(Mercury Feb 23, 2008)
‘Mr Lennon said his resolve to tackle the climate change threat had been heightened by this week’s release of the interim Garnaut report on climate change action commissioned last year by all state governments.’

Has Paul Lennon finally woken from his slumber? Or chasing his tale? Obviously he was still asleep when the stern report was released. And when all those reports were presented at the Bali Kyoto talks. And no doubt deaf to years of information warning of such a catastrophic situation. Oh what a great leader it is who chases after the horse that has bolted.

‘…if changes have to happen to address the challenges of climate change, then I will make sure they do.” Mr Lennon said.’

Not ‘if’ changes have to happen’, ‘because’ changes have to happen. But look at the opportunity, the challenge for you Paul Lennon……

‘The logging of native forests, mainly in Tasmania and Victoria ‘s east Gippsland and the clearing of farmlands, mainly in Queensland, are considered two of the highest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in Australia that can be relatively easily reversed.’

There’s a relatively easy answer for you! Or is that too hard to comprehend? Too much of an, in your face, back peddle for you?

We all know you’d prefer now not to think about how YOUR years as Mr forest destruction has contributed to global warming, threatening humans and animals,  what a legacy you leave behind! And you can’t erase that fact, like you have the native forests.

‘Mr Lennon said yesterday he was determined to make Tasmania the leading state in climate change action. “Climate change is everybody’s problem,” Mr Lennon said.’

Don’t start handballing the problem right from the start. As the states leader it’s YOUR job to start the ball rolling by leading by example. It’s YOUR job to ensure appropriate legislation. Do you really have the ability? We doubt it.

If you are so determined Paul Lennon, THINK about what your government allows your beloved forestry and that little man toting guns to do and will be doing to enhance climate change in the next couple of months alone - when they start lighting their massive forestry fires. Or are you going to be a hypocrite yet again!! and be the usual hatchet the action plan man we all have come to recognise?

Action speaks louder than words Paul Lennon.

We are sick of the words, they have given us nothing so far, but an uncertain future. Lot’s of promises of sugar and spice from destroying the natural environment indeed.  We all know what bad little boys are made of, slugs and snails and lots of tales!

“I just want to get the changes happening in Tasmania that need to happen and that will mean that choices and compromises have to be made by conservationists as well as industrialists.’

“I just want to get the changes happening…” Who is stopping you? Who has been asking you for years to open your eyes and look at reality? And what is your mentality, your underlying attitude,  does it swing to the conservationists side, the ones you and your mates have spent years ridiculing for being more on the ball than you or does it swing to the industrialists side? Oh that’s right we’ve already been given that answer -  in regard to being considered on the conservationists side in the past, he said, “ god help me if that would ever happen.” 

It’s so obvious you are not coming from any new found sense of responsibility to the natural world which is collapsing, but trying to save your political career. So until ‘action’ speaks louder than words, as far as we are concerned, you’re just full of hot air. (cont.)

(cont.) It’s blatantly obvious nature and wildlife have been compromised enough as it is, how many more compromised wildlife deaths, how much more habitat, biodiversity, ecosystem, natural infrastructure destruction do you expect to be compromised? Nature destroying industry was handed to the greed machine on a platter by the likes of governments likes of yours Paul Lennon. Now that the reality of compromising nature, the natural environment and its failing stability and sustainability has become all too evident, isn’t it time the greedy nature destroying machine was the one to compromise more?

But Mr P. Alter the Fault, Mr Amend when hemmed in, Mr Adjust when it’s looking like his political career is going to bust,  Mr Modify the publics lifestyles so guns can fly on by, Mr Lennon just loves that word ‘change/s’.  Change his image, change peoples perceptions, changes need to happen, people have to accept the changes, get changes happening, on and on it goes. We’d suggest change of leadership – then we might get some safe positive action on climate change. Paul Lennon simply does not have the natural ability to lead or implement the charge for long term positive changes his government needs to make to ensure present and future citizens are safe.

Not even a fairy changing god mother with powers to fabricate a new winning tale can change a donkey into a winning race horse.  Paul Lennon had his chance to make Tasmania the leading state, but he ignorantly, deceptively, ignored all the obvious signs. He can’t be entrusted with such a monumental task.

Paul’s advisers seem to have finally prised him away from his embarrassing defence of smash-n-grab logging as a carbon sink, but that does not mean he is a sudden convert to the public interest.

The Premier and the rest of Tasmania Inc have claimed to be researching and investigating logging issues for years, with nothing to show for it but the galloping degradation of almost everything you can see, smell, touch or taste.

With rumours of his impending departure bolstered by approval ratings heading toward single digits, it is probably prudent to suspect that his latest makeover is merely buying time until the Wood Supply Agreement has privatised the State Forest and the MIS/PAL land buying spree has mopped up much the rest of the freehold land.

Whatever else we may think of the man, he has remained true to himself and his closest cronies.

John Hayward

‘…if changes have to happen to address the challenges of climate change, then I will make sure they do.” Mr Lennon said.’

Maybe Gunns has retracted that offer of a place on the Board…..?