No hospital beds, transport in chaos, public housing in crisis and we see families on the street, but Bob Carr spend your money on his land grabbing fobia to appease the greens.

This article sums up a swan song from Bob Carr as he deserts the sinking latte party ship.

THE State Government has turned its forest lock-up focus from the State's North West to the Riverina with the purchase of the historic Murrumbidgee station property, "Yanga", for a new national park.

No price has been disclosed for the purchase of the 80,000 hectare property located just east of Balranald, but sources suggest a figure between $30 million and $40 million.

The purchase was announced last week by the Premier, Bob Carr, who described it as the "most important single acquisition in the recent history of national parks in NSW".

"Yanga" is believed to be the largest original freehold property remnant in NSW and perhaps Australia, taken up in the 1830s as "Tala" by colonial pioneer William Charles Wentworth.

At its height in the 1880s it covered some 160,000ha and carried 150,000 sheep and 2000 cattle. Today the remaining area supports 14,000 sheep and 2500 cattle, plus dryland and irrigated cropping.

The property still retains the original drop-log homestead dating to the 1860s and the massive original woolshed of 40 stands (now 20) with shed-room for 3000 sheep.

It is also the home of the largest (17,000ha) private forest of river red gum in Australia, currently the source of income for an estimated 200 local people engaged in logging and firewood harvesting.

News of the sale, negotiated privately by the property's long-time owners, the Black family (owners also of Uardry Merino stud at Hay), triggered immediate reactions of approval and outrage.

By Peter Austin (The Land Newspaper)

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has rejected those claims as "nonsense".

Lobby group the Phoenix Association claims Canberra bushfire victims have
resorted to legal action because the ACT Government did not do enough to
help them in the wake of the January 2003 disaster. NSW Rural Fire Service
Commissioner Phil Koperberg has also said bushfire managers should be held
accountable, but not for factors "beyond their control".

The ACT, NSW and Commonwealth governments and ACT Emergency Services
Authority are yet to formally respond to legal action brought against them
by 62 Canberra bushfire victims who are seeking damages for physical and
psychological injury and property loss as a result of the fires more than 2
years ago.

Goulburn firm Lamond Howard and Associates, which is representing the
litigants, said a third statement of claim was expected to be filed at some
stage in the ACT Supreme Court, bringing the total number of plaintiffs to
close to 100. Mr Stanhope said he had received no advice on the merit of
the claim
and the three governments would be negotiating with their lawyers and
insurers. He said there were a number of possibilities including: The
governments and their insurers agreed the claim had merit and sought to
negotiate an out-of- court settlement. They agreed it had no merit and
sought to have it "struck out" by the courts. They agreed to contest the
claim in the courts.

"What we have is a group of people who have decided, one assumes on the
basis of their legal advice, that they have a contestable claim. I must say
there's probably very, very good reason to think that's not the case but
those are matters that I will take advice from my legal advisers," Mr
Stanhope said. The legal action claims the governments, through agencies
such as the NSW Rural Fire Service, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
and ACT Emergency Services Authority, were negligent in how they managed
the fires, which started on January 8. It raises many issues including the
adequacy of community warnings and fuel management.

Phoenix Association president Richard Arthur said if the Government had
returned the goods-and- services tax on rebuilt homes, offered low-interest
loans to people who were under-insured or set up a kind of "reconstruction
authority" to direct the rebuilding, the legal action could have been avoided.
"A combination of those things may well have allowed people to get back on
their feet quickly and properly and it's quite likely litigation could have
been avoided if that had happened," he said. "Nobody wants to get involved
in litigation and face an adverse costs order, that's just common sense.
This is something people have to do because they're so far behind, they
have to do something to catch up. It ought not to have been necessary."

Mr Stanhope said any "thinking person in Canberra" would agree the
Government had supported the bushfire victims well and it was a pity the
Phoenix Association had taken on "a very, very negative and adversarial
role". Mr Koperberg said he was yet to study the claim in detail but said
legal action was a trend the service would "have to manage". "It would be a
sad day if individual firefighters or groups of firefighters were held
accountable for their inability to stop a loss because of circumstances
beyond their control," he said. "Management is always accountable and
should be and if it can be demonstrated that management was negligent ...
I'm not suggesting there ought not be accountability, quite the contrary,
we have to be accountable to the community for the things we do. But there
are some things which are beyond our control because we don't have 20/20
foresight, we only have 20/20 hindsight and I'm sure that will be taken
into account."

