Reader offers an alternative view

IWOULD just like to provide an alternative view to that expressed in the rather tabloid front page article in theFebruary 22 edition of this newspaper. Rather than just simplistically putting all the blame on the state government trying to appease inner city Greens, the real reasons for the closure of white papermakingatMaryvale are more complex and are rootedinpublic expectations of good governance.

Firstly, it should be acknowledged that the Victorian forests do not belong to the loggers or to Vicforests.These forests belongtoall Victorians and Vicforests are charged with the responsibility for managingthem on behalf of the citizens of this state.

Secondly,itwasn’t the government, Greens or tree-huggers which caused the recent cessation of native forestlogging.Itwas the factthat the courts had found that VicForests had been guilty of seriously breaking their own laws about their forestry practices.

Thirdly, the harvestingcapacity of the machinery used to log the forests have increased in capacity as the years haverolled by. Mountain sides can be laidbareinaweek or twowhereas it would have taken months in the past. Compared to the sustainable selective harvesting which was practicedpreviously, the erosion and silt laden run-off that present day harvestingproduces is wrecking not only the montane environment, but also reducing the depth of Lake Wellington in the Gippsland Lakes.

Fourthly,the Alpinebushfires whichhavebecome much more prevalentinthe last 25 years have greatly reduced the amount of harvestable timber, and after the 2009Black Saturday fires,force majeure should have been enacted on the supply of native timber to the Maryvale Mill as the resource was no longersustainable.Wood chips from the Western Districts blue gum plantationscouldhave supplied the pulp mill instead. That wouldhave left enough big logs for worthy enterprises such as Heyfield’s ASH manufacturing facility to use in a sustainable way.

Fifthly, VicForests started the practice of clearfelling in the early 1970s and then regenerative burning followed by aerial seeding of mainly mountain ash trees to create mono-culturesof the "right"timberspecies to harvestbythe next generation of loggers.

This has resulted in avastlychanged and much more fire-prone forest environmentthan the natural one. Ican remember going on outings to the snow withmyfamily in the 1960s and the alpine and mountain ash trees were mostly between ametre and some over two metres in diameter at eye height. Recently, on abiketrip across Mt Skene, the biggest trees would struggle to get to 50 centimetres in diameter andwerenot thriving.

The alpine ecology wasclearly distressed.

The ugly vistaofmountainsides of cleared forest laidbare, withnostanding old trees to provide habitat for wildlife has even left some old-time loggers shaking their heads in disgust.

Which brings us to the issue of social licence.

The public, the true custodians of the forests, had no say as to whether these practiceswere acceptable to us.

If VicForests had informed the public 50 years agothat they intended to turn our alpine and wet sclerophyll forests into virtual plantations, then the public would have been horrified. Now that drones and mobile phones have been able to relay the truth of theecocideand landscapeengineering that has taken place, the public has reacted. The Premier had no choice but to call time on these environmentally disastrous practices be voted management. We need high density timber for buildingand construction, because of its low embodied energy and hence low carbon footprint, but we also need the carbon storage of healthy mature forests and the rain-attracting transpiration they provide. Boththese measures are neededtofight climate change.

Whatwereally need is aforestmanagement authorityempowered to deliver both, and that ensures that hardwood pulp is only supplied from plantation timber.

Dan Caffrey Traralgon

Keep it civilised

THIS is my response to the vicious content of letters published in the Express sincethe stateelection by Patrick Ansell, Brian Mawhinney, Joseph Lis and other readers.

Firstlythe disrespectful language calling the Premier a'Dictator', 'Chairman Dan' and other politicians being called 'The Three Stooges' -you should knowMrLis which states and countries have achairmanordictator and it is not Victoria or Australia.

What apetty thing to say Mr Mawhinney about Harriet Shing and Lisa Neville having drinks at Port Douglas. MPs have holidays likeeveryone else andare free to travel (and socialise) where and with whom they choose too.

Every time the government (stateand federal) wants to do something good, negativity is the response from the Libs, Nats and some locals who are against any said project.

In Martin Cameron’s maiden speech, he said the people who did not vote for him will next time. Remember Martin, you got 9902 primary votes and Kate Maxfield got 13,601 -you became an MP with Dale Harriman’s Liberal/National coalition votes.

And by the way, Iknow the difference between aspanner and ascrewdriver and I’m 100 per cent sure all MPs do as well. What astupid remark!

Mr Lis, re your father’s resting place having only aplaqueand not aheadstone, well it’s up to you to rectify that. Your comment has left me quite confused -headstone on agrave equals being recognised as a22-year employee of YallournPower Station -I’m really not sure what this means.

Another matter, who sold the SEC to private companies many years ago -the Kennett Liberal government.

