Alex,
Thanks for forwarding this. I am going to respond because I feel strongly that
Greg Hunt seems to misunderstand.
The fact that he stood against certain developments is far from the point.
Birdwatchers are a broad demographic and don't necessarily object to
everything. Some may even support the marina development. People don't want
politicians who are lobbyists.
The point is, how does Greg justify calling Orange-bellied Parrot an
'imaginary' parrot on national television when his own liberal government
brought in the very legislation (EPBC Act) that creates recovery plans for
these species? If a recovery plan exists and recently historic habitat is
present, does this not represent a place for potential recovery? How can Greg
Hunt say that OBP which is not extinct (yet) is an 'imaginary' parrot?
That is one issue. There are others ... as clearly set out in my article. It
would help a great deal if our politicians understood why it is important to
identify critical habitat using indicators such as OBP.
These are complex problems that require complex solutions and OBP is only one
part of the legislative framework. Greg Hunt appears to believe that the
protected species aspects are an insignificant part. If our politicians believe
this, then where does it end? The majority of Australian avifauna and mammals
are heading for extinction, so is Greg suggesting that because they have not
been seen 'for a while' in a given place, we should just assume they will never
recover?
In my opinion, this means Greg Hunt doesn't understand his own legislation very
well. He may understand how he wants it to work but he may not understand some
of the key principles under which the legislation has been developed by his own
government. After all, we would not have any Federal EPBC Act if his government
didn't believe in the importance of international law* Does Greg's position
suggest that it was convenient for the Howard government to exercise this power
based on constitutional right but inconvenient to his current shadow portfolio,
to have to implement such international agreements?
Given that Greg Hunt is the
Shadow Environment Minister, his position would have to be tenable to represent
us in international environmental affairs in future.
Regards,
Simon.
*Note, the EPBC Act was only possible due to external affairs provisions of the
Australian constitution.
> From:
> To:
> Subject: RE: [Birding-Aus] Politicians, media and developers beat-up
> Orange-bellied Parrots
> Date: Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:37:36 +0000
>
> Hi Simon,
>
> I sent an email to Greg Hunt after reading the Bird-O article and he replied
> this morning. I don't know enough about the area to fight back. Is what he
> says valid do you think?
>
> Hi Alex,
>
>
> Many thanks for the message.
>
>
> The points are appreciated but people come from all different positions.
>
>
> I agree on fact based arguments.
>
>
> That is precisely why I have stood for protection of numerous areas.
>
>
> However, in an existing industrial zone which has not seen the bird in
> question for 25 years, that is precisely why I am concerned with facts.
>
>
> In crib point, pt Nepean and Phillip Island where there have been legitimate
> issues I have clearly stood against development.
>
>
> It is actually about the facts as you say and in this case a 25 year fact
> base is pretty powerful.
>
>
> Cheers,
>
>
> Greg
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On 11/02/2012, at 8:01 PM, "alex randell and chris hall"
> <> wrote:
>
>
> Dear Greg,
>
> I am a 6th/7th generation Australian. My father fought for this country and
> sacrificed any chance of going to university for it. My grandfather fought
> for it and sacrificed his inheritance, and his sight for it. I hate the
> sense of entitlement I see amongst those who have not made any investment in
> the future of “my” country, just in their own personal and family future. The
> mindless, habitual disrespect, ignorance and rape of this country’s beautiful
> biological resources and heritage (which include the orange-bellied parrot
> and its habitat) disgusts me.
> I have worked most of my life since I was 15 and paid for my education
> (Bachelor of Science, Biodiversity and Conservation), in more ways than just
> with my hard-earned money, so I could develop knowledge to enable me to feel
> confident to contribute to a scientifically valid dialogue on environmental
> issues, but I wonder - what was the point? What good is there in gathering
> data, presenting evidence, presenting rational, considered, scientifically
> defensible arguments, put calmly and in unemotional language? There are lots
> of educated and articulate Australians like me trying to play by rules that
> the “rich boys” just laugh at: Their calls are the loudest and the only ones
> that matter now in “my/your” country...not the calls of wisdom, nor science
> or intelligent sensitivity, not creativity, not observation, not logic - but
> the loudest, richest calls, echoed by a gaggle of cackling cuckoo twits in
> the media. Who do you listen to? I’m sure you won’t listen to me if I call
> out “fat-belly!””right wing!” ”red-neck!” (the language of ridicule seems
> pathetic, doesn’t it Greg – until it is amplified by money and the media). Do
> you listen to people like me or not?
>
> Alex Randell.
>
> Regards,
> Alex
> ________________________________________
> From:
> on behalf of Simon Mustoe
>
> Sent: Friday, February 10, 2012 11:18 PM
> To:
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] Politicians, media and developers beat-up
> Orange-bellied Parrots
>
> A genuinely important birding issue for this list-server:
>
> http://bird-o.com/2012/02/09/obp-no-emotional-fairwell-from-aussie-media/
>
> It would be great if even a fraction of the time spent perusing this list
> could be spent tweeting or emailing your Federal member and our environment
> Ministers about how shameful this is.
>
> Regards,
>
> Simon.
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> Simon Mustoe
> Tel: +61 (0) 405220830 | Skype simonmustoe | Email
>
>
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