The Sustainable Renter 2011 No. 3 : the checklist

Knowledge is power the headline says - and I believe it in more ways than one.  In matters of public policy and encouragement to voters, everything seems more geared to homeowners.  Certainly, little is available for renters - whether they are in the private rental market or renting some form of public housing.  Certainly, there is little or no coercion to get landlords pro-active and providing sustainable measures on their properties.

So what to do?  I believe it is up to us the renters who want to be green, who want sustainability in their lives.  So here is a check list:

1. Do your utmost to be a good tenant in every way.  This is credit in the bank, in a manner of speaking.  There are a lot of bad tenants out there: not paying their rent, doing disappearing acts, leaving premises in poor condition full of horrible old furniture.  Being the very opposite of these sort of people gives good street cred - and property manager cred at the real estate agency.  There is no guarantee that being the best-est tenant will get you what you want but one thing is certain - you won't get to first base in any negotiations without this vital component.
2. Put your thinking cap on and be reflective.  Sustainability is a way of life - in all parts of your life.  You don't establish sustainable life patterns without having a good think and reflecting on what you are doing now and what you might be able to do differently, better, and more sustainably.  So please remember: sustainability starts with you.
3. Look around.  Start with what you have.  For instance, when I moved into my current place the toilet would not switch off and would continue to fill - thus wasting vast amounts of water.  So I called to ask for it to be repaired.  The toilet cistern was a bit of an antique insofaras it was single flush.  So when I asked for the repair, I suggested that perhaps a new cistern with dual flush could be considered.  It was considered and now I have not only a properly operating toilet but a modern dual flush one.  Quite a reasonable transaction and one small step towards a sustainable renting experience.  
4. Garden. Also in the "look around" category is to look at how you might garden at your premises.  You may have a strip of lawn/land/garden.  You might have nothing more than a porch or the back steps.  Get some pots from the hard rubbish or a coolite box from the greengrocers and plant some herbs.  'Growing your own' is a vital part of sustainable living.  You may wonder what difference growing a few herbs in a box is going to make - especially when you can buy as you need it at the local supermarket.  The biggest and most vital difference is to acquire gardening skills.  This is a lifelong pursuit.  Even the best gardeners admit they are still learning after decades of garden involvement.  You need to look at the sunshine and light that plants need - and that herb box may need to be shifted around to different spots at different times of the year.  You learn that not only do you need wholistic food and maintenance, so does soil....and so on. So start your lifelong learning about the natural world right now.
5. Utilities. Electricity, gas, and water are things we can take for granted. We flick a switch and turn on a tap. It's there. We need it. We use it.  There is where Point No. 2 is vital.  The way we use these utilities can be crucial in our care for the planet.  Not to mention that there are major corporations out there making a heap of money out of our utility usage.  So, it's time to have a big think ... and often it will need to be of the thinking outside the square variety. Very few renters are living with solar power on their rooves but I reckon that should be the aim of the green and sustainable renter: to negotiate with the landlord for sustainable power.  
6. Conversations. Humans are social creatures and it is amazing what can be learned when we interact and converse with one another. Conversation, dialogue is the most basic way of exchanging information.  It is also why I plan to go along to ZCM's Carbon Tax Evasion pub night, August 11, 6-8pm, Edinburgh Castle Hotel, corner Sydney Road and Albion Street, Brunswick.  It's why I stay in touch with Green Renters and follow them on Twitter.  If I don't do these things, I might miss out on a vital piece of information or a useful contact which will help me on my journey and make a difference to my life as a sustainable renter.

The six point list above is not exhaustive, I'm sure.  If you can add to this list, please comment below.  More importantly, if you have been able to negotiate with your landlord for sustainable improvements please give us the goss on all of that so we can follow in your illustrious footsteps.

66 years of Nuclear Power : From Hiroshima and Nagasaki to Fukushima, please remember

HIROSHIMA DAY - 6 AUGUST 2011

Fukushima Power Plant - showing destruction

Bob Dylan - A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall 

Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son ?

And where have you been my darling young one ?

I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains

I've walked and I've crawled on six crooked highways

I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests

I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans

I've been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard

And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard

It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.

