Quote:
Originally Posted by Renato1
Tasmania has the highest unemployment, highest youth unemployment, and lowest standard of living of any State, despite being subsidised to the hilt by the rest of the country, mainly because it has killed off a lot of jobs for the sake of many dubious environmental causes.
I suspect many people would be happy that the rest of the country hasn't followed the example set by Tasmania.
The Barrier reef has been going to die for the 50 years that I can remember, and it is still going strong. Last time I was at Echuca, people seemed to be happily water skiing and swimming in the Murray without ill effect. The effects of salinity is a problem resulting from irrigation, but if they hadn't had irrigation, well, you wouldn't have lived there.
The notion of the Australian environment being of a state of "devastation" is pure hyperbole.
Regards,
Renato
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You still miss the point and you should read some scientific journals and a few historical texts as well.
1/ We get Blue Green algae blooms in the Murray regularity, 1.1 million truck loads of salt flow down it every year and it looks and often smells like a sewer. (lived there!) It flows upside down, when it flows, thanks to invasive species such as Euopean carp and the famous wonderful Murray cod is almost GONE!
2/ The direct damage to the GBR through over development and run-off alone are well documented, let alone the follow on effects of the Crown of Thorns, coral bleaching through climate change and the additional burden of crap flowing off the QLD coast as the population continues to grow insanely. (By the way, I went there for the first time in 30 years a couple of years back, and didn't even recognise the place!!)
3/ Tasmania is a small state with a small population and that is an disadvantage when dealing with some challenges. Its also located about as far South as you can get and our "sea highway" is problematic at best. However, as part of a federation where we are supposed to support each other, we need extra funding in some areas. I believe QLD, SA, NT and WA have been in the same place on occasion, and quite recently at that. I also remember paying a QLD flood levy because the pollies couldn't be bothered insuring against flood... We shouldn't throw stones in glass-houses.
Its very interesting that mainlanders, (of which I was once one), like to bag out Tasmania, yet also love our wines, salmon, world class Whiskey, cheeses, meats, seafood etc, etc, and use the opiates we produce after surgery. Of course, a large number of mainlanders also like to visit the rainforests we have fought to protect for 30 years... Funny about that.
Perhaps we should follow the mainland example; strip and degrade our forests for short term gain, or maybe charge mainlanders a "look we didn't screw our environment visitor fee"
Of course, after 30 years of standing up to corrupt poliies and companies down here, most of he world has caught up to backward Tasmaina and nobody will actually buy the wood earmarked for logging because it doesn't meet Forest Stewardship standards. Funny about that as well
The forestry debate is fascinating. We had peace here before the liberals got involved. Even the loggers came to the table at the end. Tasmanians want a sustainable forestry industry rather than a slash and burn culture... At a recent rally in the Upper Forentine defying the govt, 2000 people showed up after driving 100+ kms from Hobart on a wet and cold day. Amongst them, loggers, oh, and mainlanders. Its a complex issue...
Its hard to justify trashing all our specialty timbers to establish mono-cultures devoid of a range of important species used in boat building and fine furniture manufacturing, for example. Apart from the loss of biodiversity, (certainly not a dubious cause I think), its simple bad form to do it. On my block I found the outline of a tree stump almost 4m in diameter. Wish my son could have seen it alive but he does get to see the 60m high tree I call "el captain"... because the cable loggers couldn't get to it. Imagine what must have been at Sherwood near Melbourne 150 years ago!
Then of course, you probably didn't know the forestry industry in Tassie had been shedding thousands of jobs on a regular basis prior to the forestry confrontation. Automation was part of it, the ability to rape Indonesian and Amazonian forests without as much scrutiny was another. Interesting
Regardless, you are quite correct in saying Tassie has problems, just like the other states, and it ain't helped by incompetent moronic pollies.... I completely agree with you in relation to the youth and general unemployment levels here. Gawd, we have some bluggers here, but I remember seeing a ****e load of young blokes surfing mid week at Maroochydore as well....
Part of that problem is federal policy. Why work when someone else will "pay" you? Both major species of polly have encouraged that one. Another issue is the lack of accountability... all supported either directly or indirectly by govt. The problem is, we are stuck in 19th century thinking, "rip it down, dig it up, exploit it" and that thinking is almost done with in many parts of the world. To develop, new industries for the future, you need leaders with real vision, beyond the electoral cycle farce, and an education. You have to work at both which goes back to the first point... Please don't blame teachers for that one, its systemic and becoming a generational issue. Oh, and its gonna get a whole lot more expensive to go to uin as well...
Before bagging Tassie though, do some research mate; the reality is a little more surprising than you may think. That's why I now live here, and not there...
Rom