Spies in our paddocks

The main issue is that the farmers are aware that most of the hysteria over out of control land clearing and its extent was a fabrication by the green groups such as the wilderness society (See Spies in our paddocks, November 25).
It is instructive to know that, according to the ABS figures at the time, the actual number of trees in Queensland was increasing, rather than decreasing, while this 'out-of-control' clearing was taking place and that more than 80 per cent of Queensland is still in a remnant state.
The general public is also beginning to become aware that the main role of these unelected advocacy groups that seem to be giving instructions on these matters to the governments, is to misinform the public with scare tactics so that they can convince them to give generous donations.
The sooner regulations are brought in to get some control over these groups the better outcomes we will get from our governments.

@Cameron Hoare ('Lobbying logging madness', Conversation contribution, November 24): Wanting legislation to muzzle those who you oppose may sound like a good thing, until you become the target. Are you really sure that restricting fee speech in this manner, for party political or populist reasons is what you want? I, for one, hope for a Bill of Rights, guaranteed free speech and a more open society than that which you have advocated here.

Emissions are a result of consumption. So, why is the duty to compensate for the predominantly city-based consumption being shifted to the country? (See Spies in our paddocks, November 25.)

Farmers who actually live in their environment are sceptical for good reason re AGW, they know that climate has always changed (See Spies in our paddocks, November 25).
The UHI effect, and the craze for aircon everything, climate controlled homes cars offices indoor arenas, so when people experience normal heat in summer they are suckers for the "it's warming" con.
If Australia wants to keep eating fairly green and safe food, then land is required to provide it, stopping even grazing that keeps treed land safer, for some misguided green ideal.
Caused the massive understories that made the fires so much worse. Kyoto was stupid, it did nothing but cause grief and hardship for our farmers, while getting Kevin Rudd was a temporary Halo..till the ramifications hit home.
The Eye in the Sky, needs poking with a sharp stick!

"But with an eye to prosecutions, it also recommends changing legislation to place the burden on defendants of proving incorrect functioning of equipment so as to create fewer opportunities for spurious challenges by the defence." (See Spies in our paddocks, November 25.)
The reversal of the burden of proof has already occurred in the Queensland legal system and many prosecutions have resulted.
As your article helpfully points out interpreting satellite imagery is a complex and skilled operation with experience showing that even the most skilled, base interpretations on what is expected to be in an area. These interpretations have often been challenged by the defence with on-the-ground experience of what was actually there but to no avail.
The satellite mapping and imagery is anything but foolproof but landholders are being persecuted based on its evidence anyway. If anything the onus of proof needs to revert to the prosecution.
If this were an urban based crime the civil rights lawyers would be all over it.

We received a threat in the mail that appeared to be a one million dollar fine. However in the accompanying letter it was explained that this time it would be just a warning (See Spies in our paddocks, November 24).
So I rang them straight up, and asked how they could say we had done any clearing, as the land is in a prominent location and watched closely. (plus we didn't even own a tractor or a chainsaw?)
Then the lady said, "overgrazing can also be considered illegal clearing".
But then I explained that we had removed any stock nearly two years before, because of the severity of the drought. So what they were trying to fine us for was just the reduction of "Green" in their photos caused by the drought itself.
We haven't heard any more since then.

The survey concentrates on the usage of satellite technology to monitor vegetative cover and to the urban majority this is all about trees. But as Damien Rogers (Conversation contribution, Clear insanity, December 2) explains its actually about ground cover in general and ebbs and flows with the seasons, stocked or not (See Spies in our paddocks, December 7).
It's no wonder that farmers get frustrated that the tool is only used for convictions. Never for positive reinforcement of good land management outcomes. For example the landowners in the Great Barrier Reef catchments who have spent years and much money (some of it funded by the same population who want us prosecuted) improving their ground cover through all seasons are still treated the same as those who have done nothing. So much for the influence of Landcare, the internet and tertiary education on our older farmers and their children. When votes are to be won we are all classified as vandals.