Oh, what did you see, my blue eyed son ?

And what did you see, my darling young one ?

I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it

I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it

I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin'

I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin'

I saw a white ladder all covered with water

I saw ten thousand takers whose tongues were all broken

I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children

And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard

It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.

And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son ?

And what did you hear, my darling young one ?

I heard the sound of a thunder, it roared out a warnin'

I heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world

I heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin'

I heard ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin'

I heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin'

Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter

Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley

And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard

And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.

Oh, who did you meet my blue-eyed son ?

Who did you meet, my darling young one ?

I met a young child beside a dead pony

I met a white man who walked a black dog

I met a young woman whose body was burning

I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow

I met one man who was wounded in love

I met another man who was wounded and hatred

And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard

And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.

And what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son ?

And what'll you do now my darling young one ?

I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin'

I'll walk to the deepths of the deepest black forest

Where the people are a many and their hands are all empty

Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters

Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison

Where the executioner's face is always well hidden

Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten

Where black is the color, where none is the number

And I'll tell and think it and speak it and breathe it

And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it

Then I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin'

But I'll know my songs well before I start singin'

And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard

It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.

Lyrics from here

This is your Life. Do what you love, and do it often.

http://tradpad.blogspot.com/

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/a19l1v

The Victorian #Climate Action #Calendar 18 June to 17 August 2011

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THE SUSTAINING CONSUMER #sustainability #ethics #recycling

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Picture from here

The purpose of this page is to provide useful information for consumers 

which may provide ethical and sustaining ways of spending the retail dollar.

If Networkers have information that would be useful for this page,

please email me at misseaglesnetwork(at)gmail(dot)com

Opp Shops and 2nd Hand Outlets

I op therefore I am

This site is Melbourne oriented.

It provides on the sidebar access to lists of Opp Shops in Melbourne.

The site is a co-operative blog so you can brag about your

canny purchases.

Garage Sales

eGarage Sales

This site claims to be Australia's biggest and best garage sale website.

It has quite a variety of information and resources available

if you are planning a garage sale.

Farmers' Markets

Australian Farmers Markets Association

Ethical Shopping

Ethical Consumer Guide

Books and Other Information

Sustainable Insight

The #RuralLobby does not speak with one voice on #banlive export : Photos from Canberra and Melbourne

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 I am indebted to Rosie Williams (@CollectiveAct) for the picture above.

It is from the #banliveexport rally held in Canberra.

It is good to remember that the #RuralLobby does not speak with one voice on this issue.

The couple below were at the Melbourne rally.

As you can see from their placards, 

they have a different point of view from those above -

but their hearts are concerned with the welfare of the animals.

I thank this pair below for their patience in listening to me yesterday.

Yes they were severely outnumbered about 500:1 -

but patient they were and I am sure I was not alone in conversing with them.

#banliveexport by going to BanLiveExport.com and following @AnimalsAus

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You can add your voice to the campaign to #banliveexport - cattle, sheep, pigs etc - 

by going to

BanLiveExport.com

and following 

@AnimalsAus

on Twitter

Related articles

• We've got to stop treating animals like animals (thepunch.com.au)
• Farmers, activists clash on cattle exports (news.theage.com.au)
• Ban Live Export (legalaction4animalrights.net)

National Day of Action to End Live Export : Photographs from the Melbourne rally #banliveexport

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To-day was a National Day of Action to End Live Export.

Rallies were scheduled across Australia.
In the capital cities, people gathered at Parliament Houses.
In the regions, people gathered at Local Government buildings.

These pictures were taken at the rally outside
Parliament House, Spring Street, Melbourne, Victoria.

I don't know how many people were there.
Somewhere between 500 and 1000 people is my estimate.

Please email your Federal politicians

Further reading:

Farmers, activists face off  in live export rally

Related articles

• Farmers, activists clash on cattle exports (news.theage.com.au)
• Protesters rally against live trade (news.theage.com.au)
• Don't let the #RuralLobby dominate the conversation on #liveexports, #water, #mdb - feel free to #joinin (misseaglesnetwork.blogspot.com)

Don't let the #RuralLobby dominate the conversation on #liveexports, #water, #mdb - feel free to #joinin

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Let me make myself clear, I have a jaundiced view of special pleading for the poor people in the country. Let me explain.