Everyone is entitled to theiropinion and good healthy debate should always be encouraged, but gentlemen -please keep your hate remarks to yourselves, as the saying goes (and I’m sure your mothers’ would have said this)'If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all'.

Elaine Priest Traralgon

Happiness is here

OH what bliss to hear from Lis, Each and every week without fail, We read his enthralling tale. Rose Garden rapture or climate change sceptic, Our clean future is not his perspective.

Lorraine Bull Morwell

Whereare our politicians?

WHERE are our local politicians and why don't they answer emails from their constituents?

As amere ordinaryman without the superior intell of highly paid localpolitician it is not but Iwas sweredto thepeopleand notvice versa.

Maybe instead of throwing themselves in front of acamera and then post how proud they are of their communities on Facebook, they might consider doing something that makes areal difference to the lives of their constituents.

Sadly, Morwell and surrounding areas have no real representation.

Sure, we haveFacebookcomments from our esteem politicians and I'm sure these pics look great in the politician'sscrapbook,and we have political ads in the local newspapers telling us how hard they are working for us, but these are no substitute forreal representation.

We have an opposition party which is next to useless, who don't answer correspondence unless they are harassed in doing so, and aLabor politician who seems to be unconcerned with the struggles facing her constituents.

If oppositions refuse to fight for their constituents, why are we paying them hefty wages for Facebook posts, and if Harriet Shingrefuses to apply common sense to issues affecting her electorate and act in the best interestofher constituents, she should resign.

We deserve better than what we are getting. No doubt, come next election, all non-performing, dismissive politicians will tell us how lucky we are to have them representing us, when in reality, we have been abandoned by the very people who claim to be our voices.

Our politicians are ajoke and they need to get their act together and do what they are paidto do -represent us, not give the appearance of representing us, but actually represent us.

Patrick Ansell Morwell

In replytoclimatechange tyranny

ON December 2, 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte's coronation took place beneath The Gothic arches of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, and at the moment of his crowning, when Pope Pius VII said, "Receive the imperial crown of the commonwealth ...", Napoleon suddenly turned and removedhis laurel wreath, and then arrogantly snatched the crown from Pius and thereafter crowned himself! Napoleon's sacrilege thus symbolizedthat he had become emperor on the will of the French nation, and not by some divine right or religious consecration.

In the same way, Ihave dedicated my lifetotruth and true democracy, and Ihereby proclaim to all the world that Iwill expose all forms of deceit and lying hypocrisy.

Joseph Lis, Morwell

What is Mardi Gras?

NOW that there is alot of focus in the media on the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, there is some confusion about what aMardi Gras is.

Mardi Gras literally means ‘fat Tuesday’ and its origins can be traced back to the Medieval period. It was traditionally the last night of eating rich, fatty foods to prepare for the season of Lent when peoplefasted to commemorate Christ having spent 40 days in the wildernessbefore hiscrucifixion.

Pancake Tuesday is also part of this tradition.

In many countries around the world, Mardi Gras developed into acarnival with aparade and elaborate costumes, especially in South America andthe United States, such as the New Orleans Mardi Gras. It became acelebration of life before the more sombre Ash Wednesday and the period of Lent.

The Maffra Mardi Gras arose from this tradition, and is afamily fun day with aparade, street and food stalls, musical entertainment and children’s activities.

The Rotary Club of Maffra supports inclusivity, equity and diversity and anyoneiswelcome to march in theparadeaslong as they align themselves with the Maffra Mardi Gras values of alcohol-free family entertainment.

Float formsare available from rcmafframardigras@gmail.com, and remember that there are huge cash prizes thanks to the Community Bank Maffra and District.

Apart from the fact that the Maffra Mardi Gras started 20 years before the Sydney one (in 1957) the clue is in the name, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. They have become part of the great tradition of Mardi Gras, but the LBGTQIA+ side of it is uniquely theirs, so pleasedon’t confuse that with our wonderful family oriented Maffra event. See you on March 18!

Claire Cochrane

On behalf of Maffra Mardi Gras Committee

Sheer sadistic amusement

NATIVE ducksare struggling to survive, with climate change, catastrophicfires and drought causing long-term decline of the wetlands. So it’s baffling why the government would approve aduck shooting season this year, even with reduced days and killing limit, which the Game Management Authority has admitted is impossible for them to police. The RSPCA has estimated that 87,000 birds will be killed and up to 35,000 wounded and left to die slowly in terror and agony. Ducklings are dependent on their mother for their first two months, and will die of cold, starve, or be eaten by predators if shot. Let’s not pretend this is sportwhich by definition involves bothsides knowing they are playing. Using ahigh-powered rifle to blast adefenceless animal outofthe sky doesn’t fit that definition in any way.Hunterskillfor one reason -sheer sadistic amusement. Several studies have shown that two-thirds of Victorians oppose duck hunting, across both city and regional areas. It’s time for duck shooting to be banned in Victoria outright.

