02/23/2011
I have written him a letter....
ABC Rural reported this yesterday.
Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke has told Parliament the Alpine National Park should not be a home for cattle, even if grazing is not illegal there.
The Minister has sought departmental advice on whether the Victorian Government has broken the law by introducing cattle into the Alpine National Park.
In Question Time today, Mr Burke said the Victorian Government "should see sense on this, it's a very simple straightforward issue as to whether our national parks (inaudible) is going to be something that's preserved for the environment."
"We are talking about a national park that is there for the preservation of native species, and it may come as a shock to some of the National Party members who are interjecting over there, cattle are not native Australian animals. I know that's a shock for the National Party," he said.
Mr Burke said the Victorian Government did not notify his department prior to introducing cattle to the national park.
He says he's sought the reasons why not, and if they were required to.
The Greens MP Adam Bandt is introducing a bill to ban cattle from the Alpine National Park.
I have responded today with the following letter to Tony Burke.
It's obvious you have no appreciation for Australia's cultural heritage and no knowledge of the environment. Indeed, one might call you an ignorant fool in a situation where politeness was not called for.
I am a Mountain Cattleman. I have cattle in the Alpine National Park right now because of an error in the 2005 amendment to the National Parks (Alpine National Park) Act 1989 which you need to investigate before you put your foot in your mouth any more deeply.
It's about time people like you, who tragically for Australia form the government, did something to support efforts to help the Alpine National Park recover from the shockingly poor management of the Bracks/Brumby governments and before that the Cain/Kirner governments.
Two major wildfires in three years utterly devastated the entire Alpine National Park with a few key places such as Pretty Valley on The Bogong High Plains and other grazed areas spared by the fact that they were grazed. How much money are you prepared to contribute to repair the damage? Why don't you put your money where your mouth is?
And why don't you do something about the dominance of feral species and noxious weeds or haven't your advisors briefed you on those problems? Obviously 400 head of cattle being used in a scientific study over an area of 658,000 ha is a more critical issue than 200,000 feral deer running rampant wreaking untold damage on the park's environment. Why are you so opposed to a scientific study? I'll tell you why - because you fear the results. Obviously, you're a man whose political instincts tell him that pseudo-science is a handy tool but that real science is a bug bear.
As I said earlier I have my cattle in the park right now, not as part of the scientific study, and I'm happy to fight you all the way. You want to remove them? Come and get them, if you can. If so you'll do better than the Victorian Labor Ministers who tut tutted but declined to do anything.
Country people fed up with your political idiocy. Go and play politics in someone else's garden. The people of high country Victoria have a right to a say in the management of their own country and they say that alpine grazing is an effective management tool for the mitigation of wildfire and an important aspect of our cultural heritage. Under the present political circumstances it would be a vacuous politician who attacked an Australian cultural heritage as significant as that represented by mountain cattlemen.
Sincerely,
Philip Maguire.
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That told him. Great response to his statement yesterday. How can he as Federal Minister for the Environment fail to act on feral species and invasive weeds? Did the fires not reduce deer numbers, Phil, or have they recovered so quickly?
Posted by: Angler | 02/23/2011
Respond to this comment"Go and play politics in someone else's garden. The people of high country Victoria have a right to a say in the management of their own country and we say that alpine grazing is an effective management tool for the mitigation of wildfire and an important aspect of our cultural heritage."
Brilliantly stated. All I can say is hear hear!
Posted by: Barwidgee | 02/23/2011
Respond to this commentWay to go. The high country was grazed for more than 150 years before the Alpine National Park. "Alpine grazing reduces blazing."
Posted by: wyatt | 02/24/2011
Respond to this commentWasn't Burke the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry?
What farmer in his right mind would want to deal with him?
Posted by: Proud to be Aussie | 02/24/2011
Respond to this commentI'll say one thing for Phil Maguire. He's got the courage of his convictions. Well said!
Posted by: Barwidgee | 03/01/2011
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