I am 67 years of age. From birth to 11 years of age, I lived in Brisbane.  From 1997 to 2001, I lived and worked in Sydney - which gave me a great deal of insight into corporate Australia, especially when I worked for a Packer company headed by Andrew Robb. From 2004, I have lived (and worked a little) in Melbourne. Of my adult life, therefore, I have spent ten years living in cities.  The rest has been lived in North Queensland apart from nine years in Toowoomba on the Darling Downs and four and a half years living in Tennant Creek in the NT.  I have spent thirteen and half years of my life living on the Barkly Tableland - a part of the world for which I have a deep love.  The Barkly Tableland extends across the Qld border, so - as well as Territory Time - I lived in Mount Isa for nine years.  I grew up in Bowen, at the northern end of the Whitsundays and, immediately prior to coming to Melbourne, was back again living in Townsville where I have lived for a total of nine years. 

I may not have lived "on the land" but I have lived in towns which have experienced the economic vicissitudes of rural life - droughts, governments with out-of-sight-out-of-mind attitudes who spend big on capital city freeways.  Nineteen years of my life were lived under the National Party Police State (of which Bob Katter Jr was a part) that was life under Joh Bjelke-Petersen.  Queensland (except perhaps for WA) is the one state where there is any National Party dominance.  NSW and Victoria have never really seen what the National Party will do when left to its own devices.  Queensland has. 

My father, J.J. O'Carroll Junior demonstrating cuts of beef

Bowen School of Arts in the 1950s

I do have an understanding of the current live cattle export drama.  You see, I grew up in Bowen beside the meatworks of Thomas Borthwick & Sons at Merinda.  In those days, Borthwick's were a family company owned by an English family and one of its younger members, whom I met, was actually called Tom. My father was a butcher, had gone to Bowen to be Boning Room Foreman, and became North Queensland Sales Manager.  My grandfather, in Brisbane, had been Queensland Stock Manager for AML&F - a pastoral house which became absorbed in takeovers, first from Dalgety and then Elders etc. So beef and cattle were pretty much the staples of family dinner-table conversation in my household.  Borthwick's meatworks at Merinda was an export works - exporting, in those days, mainly to the USA (very stringent export conditions) and the UK.  There may have been some Japanese exports too. 

My grandfather J.J. O'Carroll Senior sometime in the 1950s.

He was steward of the Fat Cattle at Brisbane's RNA (The Ekka) for many years. 

He was Queensland's, possibly Australia's, oldest licensed livestock auctioneer for some time

I used to watch the cattle coming over from stations like Alexandra on the Barkly in the NT.  I also know about the deliberate annihilation of export meatworks in Northern Australia by the rural lobby - someone should speak to Andrew Robb about this - so that they didn't have to put up with unions and so on. 

The pastoralists/graziers didn't give a fig for the economic lives of communities in Northern Australia for whom seasonal meatworks employment was a significant factor.  I am sorry for what has happened - although, as a vegetarian, I am a supporter of a complete ban on live exports.  Events seem to me to be a sort of natural justice, an ultimate outworking of decisions made a long time ago. 

As someone who has this sort of background, I feel I have heard - across the years - all that the rural lobby in all its forms has to say.  They are masters and mistresses of special and sectional pleading.

Other evidence of this special pleading is the fact that, with changes of government in Australia's most populous states, Victoria and NSW, water (our most precious commodity after clean, fresh air) has been consigned into the hands of the National Party.  Urban populations - who provide the bulk of regional tourism income to towns in the Murray Darling Basin by visiting National Parks, the Murray, the Darling, etc - have been excluded from consideration in the MDB discussions.  Only those special Australians of the rural lobby can have their say and their way in such debates, it would seem. 

A large section of rural people involved in agriculture talk too much to themselves about their specialness, how everyone depends of them, how they are at the mercy of those greenies and animal libbers.  This is the lobby that pleaded for tariffs to be removed so they could import their farm machinery from the USA and pay less for it.  And now we have Bob Katter Jr spouting a form of protectionism! This is the rural sector from whom John Kerin, the Hawke era Minister for Primary Industries, removed drought aid because there were so many people rorting the system!

