Deceit.
They are at it again, working like termites in the dark and in secret. Once more they are destroying your rights behind closed doors and attempting to help take over the remaining agricultural land of Tasmania. They give lip service, but in reality they are doing the very thing that they promised not to do. They are once more amending the PAL Act without public consultation and in favour of forestry and the big MIS corporations.
The new PAL Act has not yet been passed and is supposedly to be up for public comment sometime later this year where the RPDC will listen to comments, not that that will make much difference to the outcome, but meanwhile, the local councils are beavering away preparing their new amendments as though it is already a done deal. The Act itself is more Draconian that the one it is replacing and the amendments will probably follow in similar vein. A few minor adjustments to the old amendment and a few new clauses added and this will be ready for submission. Once submitted, it cannot be withdrawn or further amended and your rights are then consigned to the dustbin.
This affair came to light at the last Meander Valley Council meeting which was attended by many protestors with banners. Councillor Loone stood up and mentioned the new Amendment and the Council PAL workshops that were being run for the planners and he was immediately interrupted by the Council Manager and ordered not to reveal confidential information.
Confidential information! This is your future and your rights they are dealing with, and it is Confidential! You have no right to know! And this comes after a petition with 1600 signatures on it, a privately called protest meeting attended by 600 people and an official public Council meeting where 16 unanimous motions were tabled and which the council said it would respond to. They did. They trashed the lot! Politely, of course, and they issued a reply on their Internet site that sidestepped every one and then it was back to business as usual as though the ratepayers and population of the area did not exist. Just an inconvenience in carrying out their duties to their lords and masters in the State Government. Remember, previously they worked in secret for over four years and it was only by the private action of Councillor Loone that the public anywhere in Tasmania was alerted to the fact. Public comment was only allowed AFTER it had been submitted and by which time your land rights had either been severely compromised or removed completely. This was the start if the action groups. Now they are at it again. Exactly the same pattern and with the same provisos that the public do not need to be informed.
At the last council meeting when they were questioned, they of course said that the views of the public would be taken into consideration, but it appears, only after they themselves have decided what is good for you. After the work has been done and the draft finished, then it will be shown to the public and they will ask for comments. The comments that have already been made will have little or no effect, and it will receive no public input during these drafting stages. 'Confidential', you understand! You will get the opportunity to 'approve' it after the event and will then it will probably take the same path as the Pulp Mill approval. In this case though, there is no higher authority to regulate them. The public will be ignored and no effective input that changes anything will be allowed. The Council has demonstrated by its actions that they hold the public and the people they are supposed to represent in complete and utter contempt! It is as though all the actions of the last year have not happened.
Fortunately, next month there is an election where it is possible to change half the council members, but I wonder if they are trying to rush this through before that event?
Barnaby Drake
