The time I got sworn at by Pauline Hanson, learned just how Green Hardwood Timber is, and other tales.

Yep, I got sworn at by Pauline Hanson.

Photo: ABC News. Marco Catalano

I was asking for it really, I walked up to her at a rally for Hardwood Timber in Maryborough. Asked her what she was going to do to help the brilliant environmental managers that are our hardwood timber men.

These timber cutters and millers are actually some of the most knowledgeable, passionate and skilled environmentalists you could come across. Sounds counter-intuitive doesn't it? Blokes cut trees down, how do they get tagged as Green, Purds?

Glad you asked. What little I have learnt from my mates in this industry is as follows:

Hardwood isn't grown in those massive state forests you see lining the Bruce Hwy. That's Pine. Hardwood is by and large grown on private property, cattle stations and grazing country. It takes 40 years for a tree to reach a size these fellas want to know about. In that time, the land is carefully managed by the pastoralists, and graziers who want to supplement their properties income from raising food for us with logging. Because healthy trees support excellent  pasture by reducing erosion, increasing soil fertility, lowering water tables, lessening the risks of salinization, and help stabilize water supplies.

Forests and trees make an essential contribution to food security by helping to maintain the environmental conditions needed for agricultural production. They stabilize the soil, prevent erosion, enhance the land's capacity to store water, and moderate air and soil temperatures.

Spotted Gum 

Nevermind the benefits of shade for grazing stock. 

So, these fellas want a vigorously growing, healthy tree. And lots of them. 

The current legislation allows the harvester of hardwood to leave a certain number of "stems" per area after harvesting. Which seems to be about spot on for vigorously growing trees, happily chewing through massive amounts of carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, and leaving good grazing country which provides optimum welfare for stock - as grass fed animals are healthier, happier and make much better quality food. The new proposal is to double the amount of stems left after harvesting. This means you end up with twice the number of trees left. Good, right? Nope. You end up with too much competition for available resources, straggly unhealthy trees don't crunch as much carbon dioxide as vigorous old growth does, and shitty pasture. We need more studies on this, but being that trees take 40 years to mature... We don't have this data just yet. So we are making legislative decisions based on anecdotal evidence from..  someone who isn't these guys who know what the fuck is actually happening. Like, sustainable timber means curating their renewable resource in a manner to achieve best production - right? So these guys whom have been doing this shit for GENERATIONS probably know what the fuck is up, yeah? 

Further to this, blokes like my mate, Jarrod Pershouse at Boundary Creek Timber, cuts these trees up in such an efficient manner that as much wood as possible per log is utilised. It's like using the whole animal when you have killed something for food. Honouring it's life by using every part. The hide, bone, organs as well as muscle. Jarrod is such a brilliant conservationist, he uses every tiny bit of a tree that he can when he cuts it. It's such an art form that his timber is in demand everywhere. He is low waste. Uses a renewable resource that provides carbon sequestration in its management. Supports food production by creating excellent pasture conditions and supplementary income for agriculturalists. It's a heck of a green industry. 

Family Owned and Run.

Nobody knows just how green hardwood timber is, until you get to know these strong, salt of the earth men. Who flog themselves half to death every day. Most days, I can hear chainsaws ringing on the wind in the dusk when I have a cold beverage in hand, while Jarrod is still working. He, and men like him, are unsung heroes of environmental protection and management in this country. He is perpetually coated in sawdust. Always busy. Always working. Backbone of the country, men like him. 

Did you know that for every job in hardwood, there are 5 ancillary jobs created to support it. Never mind the environmental impact. The economic impact of this industry is another quiet achiever. Employers of many people in a region that's known as the dole capital. 

So, anyways, we have ascertained how rad this industry is. And how, me, as a not-so-closet environmentalist, socio-democrat (Lover of the Denmark/Scandinavian models) and general hater of governmental fuckery, came along to support my dearest friends in their endeavours to tell the government to fuck right off.

We pulled up on our bus and my skin crawled when I saw the One Nation van. We got out and followed Jarrod around for a bit, then set up a Boundary Creek Timber pozzie with our busload of supporters. And I saw her. 

I was initially thinking, shit. What is she here for? What's her agenda? Then the other pollies came out of the woodwork. Labor and Liberal both had people there, I think. There were speeches made, and I got bored, looking around, and decided to speak to the pollies and see what they would actually "do" for these fellas. 

Got some good responses from the Labour and Liberal blokes. Dignified, thoughtful, knowledgeable responses. I pushed everyone's buttons, don't worry. I am a shit head. But, I am open minded and want to hear what these honkys have to offer. Pollies are basically people who have put themselves up to help run this country of ours cause they feel they have something to contribute. Doesn't make them qualified. So I wanted to listen, learn and understand. 

The usual suspects from the major parties were dignified, well spoken and obviously well informed. Had solid strategy and ideas for implementing it. 

Pauline. Well. She had NO fuckin idea. And when I asked her, she was like "It's a state matter and we don't have a seat in State." So, what the fuck are you here for then, Pauline? Big noting your crack? Furthering your agenda? Her slimy offsider (the US Gun Lobby's fave $20 million dollar man, grub) was like, oh we will go away and formulate strategy. Fuck. Useless. So I went ahead and said righto, in order to get more seats in State, you need votes, yeah? Well me and you, Pauline, come from differing ends of the spectrum, politically. So I am here, open minded, listening to hear why I should vote for you. But your policy is so based on divisiveness, reactivity, and hatred, why should I vote for you? Well. It just fell apart then. I got sworn at. Called a fuckwit who doesn't know shit. Emotional, when I was being pragmatic, certainly was fired up, but yeah. 

Don't vote One Nation, y'all. They aren't doing anything for anyone but themsleves. And not even attempting to be dignified and WORTHY of public office and the ridiculous money they are paid for it. Like, she ran a fish and chip shop, what the fuck does she know about Timber? Puts on her Akubra and schmoozes, shaking hands and kissing babies, being seen amongst these salt of the earth men, who might vote for her now cause she dragged her scabby ass out to their rally, but really was only there for her own gain. She got air time on the news, but the well spoken and well informed actual member for the area didn't. Case. In. Point. 

So there ya have it, peeps. 

What do you think?

Until next time.

Love, Em, X.