I wouldn't care so much about the special pleading if there wasn't hatred and bigotry attached - but, as I have pointed out, their conversations are circular.

I don't believe the rural lobby and its constituents are aware of the huge social changes that have brought about clear, articulate, educated, intelligent voices in our society.

Bill Bishop, in his book 'The Big Sort", speaks of the clustering of like-minded Americans and how it is tearing them apart.

We are seeing a similar emergence in this country.  We see it the inner city suburbs of Melbourne and Sydney with the growing influence of The Greens vote.  However, that is not the only "sort".  Australians are wealthier and better educated and better travelled than every before. This applies to the rural sector as well.

   

The Ethical Consumer Guide

There are two factors which wealth and education provide - choice and reflection.  It is clear that over the last decade or two there has been increasing reflection on ethical consumption - and consumption is dependent on choice.  The ethical middle class has spoken with regard to the cattle crisis and yet, it seems,that the rural lobby - in spite of the levy - did not manage in an effective manner the risk to its brand and its business of the ethical consumer. 

In my view, this demonstrates the insularity of the rural community reinforcing its own view within its own constituency without regard to other social factors.  As well as everything else, the rural lobby would do well to gain the services of a non-sympathetic sociologist to wake them up. 

Oh, one final thing I forgot to mention.  When I lived in Mount Isa, I stood for Federal Parliament representing the ALP in the seat of Kennedy in 1983 and 1984.  The sitting member whom I was opposing was Bob Katter Senior.

Further reading:
Digest of related articles & videos on the cattle trade by the Fairfax Press

Cattle welfare ignored as MLA spends big on marketing

Cattle ndustry warned against rush to  resume live trade
MLA acts quickly to  improve  Indonesian slaughter methods
MLA 'disappointed' about being forced to pay industry compo
Pastoralists contact lawyer over possible class action against MLA
Sheep industry may limit  live exports during Ramadan
Blame religion for livestock torture: MP
Bills to end live export submitted to parliament 
Australia can't force Indonesia to stun cattle
Animals Australia virtual protest
Media Release AMIEU (Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union)
Live Animal Export - Australia's Shame
Animal Mortality Reports
Farmers rally in Perth over live cattle
Northern  cattle industry slams  export ban damage
RSPCA wants abattoir assurances
New strategy in cattle fight

Related articles

• Reframing the #animalcruelty debate: #ethics #economy #asylumseekers (misseaglesnetwork.blogspot.com)
• Compo for cattlemen 'on table': Bligh (theage.com.au)
• Extend cattle tracking: Nationals boss (news.theage.com.au)

I HATE DOCKLANDS #poorplanning in #Melbourne

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Picture from here

I rarely if ever post on the subject of planning in relation to cities and development.  However, I am to-day because I am impressed by this quote from Professor Kim Dovey:

''I don't believe what planning ministers say any more about growth boundaries - 

every time developers come and camp in the minister's office they just buckle.''

The image that is created of real estate developers camping in the office of a Minister of the Crown is mind boggling - and the Minister buckling at the knees because of the presence of those who are, we hope, unwelcome guests.  But then there is that other image - of developers being very welcome guests as they bring money to party hacks for the coffers of corrupt political parties.  

Can I say quite loudly "I HATE DOCKLANDS!".  I don't even refer to it as Docklands  To me it is Beijing South - because it reminds of me of the cheek by jowl high rise development of Beijing.  Victoria is known as The Garden State.  Melbourne likes to promote its boulevards and leafy streets.  Where are these in Docklands.  Sure there is a very small portion of greenery here and there but I wonder how these spaces will be in the years to come because I think they will be deprived of sunshine and the necessary components for plants to thrive.  

And, Networkers, in case you think I am just another carping critic, I am not alone.  My appraisal is based on what I consider an offence to the human spirit.  A more intelligent, articulate, and knowledgable response is here

  

Can sensibility return to #Italy? Referenda succeed against campaign by the Italian government : #Berlusconi and #NorthernLeague setbacks

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Picture from here

It is nice to know that somewhere in the world people are making good decisions en masse - and dancing in the streets when the results come in.  Somewhere in the world is Italy - where Berlusconi has taking a hiding in response to some pretty dreadful referenda questions. 

