Has FT found the way?

Forestry Tasmania’s (FT) controversial small native forest coupe in the Flowerdale river catchment area at Lapoinya in NW Tasmania is one of its better coupes. FT is adamant clearfelling will be a profitable exercise.

After a relentless pattern over the years of failing to cover even $1 in staff wages from its operations this looks like a real live test case to establish which exactly of FT’s operations are profitable, if any.

From a strict financial accounting viewpoint, each year FT adjusts the value of its forest estate so that as at 30^th June FT’s balance sheet contains the current value of its forest estate.

Hence clearfelling a coupe merely realises its current value. It is simply swapping trees for cash.

The accounting profits from the Lapoinya coupe should have already been recorded in FT’s books over the years if the current value of the trees as recorded is correct. The small profits over time scarcely dented losses from other sources.

Chopping down a coupe is a realisation exercise not a profit making one.

Harriss Protest Bill: It works

Yesterday saw the first application of Paul Harriss’ Workplaces (Protection from Protesters) Act 2014 when protesters were directed to leave a workplace pursuant to sec 11 of the Act.

Petrarch’s Bookshop and author Quentin Beresford were holding a book launch at the Tailrace Function Centre in Launceston when three protesters acting contrary to the provisions of sec 8 entered a business premise with the aim of hindering or obstructing a business activity.

The activity of promoting and selling  the book The Rise and Fall of Gunns meant the premises fell within the broad definition of business premises contained in sec 5 which includes premises used as a shop, market or warehouse.

Minister Harriss was unavailable for comment on the initial success of his controversial legislation.

The rise and fall of Gunns

A tale that needed telling.

Those are the words of Geoffrey Cousins referring to Quentin Beresford’s book ‘The Rise and Fall of Gunns Ltd’.

Mr Cousins is right.

It’s a tale that everyone interested in the future of Tasmania should read.

A failure to understand history increases the chances of repeating past mistakes, a common occurrence in Tasmania.

Quentin Beresford outlines the historical context of the Gunns’ debacle, from the hydro industrialisation era, the Wesley Vale campaign through to the Rouse bribery affair. The inadequacies, failings, Machiavellian manoeuvrings, dishonesty and unethical practices by participants are laid bare.

At no stage were lessons learnt.