Federal governments of all persuasions have historically protected and funded Australia’s forest destruction.

Pollie-logger love-in

What a spectacle we had during the 2008 Gippsland by-election campaign. All candidates (except the Greens) were grovelling in front of the logging and coal industries. Michael O’Connor (CFMEU) huffed and puffed on radio for one 30 second news grab and the next day pollies were buckling at the knees pledging their loyal devotion to …

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Pollie-logger love-in

What a spectacle we had during the Gippsland by-election campaign. All candidates (except the Greens) were grovelling in front of the logging and coal industries. Michael O’Connor (CFMEU)huffed and puffed on radio for one 30 second news grab and the next day pollies were buckling at the knees pledging their loyal devotion to logging and …

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Logging industry in cloud carbon land

They never give up. Our logging industry is now saying it needs to be a major player to help solve Australia’s climate change problems. They claim our forests – that they plan to keep cutting down – could absorb 20% of the planned 60% target to cut emissions by 2050. How so? A confidential document …

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The RUDDY budget

We would love to have a reason to praise our governments occasionally. But while the corporate pillagers pull their strings, it won’t happen. The first Rudd/Swan Budget of 2008 didn’t go anywhere to meet the urgent challenge of climate change. Rudd is spending $44 on defence for every $1 spent to tackle climate change. He’s …

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The climate Budget betrayal

Tuesday night’s Budget was a slap in the face for all those Australians who voted for the Labor Party at the last election in the belief that a new government would be willing and able to make Australia a true global climate leader. From the day he took leadership of the Labor Party, Kevin Rudd …

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Summer ’07-08 election musings

It’s not workers vs the elite anymore; it’s environment vs business greed. What with temperatures rising, taps running dry, food becoming a valuable commodity – all coupled with peak oil – the economy, the environment and the voters are about to cop a serious body blow. It could be too late for changing governments priorities …

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Blazing trails

After the state government was caught out during and after the ’06 fires, thumbing its nose at its own planning regulations let alone Federal laws, these careless cowboys have now changed the laws to allow them to continue! Over 200 km of these lineal logging coupes were bulldozed through the heart of many intact and …

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Rudd – coal captured!

Kevin Rudd made no commitment to greenhouse gas targets at the Bali Conference.Instead he said he’d wait until his chosen economist, Prof. Ross Garnaut, produced a report in umpteen months’ time. He needed to see what impact saving the world might have on our business and the economy.In late February, we were pleasantly surprised by …

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$6 million for conservation handed back to Treasury

The Australian Greens were shocked to learn that $6 million set aside for protecting biodiversity hotspots has not been spent and will be handed back to Federal Treasury. This was revealed in Senate Estimates on the 19th February 2008.This $6M was meant to buy high conservation value properties in Australia’s biodiversity ‘hotspots’. Senator Rachael Siewert …

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Women who were weaned on woodchips

There have traditionally been very few women in the halls of power, influence and industry. To fit into the blokey power culture some have had to be as tough as. Many started out spruiking for the logging industry or had close associations with logging heavyweights like Michael O’Connor. Our most famous woodchippers apprentice is Julia …

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