Italians, over two days, voted on two questions:

1.  Procedures for the awarding and management of local public services of economic importance. Repeal? - This question, if passed, would repeal the rules that currently allow the management of local public services to be entrusted to the private sector.
2.  Determination of the water service tariff based on an adequate return on invested capital. Partial repeal of regulations? - The question proposes the repeal of the regulations governing the determination of tariffs for the supply of water, the amount of which currently provides for a return on capital invested by the operator.
3. Repeal of Sections 1 and 8 of Article 5 of Decree Number 34 of March 31st 2011, made (with amendments) into law on May 26th 2011, Decree Number 75: Partial repeal of regulations? - The question proposes the repeal of new regulations allowing for the production of nuclear power within the territory
4. Repeal of Provisions of Law Number 51 of April 7th, 2010, on legitimate impediment of the Prime Minister and Ministers to appear in criminal court, in accordance with sentence number 23 of 2011 by the Constitutional Court. Repeal? -  The question proposes the repeal of the regulations of legitimate impediment of the President of the Council of Ministers and the Ministers to appear in a criminal court, in accordance with sentence number 23 of 2011 by the Constitutional Court. (Source - Wikipedia - 16/6/2011)

The first two questions related to the privatisation of water and such privatisation was rejected. Italians also rejected a return to nuclear energy (what a surprise!), and refused to go along with putting Berlusconi and his Ministers above the law.  Approximately 95% of Italian voters chose to repeal all referenda questions in spite of a multi-million dollar  campaign to deter a 50+% voter turnout.

Also cause for rejoicing is the recent electorate setbacks of Berlusconi and his Northern League fascisti allies.

Miss Eagle did her own solo dance at home on hearing the news.

Further reading:

Signs Italy has had enough as leader called to account

No, no, no! voters batter Berlusconi

Berlusconi finds his numbers up 

Related articles

• The day Italians finally said no to Silvio Berlusconi | Benedetta Brevini (guardian.co.uk)
• Voters batter Berlusconi again in law referendums (independent.co.uk)
• Berlusconi Dealt Blow in Referendums (online.wsj.com)
• Italy Just Became The Latest Country To Abandon Nuclear Power (businessinsider.com)
• Silvio Berlusconi Might Be In Trouble This Time, Again (theawl.com)
• Italians Vote Out Nuclear Energy - Wall Street Journal (news.google.com)
• Berlusconi faces referendum test (independent.co.uk)
• Silvio Berlusconi suffers humiliating defeat (telegraph.co.uk)
• In Italy, Referendums Overturn Key Legislation (npr.org)

The Victorian #Climate Action #Calendar 12 June to 10 August 2011 #environment #sustainability

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Australian politics : Refugees : Asylum Seekers

http://consciencevote.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/a-representativ...

This post sums up the whole matter very well. The attitudes displayed to asylum seekers and refugees in Australia's Parliament shames this nature. We have, in recent days, displayed a national outpouring of compassion for Australian cattle being inhumanely treated in meatworks in Indonesia. The Australian Government and the relevant industry bodies have been catapulted into action from their comfortable positions of out of sight, out of mind. Why can't Australians have the same compassion for human beings? Not to do so is a national shame.

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/a151wx

Tell #MartinFerguson and #Labor to stop mucking about with #Muckaty - #nuclearwaste

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Radioactive waste fight grows: 

Muckaty plan a bad deal, not a done deal

Date: 14-Jun-2011

CANBERRA: The Australian Conservation Foundation has described as cynical and irresponsible the introduction to the Senate of recycled Howard-era legislation aimed at fast-tracking a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory.

The National Radioactive Waste Management Bill, which seeks to override state, territory and local government concerns and exempt the federal government from meeting key environmental and Aboriginal heritage rules, is to be introduced to the Senate today.

“This heavy-handed legislation is a cut-and-paste of a deeply unpopular Howard-era law – it is not a credible or mature basis for managing Australia’s radioactive waste,” said ACF Nuclear Free campaigner Dave Sweeney.

