from fragile job opportunities dictated by overseas prices. It exists because of an entrenched political ideology that has led to toxic, and at times corrupt, governance over the past 50 years.
Sorry Jan, I didn’t mean to carry on but it might be worth you having a look at the Ecotourism Investment Profile document put together by Tourism, Cradle Authority, Parks and, of course, the Tasmanian Government.
There is an entrenched, media-savvy NIMBY urban-class (and clear minority) in Tasmania who tirelessly and innovatively work to exploit our innate fear of change. It’s a subclass that always opposes any new development in their backyard.
But what can be more eco-friendly than the proposed, non-carbon emitting cable car? Perhaps exposing the Trojan nature of this opposition is a needed focus? The reported “fake” website (“Cable car opponent forced to transfer domain name to MWCC”, Mercury, July 4) represents just that. According to the ruling by the independent administrative panel (established by the Australian Domain Administration), the domain owner did not have the legal right to divert the undecided from the official site to her look-alike site, “which offered a sharply divergent view” to that of the MWCC. This is a project of genuine state significance, with all Tasmanians as equal stakeholders, not just Hobartians. And Mt Wellington is certainly not the owned “domain” of South Hobart (aka NIMBY-central) residents.
Transparency void
THE front page headline ( Mercury, July 25) says it in a nutshell. “Buy elections” is the new name of the game. Those with the most money from sources considered “Cabinet in Confidence” have the best chance of success. Is this democracy? What happened to transparency?
Obey the rules
THERE’S a device in all cars called indicators, so use them. There are also signs showing speed limits, so that means not going 10km/h or more under or over, especially on the Tasman Bridge and Rosny Hill heading to Eastlands.
Don’t repeat mistake
IN 2003 I marched against the invasion of Iraq, never dreaming John Howard would be so naive as to support a foolish George Bush in a war that would create regional chaos for decades, spawn ISIS and cost the lives of 4400 Americans, half a million Iraqis, and $2 trillion. Now it’s reported an ignorant and unstable President will soon attack Iran with the help of Australian facilities such as Pine Gap. If PM Turnbull is not to repeat the tragic folly of John Howard, he must publicly affirm there will be no Australian support for this attack and US facilities here shall not be used.