DESMOND Bellamy PETA Australia

Have your say

THE Latrobe ValleyExpress welcomes letters to the editor.

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By PHILIP HOPKINS

THE stategovernment's decision to allow a truncated duck-hunting season has been strongly criticised by Gippsland politicians as 'a slur' and 'disgraceful',and by the RSPCA as 'deeply disappointing'.

Given the contested views, the government has also acted to have the Legislative Council examine recreational native bird hunting in Victoria.

This year, the duck season will only run for five weeks with afour-bag limit and 8am start time and closing 30 minutes after sunset each day from Wednesday, April26toTuesday May 30.

Jeff Bourman, Upper House MP of the Shooters, Fishersand Farmers PartyofVictoria, saidthe weak policy was ablowtorecreational hunters, and was in opposition to the report commissioned by the government with government-appointed scientists, who recommended adaily four-bag limit and afull 12-week season.

“I’ve been in Parliament for over eightyears now and I’ve lostcount of the number of times I’ve heard the government tell us about their science-driven and evidence-based decision making," he said.

"So, I’m interestedtohear how they’ll justify this recent insult to the scientists who spent so much time workingonareport for the government, which has been completely ignored.”

Mr Bourman said duckhunting was acontentious issue shrouded in lies, misinformation and very suspect polling pushed by animal rights activists, and used to try and sway decision-makers into making adecision that will please ideologues.

“The anti-duckhunters are unabletopresent evidence that cannot be eviscerated with an even cursory inspection.Yet people who happily eat farmed duck are brainwashed into thinking duck hunting is somehowcruel, yet farmedducks being killed is not. It’s cognitive dissonance of epic proportions,” he said.

Mr Bourman said recreational duck hunting bringsmuchneeded incomeinto regional and rural economies ravaged by end-on-end disasters and unfeeling government actions.

Mr Bourman concluded: “For so long during the pandemic we were told to ‘trust the science’ yet at the first hurdle where the government could show real leadership and trust their own science, in theface of anoisy, hostile, yet small group,they flubbed it.”

Upper House MP Melina Bath described the policy restrictions as adisgraceful slur on Gippsland’s law abiding recreational shooters.

"Duckseason in Victoria is ahighly regulated activity that injects millions into our local economy," she said.

"Our local recreational huntersare passionate about positive environmental outcomes having spent countlesshourstransformingHeart Morass from awastelandinto an internationally recognised thriving wetland.

"Our recreation hunters are the true conservationists and the Andrews government painting them any other way is shameful. The Andrews government is shuttingdown recreational hunting by stealth."

Ms Bath said the governments’ own research reported not one recreational hunter exceeded their bag limit during the 802 checks under the previous season.

"Asserting hunters are not doing complying with regulations is plain wrong. Labor’s decision... has everythingtodowith appeasingactivists and securing needed support in the Upper House of stateParliamentfrom the Animal Justice Party and Greens MPs to pass other legislation," she said.

The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O'Brien, said the decision was an insult to huntersand clearly more about politics than science.

Mr O'Brien said he was alarmed at the government’slanguage in making the announcement, which seems to indicate future plans to ban the practice altogether.

“The decisionoutlined on the Game Management Authority’s website refers to a‘more precautionary approach’and ‘poor behaviour by some hunters…’ among other matters.

“This is an insult to the vast majority of lawabiding hunters who do the right thing and sustainably harvest ducks every year," he said.

RSPCA Victoria said the decision was deeply disappointing, and called for areview of the decision, given huge animal welfare concerns, declining waterbird abundance and lackofcommunity support.

RSPCA Victoria chief executive, Dr Liz Walker, said the duck hunting season would cause injury, pain and suffering to thousands of native ducks, and further the decline of waterbird populations.

A35-day hunting season would result in 87,000 birds being killed, and up to 35,000 wounded and left to die.

"Research indicates that two in three Victorians (66 per cent) oppose it," she said.

"There is little evidence that regional economies derive any economic benefit from duck hunting; in fact, research suggeststhat there are more potential tourism benefits from eco-tourism than duck hunting."

Thegovernment will movetoestablish a Legislative Council Select Committee to examine recreational native bird hunting in Victoria.

The committee willhave wide-rangingterms of reference, including the operation of the annual recreational native bird hunting seasons, arrangements in other Australian jurisdictions, their environmental sustainability and impact on amenity, and their social and economicimpact

The committee will hold public hearings to hear fromhuntingassociations, animalwelfare groups, and regional communities.

Afinal report is expected to be tabled by August 31.

One sizedoesn’t fitall: Member forGippsland South, DannyO’Brien has labelled the shortened duck hunting season as “an insult to the vast majorityoflaw abidinghunters who do the rightthing”. File Photograph