Mark Howard, of Lamond Howard and Associations, said, as in any civil
action, the 62 litigants risked paying the defendants' costs if their claim
was unsuccessful and those costs could be substantial. He said this might
have been a factor in other people not pursuing the civil action.

By Megan Doherty (Canberra Yourguide)
Thursday, 21 July 2005

Federal Member for Eden Monaro Gary Nairn says he respects the right of individuals to take action if they feel they have been harmed by the
actions of governments.

Sixty-two bushfire victims in total are now suing the ACT, New South Wales and Commonwealth Governments for damages, accusing them of negligence over their handling of the 2003 Canberra bushfires.

In 2003, Mr Nairn chaired an inquiry into bushfires in south-eastern Australia, which criticised state and territory governments for failing to put in place adequate land management procedures.

Mr Nairn says the situation would be much simpler if the original coronial inquest was allowed to proceed in the ACT Supreme Court. "All of this would be a lot easier and a lot more apparent if the ACT Government had not tried to close down the Doogan inquiry," he said. "I think [it] is disgraceful, if it hadn't been stalled it probably would have been all over and we would have had the coroner's report and therefore these matters would have been a lot clearer."

(ABC News Thursday, July 21, 2005)

Making what could be a last pilgrimage for this 82 year old man who served his country during WWII as a Bomber Command Lancaster pilot.

Flying 30 odd missions this proud airman was traveling to Canberra for the unveiling on Saturday of the new monument to those who served in the Airforce with Bomber Command.

Arriving at Melbourne airport he passed through security only to be stopped by government authority who informed him that he could not board the aircraft with his decorations and medals for war service to this country because "the pin that is attached to the bar holding the medals used to clip them to his clothing over his heart was TOO LONG which constituted a weapon and threat".

Have you people in government any idea the humiliation you caused this hero of WWII by causing him to stand at the ceremony without his deserved decoration proudly worn on his chest while unlike those who did not travel by aircraft. You should all hold your head down in shame for your actions to allow such stupidity to be even considered.

As a RAAF veteran of Vietnam and also a flyer, I would like to inform the government and our prime minister, who was unable to attend the ceremony due to overseas commitments of far greater importance to his political dictatorship, that as I do not wish to be thought a terrorist on an aircraft with my medals, I will now place my decorations away in safe keeping until we get some sanity into this Australia which is not the country we fought for.

Disgust, anger, even sympathy for those pollies that are puppets to bureaucracy cannot express my feelings watching this once proud Australia I grew up in now reflect governments push for total control of it's once free thinking people.
"God bless Australia for we need all the help we can muster to reclaim common sense and remove political interference".

Media Release Victorian Liberal party:

The Liberal Party has urged the Bracks Government to make urgent amendments to the Crimes Act which currently allows animal rights activists to escape the law unscathed when sabotaging businesses.

Shadow Minister for Agriculture Philip Davis has raised the issue with Attorney General Rob Hulls in Parliament and made representations to him and the Minister for Agriculture Bob Cameron asking the legal loop-hole currently protecting animal liberationists from conviction for causing economic loss be rectified.

Mr Davis said an animal liberation activist pleaded not guilty and on May 6 this year was acquitted from a charge of intentionally causing economic harm by contaminating the feed of sheep intended for live export overseas.

The activist was acquitted by a jury because he argued his intention was to raise public awareness, not to cause economic loss.

Mr Davis said despite the acquittal putting Victorian live exports in jeopardy, the Bracks Government had done nothing to address the situation.

He also urged Agriculture Minister Bob Cameron to take an interest in this issue, rather than hiding away as he has done on so many other important issues affecting Victoria's farmers.

"The future of Victoria's primary industries and livestock export industry relies on this loop-hole being closed," Mr Davis said.

"Despite being acquitted of his intent to cause financial loss, this man's action of contaminating the feed lots actually caused a loss of $1.3 million.

"Who is expected to foot the bill?

