Call to Stand
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:52 pm
Hi all,
Hopefully most of you are aware of another “Peter” – that is, Peter Spencer and his “Tower of Hope”.
In brief, Peter Spencer has had most of his land (Shannons Flats in NSW, near Canberra) locked up by native vegetation laws. He pursued this legally and, after getting nowhere, decided to hunger strike, lasting 52 days up the tower. Along the way he gathered a lot of supporters and media attention, including some which tried to discredit him.
Whether you approve of his methods or not, Peter Spencer has given a voice to what many struggle with – the erosion of property rights in Australia.
This began at least 20 years ago when the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment was signed by all the States and the Federal Government (1992) and has continued with more and more draconian environmental legislation.
Why is this important for NSF supporters specifically? Because there is so much we are unable to do under current legislation. As Duane noted in a paper updated in Sep 2008: “NSF raises a myriad of policy issues at every level. In NSW for example, an application to do an NSF project could trigger no less than eight Acts.”
Restoration of property rights is vital for anybody who wants to implement NSF. Imagine a world where you are not going to get into trouble if you plant willows or don’t spray your weeds.
Next Tuesday (February 2) there will be a rally at Parliament House. Thousands are expected. The NSW Farmers Federation has put money forward to provide free buses to Canberra from all around New South Wales, and also a couple of buses from Toowoomba (stopping along the Newell and New England Highways.) The contact number for seats on buses is 1300 794 000. To get more information or to get involved in other ways, go to the Peter Spencer Support Group on Agmates at http://agmates.ning.com/group/peterspencerhungerstrike.
Cheers,
Julene
Hopefully most of you are aware of another “Peter” – that is, Peter Spencer and his “Tower of Hope”.
In brief, Peter Spencer has had most of his land (Shannons Flats in NSW, near Canberra) locked up by native vegetation laws. He pursued this legally and, after getting nowhere, decided to hunger strike, lasting 52 days up the tower. Along the way he gathered a lot of supporters and media attention, including some which tried to discredit him.
Whether you approve of his methods or not, Peter Spencer has given a voice to what many struggle with – the erosion of property rights in Australia.
This began at least 20 years ago when the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment was signed by all the States and the Federal Government (1992) and has continued with more and more draconian environmental legislation.
Why is this important for NSF supporters specifically? Because there is so much we are unable to do under current legislation. As Duane noted in a paper updated in Sep 2008: “NSF raises a myriad of policy issues at every level. In NSW for example, an application to do an NSF project could trigger no less than eight Acts.”
Restoration of property rights is vital for anybody who wants to implement NSF. Imagine a world where you are not going to get into trouble if you plant willows or don’t spray your weeds.
Next Tuesday (February 2) there will be a rally at Parliament House. Thousands are expected. The NSW Farmers Federation has put money forward to provide free buses to Canberra from all around New South Wales, and also a couple of buses from Toowoomba (stopping along the Newell and New England Highways.) The contact number for seats on buses is 1300 794 000. To get more information or to get involved in other ways, go to the Peter Spencer Support Group on Agmates at http://agmates.ning.com/group/peterspencerhungerstrike.
Cheers,
Julene