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?”