"In our democratic system, we defend the right of people to raise public awareness about issues by protesting, but it is not an acceptable form of protest to be interfering with private trade or business.

"Given that an apparent risk exists and that it may encourage other animal
extremists, I have again asked the Attorney General to amend the law to protect Victoria's exporters, farmers and business."

Mr Davis said it was appalling animal liberation extremists were not held accountable for any loss associated with their actions of sabotaging Victorian businesses.

"Bob Cameron must work with Rob Hulls to rectify this issue for the sake of our agricultural industry," he said.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
From The Editor:

Labor when in opposition listened to the people and made the right suggestions
to embarrass the government. When in office under bureaucratic control and unaccountable power to Dictate they forgot the people who put them there. Let us not forget the Green Vote maintenance they govel to like a daily temple ritual.

Now with Bracks forging full forward to his political demise, just what will the Lib's do for you the disgruntled voter? will they assume the position vacated by labor. You may just move your vote to independents for sanity. Why not ask the question will they run after the green and greed vote?

A second group of Canberra bushfire victims is suing the ACT Government for
damages.

Goulburn law firm Lamond Howard and Associates has lodged a second
statement of claim on behalf of 55 victims of the 2003 bushfires. The ACT
Government, the Emergency Services Authority and the New South Wales and
Commonwealth governments are named as the defendants.

The plaintiffs are suing for loss of their homes and contents as well as
nervous shock, psychological and psychiatric injuries. They accuse the four
organisations of negligence, including failing to manage fuel loads in the
Brindabella Ranges before the fires, failing to manage fuel build in the
ACT and failing to manage the fires properly in the lead up to January 18th.

On that day almost 500 homes were destroyed and four people killed

It is to be noted that the Inquiry into the South Australian fires of
Tuesday the 11th of February 2005 is to be interrupted by the
investigating Coroner being promoted to the District court of South
Australia and hence bringing about the necessity appointment of a new
Coroner to maintain continuance of the Inquiry into fires that devastated
Eyre Peninsula leaving 9 poor soles burnt to death

This action will in effect cause concern to those with heart wrenching
vested interest into these fires waiting for the new Coroner to come up to
speed with that which the outgoing Coroner was intrinsically familiar with.

Reality reflects this a political promotion to negate the possibility of
yet another allegation of Apprehension of Bias against a State Coroner who
in fact may get VERY close to the truth from those that might have some
adverse findings directed towards them? A common truth is Green Labour
Governments Nationally are not able to accept as a failing in their own
incompetent policies of public land management.

A newly appointed Coroner would be able to sift through evidence collected
to date and under the jurisdiction provided at the time of this new
appointment, unwittingly cause to come about a narrowing of the Inquiry and
hence the outcome would be more to the Rann government along with his
interstate political buddies liking their flawed agendas.

It is obvious the Labour (green) State Governments around the country are
struggling to keep the lid on their suspect green agendas along with their
acts, which take on the appearance of perverting the course of justice at
the Coronial level, are taking all forms.

The situation now developing in South Australia is indicative of just how
under- handed Labour Governments are in respect to covering their
incompetence when it comes to the well-being of our great country and
landscape along with the welfare of those that have strived for generations
to keep this landscape alive, vibrant and naturally prosperous.

The final question has to be asked; Why in gods name do these incompetent
idiots keep getting elected into office year after year, when all they
achieve is the reaming of all that is Australian?

Port Lincoln Mayor Peter Davis has expressed concern that the coronial
inquest into the Eyre Peninsula bushfires will be jeopardised by a
changeover of state coroners.

Former coroner Wayne Chivell has been appointed a District Court judge and
the Government is yet to appoint a permanent replacement.

Councillor Davis says Mr Chivell had all the background knowledge of the
January fires and should have completed the inquest.

"Without wishing to pre-empt the three inquiries, it would be nice to see
at least the coroner conclude his report. Now if that means the acting
coroner has got to do so and he's got to do some serious reading quick and
lively, well...not a problem," he said.

Cr Davis says it has been six months and fire victims need some answers.

"The fact is that we are now within four months of the next fire season and
there are many people in the community, myself included, who believe that
some serious errors did occur and that action should be taken to correct
them," he said.

The coroner's office says investigations into the bushfires have been
ongoing, but no end date has been set.

