Industry propaganda in overdrive
LISTENING to and reading about Guy Barnett and Jonathon, or is it Jonno, Duniam selling the salmon industry is nauseating. They talk so much rubbish it is sickening.
Recently these gentlemen have been carrying on about the industry going offshore, one day far into the future, with the help of a blue propaganda machine called the taxpayer funded CRC. This research centre, which is simply a public relations exercise, operates as a taxpayer-funded apologist for the salmon industry.
Yes, that’s right, not only do we have to suffer the salmon industry snow job, which has been all about bigger and bigger pens being installed in our shallow bays and inlets while pretending to move offshore. We now have to put up with blue propaganda talking up new technology. What a heap of nonsense. The technology to go offshore has been around for longer than a 35-year-old salmon industry.
To operate in Commonwealth waters you use something called a ship. They are big, some bigger than others, and can handle rough waters. Stick some nets in some ships and call them salmon pens. Anchoring a salmon ship is also easy, have a look the oil and gas industry which has been anchored up in deep rough waters all over the world for over 50 years.
Ships and deep water anchoring systems are however expensive. Does it take taxpayers to fund these? Why should the salmon industry move offshore and pay the high capital costs when they are given free rein in Tasmania to wreck inshore marine sites.
Successive state governments that don’t plan and don’t regulate turn a blind eye to corporate greed. The negligence of the Tasmanian government is astonishing.
DARK FORCES
Chris Wells Battery Point
I’D just like to comment on Guy Barnett’s use of the words “dark forces” in reference to Tasmanians expressing their concerns about the destruction the fish farming industry is having on their environment.
Dark forces, Mr Barnett, are those that contribute to the destruction of pristine wilderness, pure river systems and thriving oceans for pure greed. I think the actions of the Liberal Party fit this description very aptly.
We can’t eat money Mr Barnett and no planet equates to no jobs. It’s not rocket science.
DISGRACE
Janet Beswick Dolphin Sands
GUY Barnett, Tasmania’s Minister responsible for wildlife welfare (and many other portfolios), owes the Tasmanian community an apology. This week he stood up in Parliament and described members of the community who raised their concerns over commercial salmon farming in Tasmania as “dark forces”.
These concerns came from a wide cross-section of the state and included community groups, scientific bodies, journalists and environmental groups, not to mention concerns raised internationally. Mr Barnett is paid handsomely to represent the Tasmanian community ... yet this is how he describes Tasmanians in Parliament when he doesn’t get his way.
He should be forced to retract his comments and provide an apology for using such offensive and inflammatory language in Parliament.
Dark forces, indeed.
What a disgrace!
OUTRAGED
Ged Lagerewskij Glenorchy
DESPITE invitations to the Premier, Labor, and the Huon Valley Mayor either declined or ignored altogether, the Cygnet public meeting about the destructive salmon industry was a resounding success. Even more people are now outraged by the government’s failure to act and prevent this dirty industry destroying Tasmanian waterways. They are outraged by the cruelty to marine animals and by the lies.
Lisa Litjens Petcheys Bay