Mountain cattlemen rally

After looking through posts twice and not seeing it until now, where i noticed it was posted last night
oops

Tim it is good to bring attention to it again anyway. Even if you have a contrary opion it is important to know the spin and untruths being applied here.

It is apparent that the State Government is appying so much mis-information to the case to snow public opinion. The Government’s claims in the media during the past week that 10,000 cattle would still be allowed to graze in the high country in state forests was untrue according to the cattlemen. The Bracks Government’s own Alpine Grazing Taskforce Report contradicts this number, stating there would be less than 4,000 cattle outside the park. The Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria estimated it would actually be about 1,000 cattle that would be able to remain in the high country forest areas – a mere 10 per cent of what Steve Bracks has been telling the public.

Along with their deliberately misleading advertising campaign vilifying the mountain cattlemen, the Bracks Government has also sent the message throughout Victoria that the ban on grazing in the Alpine National Park would not affect forest licenses.

“A maximum of 7914 adult equivalent cattle are licensed to graze in the Alpine National Park. Licenses issued for State forest in the high country in the general vicinity of the park allow about 10,000 cattle to graze, including about 4000 cattle under licenses which include areas above 1200 metres. National park licensees also hold licenses to graze about 6000 (of the 10,000) cattle in State forest.”
- Alpine Grazing Taskforce Report, pg 18, Part 2.19.

“Many of the State forest grazing licence areas are contiguous with licence areas in the national park, having been a single licence area before the park was created.”
- Alpine Grazing Taskforce Report, pg 17, Part 2.18.

This would mean mountain cattlemen who hold both licenses will lose both with this ban, not just the alpine grazing license. There is no natural boundary between the national parks and state forests and cattle can’t read maps.

The investigation really only investigated the National Park areas and not the State forests where timber cutting can sometimes continue. “The Taskforce’s role related only to investigating the future of grazing in the Alpine National Park. It did not examine grazing in State forest in the high country outside the Alpine National Park.”
- Alpine Grazing Taskforce Report, Pg 12, Part 1.7.

This in part quotes from a press release from a meeting of the Mountain Cattlemen at Dinner Plain yesterday.

ENOUGH’S ENOUGH THE COUNTRY VOICE RALLY

CATTLEMEN TO RALLY AGAINST GOVERNMENT BETRAYAL

The Mountain Cattlemen, with the support of a number of associated country groups, will hold a rally on Thursday June 9 at noon on the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne, to put forward a united country voice against the end of alpine grazing. The horses will be departing the Olympic Park precinct at 11am, and will be met by a guard of honour at Parliament House at 11.30am.

Last week, the State Government announced its decision to remove cattlemen from the Alpine National Park, effectively erasing 170 years of history. This is despite earlier promises that cattle grazing would remain a legitimate activity in the national park.

“This is nothing short of a kick in the guts,” according to Chris Stoney, a third-generation cattleman and spokesman for Country Voice, the group representing the cattlemen.

“For two years, we have cooperated with the Government only to find that it had planned to do us over all along. It is a decision driven purely by ideology and a hunger for Green preferences at the next state election, and has nothing to do with sound and sustainable land management,” Mr Stoney said.

“The compensation package promised by the Government is insulting to affected families, most of whom will receive less than half the speculated $100,000 the government would have us believe.

“After the decision was announced, the Government has undertaken a costly PR and advertising campaign to justify its actions, including hollow promises that cattlemen can move to forest leases, when that is simply not the case. The so-called 10,000 cattle to be retained in state forests is a practical nonsense for most families, as the areas are directly adjacent to National Parks with only an invisible border between the two.

“This deception reflects the Government’s dismissive and arrogant attitude towards country Victorians,” Mr. Stoney said.

Hundreds will arrive in Melbourne on horseback to attend the rally, which will be addressed by political leaders and a host of celebrity supporters. The star of “The Man From Snowy River”, Tom Burlinson, who is unable to attend the rally due to work commitments, has lent his support to the Country Voice campaign.

“The bush belongs to all Australians, and the High Country holds a special place in the hearts of people across the country and around the world,” Mr Burlinson said.

Country Voice has invited Victorians to march with them in expressing their opposition to a decision that seriously undermines Victoria’s proud rural heritage.

“This should be a warning for all country Victorians that this Government does not have their interests at heart. We fear this is only the thin end of the wedge,” Mr Stoney said.

“One by one, it is picking us off. The only way to tell this Government to pull its head in is to vote with our feet. United, we can stop it.”

Have some contact phone numbers if anyone wanted any.