From: Helen.Ransom@opposition.vic.gov.au
Date: Wednesday, 13 July 2005 10:17:09 AM

Wednesday, 13 July 2005

The Nationals Spokesman for Agriculture Peter Walsh has welcomed the
election of Simon Ramsay as the new president of the Victorian Farmers
Federation (VFF).

Mr Walsh said The Nationals had an excellent working relationship with the
VFF and expected to continue that strong association in the future.

"I'm looking forward to working with Simon Ramsay in the coming months as
we aim to address the issues which directly affect the farming
community,"Mr Walsh said.

"The VFF has an important role to play in representing the views of their
members and I'm certain that Simon will carry on the outstanding work of
outgoing president, Paul Weller."

Mr Walsh has paid tribute to Mr Weller's efforts during a particularly
difficult period for agricultural industries.

"Paul's term as president was made more difficult by the extended drought
and a political environment at a state level which is not receptive to the
needs of the farming community," Mr Walsh said.

"I commend his efforts for being prepared to tackle the government over
issues such as the ridiculous levels of red tape in areas such as native
vegetation clearing and permits for children to work on farms with family
members.

"Paul has also had to counter green extremists who seem to have Melbourne
Labor MPs at their beck and call.

"Despite the Greens attracting less than 10 percent of the vote in country
electorates, they are wielding a disproportionate influence over policies
being developed by city-based MPs and bureaucrats.

"Country people are sick of being told what to do by Melbourne Labor and I
congratulate the VFF for standing up to the nanny state ideologies of the
Bracks Government.

"I wish Paul all the best in his future endeavours, including his
nomination to sit on the board of Murray Goulburn ? he has a great deal to
offer in public life."

Media Contact: Peter Walsh (03) 50323154 or 0428 507 541

It took just eleven days for Victoria's new Minister for Police and
Emergency Services, Tim Holding, to torpedo Victoria's new consultative
process on firearms legislation.

On 29 June, Minister Holding opened the first meeting of the Firearms
Consultative Committee at his own offices. This committee includes
representatives from almost all major shooting organisations, the Melbourne
University Criminology Dept, Law Institute of Victoria, College of Surgeons
and Police Association and operates under agreed terms of reference. (The
CFCV asked not to be represented so it could retain it's ability to 'kick
heads' if need be - which is now clearly justified.)

The establishment of the FCC was a celebrated milestone as it had been
promised five years earlier by the then opposition leader, Steve Bracks.

Nothing happened while Andre Haermeyer was Police Minister (who blamed the
lack of progress on the rest of Cabinet for some unknown reason) and it was
not until the appointment of Tim Holding to the post that the FCC became a
reality. The meeting - on 29 June - was "really positive" with the
Government appointed chair happy to have issues of concern put on the
agenda. In fact the Minister even 'did the rounds' prior to the meeting to
welcome everybody there.

Last Sunday - eleven days after the FCC's first (and to date, only)
meeting, Minister Holding issued a press release announcing 'new laws' to
effectively ban pump-action and lever action centre fire rifles capable of
being fitted with five or more shot detachable magazines, and pump-action,
lever-action and bolt-action rimfire rifles capable of being fitted with a
15 or more shot detachable magazine.

The release resulted in an article in today's Herald Sun and on Ch 7 last
evening (and possibly other media outlets).

Lesser restrictions had been floated only as a possibility in a review
paper circulated at the meeting. The Minister's press release therefore not
only pre-empted the outcome of the consultation process, but actually went
further than what is contained in the 'review paper' (as it contemplated
banning magazines greater than 15 shots - not magazines with 15 or more).

Minister Holding's announcement also cuts across an explicit commitment in
the 'review paper' (prepared by his Department) that his Department would
refer any changes to the Firearms Act to the FCC before recommendations
were made to Government.

This is not about gun laws, but trust and goodwill. Unfortunately this
proposal looks like it was tabled in front of everybody as a fait accompli.

Regardless of whether or not there may be an issue worthy of legislative
change, the CFCV is curious to understand who may have advised the Minister
and what they might have told him, as it is hard to understand why he would
launch the FCC then torpedo the agreed process. This will be the subject of
ongoing probing by the CFCV.

