MINING RETHINK NEEDED
In ‘Critical steps taken to secure ag future’ (Stock Journal, January 3), Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Tim Whetstone makes no reference to his government’s highly-criticised mining bill.
This bill has generated an outpouring of protest from farmers since it was tabled in parliament in August 2018.
The government’s subsequent failure to respond to farmers’ demands for further consultation and stronger land access protections led, in late November, to the unprecedented move by four regional Liberal backbenchers to cross the floor of the Lower House to vote with Labor to postpone debate on the bill until late February. In our view, their actions were clearly in line with the wishes of their farming constituents and have been widely praised.
In contrast, during the past five months, Mr Whetstone – the Minister responsible for promoting the future of agriculture in this state – has remained largely silent on the mining issue. Moreover, during the November parliamentary debate, he opted to vote with his government against the motion to delay the bill rather than supporting his four colleagues’ stance on behalf of farmers.
The Minister’s endorsement of the mining bill seems to run counter to his statement that “supporting our farmers and the regional communities … is crucial to the state’s success”.
We strongly urge the Minister to reconsider his position and advocate for a changed mining bill that provides real protections for the very small amount of highly productive agricultural land left in SA.
Joy Wundersitz,
Yorke Peninsula Land Owners Group chair.
FUN POLICE TARGET FRITZ
The Tanunda supermarket ‘smiley fritz’ slip and cessation scandal highlights the collision between past and present.
Nothing could be more South Australian than butchers giving kids a free piece of fritz with a pressed smile, but the fun police have taken the treats away. Lawyers and insurers deserve some blame, but at its heart, some people fail to take responsibility for their own safety.
I grew up defying death on the Monash playground, scoffing onion on my sausage in bread and knowing it’s unsafe to go near cliffs, or swim unprotected in the River Murray. It’s a miracle we survived our childhoods.
We’re the mugs that pay for stupidity and a litigious, insurance culture in higher premiums, rates, taxes, prices and lost freedoms. Worse still, we’re having less fun.
Rikki Lambert.
Australian Conservatives SA Senate candidate, Angaston.
HEALTH STANDARDS LOWERED
Regarding Stock Journal’s article on One Biosecurity (‘One Biosecurity gives livestock risk insight’, December 27, 2018), it looks very much like a lowering of standards, as deregulation means less or no rules.
No one is going to put on their animal health status that they have footrot, lice or johnes disease and expect someone to buy them as breeding stock. For farmers signing up to One Biosecurity, they can only be as confident as their neighbours are diligent.
I agree that as a buyer of Merino sheep, vendor placards should have more information on them, including an average flock micron.
So what does the statement “Those with footrot and lice able to trade more freely” mean? Most likely an increase in the prevalence of these financially devastating problems.
PIRSA is already understaffed and underfunded and footrot and lice outbreaks are now more common.
I fail to see how trawling through online sheep sales’ health status will instil any confidence when other vendors with a dubious health status are all confined in the same saleyards.