There is growing opposition, in the NT and beyond, to the federal dump planned for contested Aboriginal land at Muckaty, 120 kilometres north of Tennant Creek.

It is being challenged in the Federal Court by Traditional Owners of the region.

“Indigenous, development, public health, environment and faith groups, key unions and the NT Government all oppose energy minister Martin Ferguson’s waste dump plan,” Dave Sweeney said.

“Radioactive waste lasts a lot longer than a politician’s promise so we need to get its management right.

“This dump plan is a cynical attempt to find a short term political fix to a long term environmental and human health hazard.

“With key questions around consultation, consent and ownership currently before the Federal Court it is improper for Minister Ferguson to be trying to fast track this legislation, which is based on a false premise and a broken promise.

“The Muckaty plan is a bad deal, not a done deal – and it is set to become a household name and a major community campaign.”

Visit Martin Ferguson's Facebook page.

For more reading 

on what the dreadful Martin Ferguson

and the Australian Labor Party Government

are trying to do at Muckaty Station 

PLEASE GO HERE

Meat sales down as consumers come face to face with the realities of the kill

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Click to enlarge.

The Wran Lecture by Senator John Faulkner - the annotated version

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Below is an annotated version 

of  The Wran Lecture 

delivered last night by

Senator John Faulkner.

With one exception, the annotation is done by highlighting and colour coding of text.

I leave it to Networkers to discern the reasons for the choice of colour as applied to the text.

The one exception is an insertion of text expressing my own view.

This is the one area where, so far, I am unable to agree with Faulkner.

#Yindjibarndi and the #FortescueMetalsGroup #FMG #mining #resources #Aboriginal #Indigenous #land

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Yindjibarndi country 
The areas in red are
FMG Tenements on Yindjibarndi country.

Hattip to Denis of The Nature of Robertson 

coz this sort of slipped through my net.

PRESS RELEASE

YINDJIBARNDI ABORIGINAL CORPORATION

Roebourne, WA

8 June 2011

No faith in procedural fairness of Conflicted Minister and ACMC After admissions last week by WA Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Peter Collier, that he ‘takes great guidance’ from his ‘close personal friend’ Andrew Forrest.

Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation fears that the procedural fairness and independence of the Minister’s office with regard to heritage decisions have been compromised. The Aboriginal Cultural Materials Committee (ACMC), which reports directly to the Minister, is currently considering two Section 18 applications by Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) to allow destruction of Yindjibarndi sites within the Solomon Hub project. “We try to maintain faith in the process and participate in good faith, but it’s hard to feel like you are getting a fair go when you hear the Minister say he takes advice from the man that wants to bulldoze our sacred sites” said Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation CEO, Michael Woodley. Woodley added, “No traditional owner can expect unbiased decision- making at the hands of this Minister about sites inside Andrew Forrest’s tenements, especially when you think that FMG totally dominate the Pilbara, covering an area larger than BHP and Rio combined.”  

Given the clear conflict of interest exposed by the Minister’s admissions the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation is calling on the Minister to remove himself from the decision making process.

Grave doubts have also been cast over the administration of the ACMC under the chairmanship of Haydn Lowe. Mr Lowe, a former Liberal Party chief-of-staff, was appointed under a cloud of controversy by previous Indigenous affairs minister Kim Hames in mid-2009.

Mr Lowe was not among those recommended for the post by the previous Registrar of Aboriginal Sites and it was alleged that the Minister improperly intervened in appointing Mr Lowe despite the fact that his name was not on the list of recommended candidates, and that he did not meet the selection criteria.

Last week, on 1 June 2011, Mr Lowe chaired an a meeting of the ACMC regarding FMG's Section 18 applications, which Yindjibarndi consider denied them procedural fairness. Yindjibarndi legal representatives, Slater & Gordon, have written to Mr Lowe and the Minister to put the ACMC on notice that Yindjibarndi consider they were not given an adequate opportunity to be heard in relation to the section 18 applications.

Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation has indicated that they are prepared to seek remedy in the courts if the ACMC refuses them the opportunity to be properly heard.

If such legal proceedings become necessary, the Aboriginal heritage process is likely to be brought to a halt, as will FMG’s proposed mining activity. Just yesterday, a meeting of the board of the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation unanimously voted to reject attempts being made by FMG to control access to sites currently the subject of their Section18 applications.