The CFCV also notes that any legislative change will need to undergo a
Business Impact Statement where the Victorian Competition and Efficiency
Commission will assess the 'economic impact' of any legislative proposal.

While the outcome of this assessment is not normally public, the CFCV would
welcome any demonstration by the Minister as to whether, according to the
VCEC, the benefits of his new laws do in fact outweigh their costs.

The Minister's press release makes no reference to any buybacks or
compensation.

The CFCV will have more to say on this matter as discussion among its
executive and member groups continue. Visit our site - catch up on the
latest news <http://m1e.net/c?32847788-T6CxlfuVK4E5M%401081145-5f9M9k6KzbBrI>

The stalled coronial inquiry charged with investigating the 2003 bushfires in the ACT has given a reprieve to the concerned not in favor of this investigation continuing.

It has been suggested by several subscribers that the suspected epidemic of amnesia that was present during questioning of witnesses along with those not so eager to talk may have been in fact the result from fall out during the smoke haze from the subject fires.

Uncovered remnants of marijuana crops scattered around the Snowy engulfed by the fires would have drifted happy smoke all over Canberra thus effecting memory of the few. This may also account for in-comprehendible decisions being made by both the ACT and Federal governments at that time and currently as well.

By Michael Duffy
Sydney Morning Hearald - June 18, 2005

THIS week I heard grief at the end of the phone line. They're coming to take away Peter Spencer's sheep. Next week he will meet relatives to decide whether to walk off his farm, which is near Bredbo. Spencer is the latest victim of the drought, and also of the cruel green war against farmers that the State Government has been waging for the past decade.

In Bob Carr, political power is combined with religious passion (in his case, for green beliefs), a mixture that has long been acknowledged in the West as potentially dangerous. Supported by green activists and the city's lack of interest in the fate of farmers, Carr has been gradually destroying the lives of
many people in the country.

I've written about Spencer before. His sufferings in the green war are like something from the Book of Job. In the 1980s he bought a lot of grazing land in Shannons Flat, just south of the ACT. More than 80 per cent of it became covered in regrowth and before he could clear it the government brought in native vegetation laws which made clearing illegal. There was no compensation for what
was effectively the nationalisation of 80 per cent of Spencer's property.

He then invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in setting up ponds for trout fishing, but the introduction of new water laws ended the venture. There was no compensation.

Then Spencer set up a fine-wool breeding program, advised by scientists from the University of New England, in an attempt to make more profitable use of the small amount of cleared land on his property. The fires of 2003 in the national parks that ring the area pushed out hundreds of wild dogs, which have devastated
farmers in the area. Spencer lost hundreds of sheep. His property is now home to thousands of kangaroos, which destroy pasture.

This invasion of his land happened because of gross underspending on park management in NSW and the ACT, specifically on fire prevention activities, the culling of kangaroo and wild dog populations, and fencing. There is no compensation for farmers unlucky enough to live near parks, which have increased in area by 50 per cent under Carr's premiership.

Then the big drought hit and Spencer suffered the final blow. The Federal Government refused to give him drought relief because his farm, deprived of 80 per cent of its earning potential, is considered economically unviable. In a way, this has been the cruellest cut of all. Some city people will tut-tut and
say it's a good thing that "marginal" farmers leave the land. But if Spencer's farm is marginal (he'd argue not), it's because the State Government has destroyed its economic basis.

Put yourself in Spencer's shoes. Imagine you're in middle age and supporting a family and a mortgage. Then imagine the State Government announces your house is now worth only 20 per cent of what you paid, and all your future earnings will be cut by 80 per cent. Finally, when you seek welfare this is denied on the
grounds you were a financial basket case.

Since first writing about native vegetation laws I've heard from dozens of other farmers. Two are Peter and Darren Hepburn, a father and son in Bombala Shire, near the Victorian border. I've visited them and talked to Bruce Bashford of the Monaro Rural Financial Counselling Service, who tried unsuccessfully to help
them fight another case of almost unbelievable injustice. The Hepburns bought a block of 500 hectares in 1994, intending to clear 303 hectares (which had been logged in the past) and sell the timber to repay their bank loan of $300,000.

