Federal politician's father slams $100k court fine
A farmer and father of a federal politician has slammed a court decision to fine an East Coast landowner $100,000, and called on primary producers to protest.
William Farlie Fergusson from the Grindstone Bay farm was sentenced in the Hobart Magistrates Court for unauthorised tree clearing and for clearing and converting a threatened native vegetation community.
Chief Forest Practices Officer Anne Chuter said the outcome highlighted the seriousness of unauthorised land clearing.
“The Magistrates Court’s decision sends a strong message that these offences will not be tolerated and reinforces that Tasmania’s forest practices system will be actively enforced to safeguard environmental values,” Ms Chuter said.
“In this case, the landowner derived agricultural benefit by clearing and converting forests that could not be lawfully cleared due to their significant environmental values.
“This not only resulted in serious environmental harm but also created an unfair advantage over landowners who comply with the law and therefore cannot realise the same agricultural benefit.”
But Redbanks owner Lindsay White, father of federal Lyons MP Rebecca White, was highly critical of the decision to fine Mr Fergusson for what he said was “clearing of a few hectares of bush to grow more food to feed people in cities”.
“A $100,000 fine issued by a left-wing greeny magistrate; where is the outrage from our fellow farmers to show them some support?” Mr White said.
“It would seem that the toothless TasFarmers and others don't have the stomach or any desire to actually provide serious opposition to fight back against what is now a regular occurrence.”
Mr White said he was concerned about the future of farming in Tasmania’s south-east.
“The majority of our farmers have now gone, in one generation, from the south east of our state.
“No abattoir, no stock selling centres (nearest is Powranna), one dairy left (Bream Creek) , one timber mill (Torenius), no piggeries (70% of pork now imported), large amounts of fruit and veggies imported, and the list goes on.
“Nothing will be achieved by piss-arsed little meetings where we all tut-tut and say things are bad unless we become like the Irish, British, French, Danish and Kiwi farmers who are actively protesting and making their governments take notice.
“Are we prepared to see the Fergusson family have to pay this massive amount, or are we going to find some balls and stand up for them?”
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Beauracats
Its about time we had a performances based vote on the public service as its quiet clear they are there for there on green agenda not us. One can hope One Nation gets power and shakes things up as this is rubbish. Time to bring the tractors to town Irish farmer style.
willie Fergusson
bullshit dead set greenies why is it you can't clear your own land to make room for produce whether it be animal food or other produce
William Farlie Fergusson
Seems to me this Anna Farlie is after brownie points (next politician)as for the magistrate did she/he take inconsiderate that the farmer cleared the land for growing feed to feed the Townes’s where to go from here is to stand and fight for the rights of farmers and not to be dictated by people who have a one track mind
Ferguson $100,000 fine
This is absolutely disgusting. How can it be justified to drop such an enormous fine on a land owner trying to improve his own land. $100,000 are you kidding me! The Ferguson family has a long, trusted, hard working reputation in my former local community. They have raised three exceptional hard working, respectful and honest young men in Will Jnr, Sam and George. I’m so upset to hear this from where we now live but makes me even more convinced our decision to leave our home state 8 years ago was the right thing to do so as our own children have the freedom to progress their lives without having to deal with this continually GREEN BULLSHIT! . Shame on you TAS government… Give the Fergusons their money back and let them get on with putting dinner on your plates.
Rob Taylor
Queensland
Saving farmers
Both my husband and I stand behind the farmers, all farmers, beef, dairy, pork, lamb and all fruit and vegetable growers. Tasmania has one of the best produce in the world, let's keep it that way.
Rebecca White's father having a rant about the unfairness of law
We have laws for a reason. Perhaps they don't apply to the often environmental science unaware "landed gentry". Its a throw away comment labelling educated people "greenies" .
Margaret
To Margaret give up 10% of your house in the public interest.the homeless could use it .give up your superannuation in the public interest .urban people have mortgages &farmers don’t? Roll up another big bunger& just chill like a good stoner
$100,000 Fine for farmer
Well said Lindsay White … time people realised where their food comes from and if they stay quiet they will be eating Bill Gates lab meat (muck) and Monsanto genetically modified ‘vegetables’ if the government chooses to allow them! Yes, protect the environment, both flora and fauna, but we need to co-exist as has been the case since farming began … without the early environmentally aware farmers many species would have disappeared. Where is TasFarmers in fighting against detrimental legislation restricting farmers from utilising THEIR land for increased production?
Ferguson fine
Forestry/fraud practices authority was created in 1985 to coverup the operations of the GBE forestry Tasmania from Canberra (smoke&mirrors)as they started to show some regulatory interest in ft operations.fraud practices authority was prohibited from inspecting ft operations for around 20 years and when inspector/whistleblower bill manning gained access he was horrified resulting in behind closed doors testifying at senate inquiry into managed investment schemes (google bill manning for details)he was then disposed of for spilling the beans. Tens of thousands of hectares of PUBLIC native forests was then obliterated , leased to the mis companies &converted to plantation.when they collapsed the bright sparks that occupy parliament sold control of this PUBLIC land &plantations to reliance forest fibre which is wholly owned by global forestry partners from New Hampshire USA . The govt &their gbe (I think that stands for Gestapo Business Enterprise) have obviously wrecked the public forests under the professional &expert closed eye guidance of the Fraud Practices Authority for 41 years .This has to be the longest running fraud & deception in Australia . After destroying &also selling the public resources they now expect private landowners to surrender the use of their land in the public interest &employ forest industry rejects & discards to do it(professionals&experts once in uniform)Its been OPEN SEASON on private landowners,farmers&contractors for 41years .to the Ferguson family .stand tall.be proud . You are exceptional people .To the circus running in Parliament House. Shame on each&every one of you 41 years of the Fraud Practices Authority
Okay clear fell virgin forest for green energy
Why is it okay to clear fell virgin forest in a national park for a power line to take so called clean green energy to the city but clear a few acres on a farm to produce food is a crime
The world has gone mad. People with no practical experience but uni degrees tell us what to do without thinking things through to the end
What are we going to do with the thousands of solar panels and batteries when they are no longer useful. Dump them somewhere, very green
Green energy
Interestingly the clean green revolution involving cobalt, and those things with the big blades that are not recyclable and are now being buried after their 25 year life cycle is up don’t look so green and planet saving. The wave of destructive forest clearing for overhead transmission lines and the impact on farmers livelihoods is significant and should not be discounted by the greenies or the townies. We all feel for Will.
Yes our environment is special
It's so great to see that something which should not have occurred and the person responsible is being fined for the ruination of the environment.
We have rules for a reason , and just because you don't like them , doesn't mean fellow commenters can rant and rage about what has occurred , nor can you steam roll or bulldoze the things that are important.
So I am the lone person here that agrees with the law, the legal process and the judge.
more details needed
What exactly was the 'threatened native vegetation community.'?