“This is our country, no company, especially one that is trying to get approval to destroy our sacred sites is going to tell us what we can and can’t do on our country” said Woodley.

Link to interview with Mr Collier broadcast on Monday May 31 2011 http://www.rtrfm.com.au/stories/type/current/category/national/2790

Previous posts re this topic on The Network:

#TwiggyForrest tweaks stacked meeting to twubble #nativetitle holders in Roebourne #mining #land #resources #indigenous #Aboriginal

#TwiggyForrest : #Yindjibarndi : #AustralianEmploymentCovenant/AEC : #GenerationOne #Aboriginal #indigenous #employment #mining #resources #vimeo

Ludwig skewered? A Royal Commission on #LiveExports? A #timeline on #whoknewwhatwhen?

Minister for Agriculture Senator Joe Ludwig

with RSPCA's Heather Neil and Animals Australia's Lyn White.

Photo: Alex Ellinghausen. From The Age 

The Live Export trade to Indonesia becomes murkier and murkier as the days go by. The Four Corners program, A Bloody Business, aroused the horror and indignation of the nation.  Australians cannot let this slide – as we can do very easily with so many issues.  


It is a complex issue but, as more and more comes to light,one thing is clear.  This issue has many sides to it.  It seems to me that only some of the people and organisations who might be connected with this have come into public view. Michelle Grattan gives some clues.

Another place to explore is the Hansard report of the Estimates session of the Senate Rural Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee held on 24 May 2011 in the week prior to the 4 Corners telecast.  


I have made provision below for downloading this report.  I have also taken some extracts from the Hansard for Networkers who don’t want to download such a large document.  Details in these extracts can keep you researching for a substantial time.

Meat & Livestock Authority is the organisation that is front and centre in all this and who certainly has a great deal of explaining to do – and so far any explaining they have done is not all that wonderful.

Among the people and organisations we need to hear from are:

• The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the units within that department.
• Animal Health Australia could have something to contribute. Steve Vizard’s brother, Associate Professor Andrew Vizard, is a vet and a direct of AHA.

Ass Prof Vizard’s bio says that he has and interest in the“production risk in the grazing industries”.  Perhaps he considers that his interest does not extend to live export of sheep and cattle and does not include the slaughter of exported animals in Indonesia.  However, as someone close to the industry and with a professional interest animals, it might be a good idea to hear from him.

My view is that we need some extensive research on this which could provide, as an end result, a timeline of who knew what when leaving no one out whether that be governments, political parties, political representatives, bureaucrats, industry organisation.

The Howard Government held a Royal Commission under the heading of an Inquiry into certain Australian companies in relation to the UN Oil-For-Food programme in connection with alleged corruption connected to the Australian Wool Board (AWB). Do Networkers think that the animal cruelty exhibited in the live export trade warrants a Royal Commission?  Let me know your views in the comments section as well as in the poll at the top of the sidebar.

I am aware of the old adage which says to governments not to call a Royal Commission unless they know what the answer is going to be.  I know, particularly after the revelations and non-revelations from the AWB and bureaucrats within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, that the end result of Royal Commissions is not always what one might wish.  

What a Royal Commission does provide is judicial coercion to appear and answer.  In the hands of a determined judicial investigator (I think more of Fitzgerald than Cole).  Even when there is papering over and obfuscation – as happened with much testimony before the Cole Inquiry – the general public can still make up its own mind. The material and evidence presented provides signposts to a concerned and committed government about changes, necessary legislation, bureaucratic duck-shoving and so on. 

Further reading:

AAco downgrades earnings forecast after live cattle export ban to Indonesia

Cattle exporter supports ban

Live export industry's hypocrisy on animal activists
Live exports ban: why farmers should support the ban | Rooted 

Live export halt impacts Far Northern cattle farmers
Lyn White profile: It's all about the evidence, says world-changer White
Abattoir research knocked back: professor

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• Indonesia cries foul over live cattle export ban (theage.com.au)
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• Ludwig dithered on matter till the cows came home (theage.com.au)
• Diplomatic row brews over live exports ban (news.theage.com.au)
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