They needed to expand their existing farm to ensure it would be viable in the future. Bashford says Peter Hepburn is a "battling cockie who did everything right". He got written permission from all the relevant government authorities. And he had an understanding with a timber company to buy the logs. The purchase was a responsible business decision.

Then in 1995 an early native vegetation law, SEPP 46, came in and suddenly the Hepburns had to apply for permission to clear their land. This was refused. The financial implications for the Hepburns have been horrific. The land was unuseable and unsaleable, and by 2000 they had incurred interest costs of
$200,000. Peter Hepburn has had to sell another piece of land, 180 hectares he's owned since 1957, to help cope with the disaster.
The State Government has been completely unsympathetic. Documents I've seen show public servants trying to get the Hepburns to sign an agreement to set aside a large part of their block for conservation purposes in return for permission to clear and farm another part. It's a disgraceful abuse of the power of the state that remains unresolved today.

And it's going on all over NSW.

This war on farmers reminds me of a less extreme version of the attacks on peasant farmers by the Soviet commissars after the Russian Revolution. There's the same appeal to ideology to justify an assault on an often disliked class of people. Back then the ideology was social, now it's environmental. It's just as unfair, and it's time we started talking about the morality of government
appropriating private property without paying compensation.

"Burning off in WA" was presented by Michael Duffy on ABC radio on Monday 14 March 2005.

Western Australia has a unique approach to the burning off land. Rick Sneeuwjagt, from the WA Department of Conservation and Land Management, explains why.

This is the full transcript and a "Must Read" Click Here

Mr Duane Langley was in Brindabella Valley and observed the lightening storm that ignited the fires that threatened and eventually destroyed the outer suburbs of Canberra in January 2003.

Not only having participated in the fight against this holocaust in the valley, he was also privy to first hand experience of some of the problems that exacerbated the fight along with the additional problems that arose from the inexperience of people to adjust to the disaster that lay before them.

With this background to the 2003 disaster Mr Langley felt compelled to attend the majority of the ACT Supreme Court action surrounding these fires of 2003. The Supreme Court, was hearing an allegation of Apprehend Bias against Coroner Maria Doogan. The very Coroner that was searching for the truth.

It was whilst being a member of the public gallery at the Supreme Court that Mr Langley was abruptly introduced to his own suspicions of bias and was so concerned about the situation that confronted him that he felt compelled to address the issue.

After many letters to politicians on a National basis and then direct representation to Mr Jon Stanhope ( ACT Attorney General), Mr Langley has had his concerns dismissed with but a wave of the pen. Is there one law for one if you have mates in high places and one law for another if you just care about this Country? Are Truth, Justice and Transparency just bywords for politicians to garner votes? Is the principle of the apprehension of bias, just a tool for some, but never the means of the little person, ( You and Me) to realise our constitutionally given rights to fair and unbiased adjudication?

To read this document click here to download a MS-word copy right mouse click here

Taxpayer funded advertising by the Bracks Government has told Victorians
that parks are for people, but Government actions are showing that parks
are for wild dogs, and people should enter at their own risk. Due to lack
of funding, three wild dog trappers currently servicing North East Victoria
and East Gippsland will not have their contracts renewed on June 30.
Victorian Farmers Federation Land Management Committee Chair, Ron Hards,
said trappers play an essential role in reducing wild dog numbers. The loss
of these trappers is a low blow for rural communities whose livestock are
being mauled and killed by wild dogs, Mr Hards said. It is even worse when
you think that for the cost of a couple of Government ads, these trappers
could have been funded for another year. Taking away three trappers will
mean that the remaining doggers will have to cover more ground and the
ability to protect rural communities from wild dogs will be reduced.
(VFF newsletter)

It would seem that not only is Wacky Bracksy attempting to gag the
Victorian cab drivers from discussing religion and politics, but the door
to obtaining freedom if information has been slammed shut.
Contributing subscriber John McLeish attempted to access the site to
research and received a blank page that stated "Victoria the place to be"
which should read "Victoria the Mushroom State" where they feed you on
bullshit and keep you in the dark.
check it our here
http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/dsencor.nsf/childdocs/-AA151B9AC4B56FC7CA256DAB00184D72-7CA88A329115F736CA256FDA001B7E86?open