Review hears calls for GM-free seed exports

Report: Cameron Wilson
A state parliamentary inquiry has heard that Tasmania could export canola seed to the world if the state's GM ban is maintained.A review is underway this week to determine if Tasmania should extend it's ban on GM crops beyond 2008.Alex Schaap from the Department of Primary Industries told the parliamentary inquiry there could be benefits from keeping the ban."One of the opportunities for Tasmania, that I hope the industry will explore, is the opportunity to actually develop a GM-free canola seed industry here, where we bulk up seed in a place that's much, much safer from GM contamination than anywhere else in the rest of the world."But canola grower from Conara Ian McKinnon, who has been a vocal supporter of GMO technology, does not agree."Well I think it would be a very small industry, and I think what Alex is missing is the point that Tasmania can participate in organic seed production , conventional seed production and GMO seed production. There's no need to lock ourselves away from all the opportunities."
In this report: Alex Schaap, general manager of DIP Biosecurity and Product Integrity Division; Ian McKinnon, canola grower

China blocks Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton imports

By Andrew Trounson

MINING giant BHP Billiton has joined Rio Tinto in talking tough on seeking higher iron ore prices as China seeks to put pressure on the Australians to cave in by delaying some high-priced Australian spot sales into the country.
In a move reminiscent of previous iron ore talks, when the Chinese Government sometimes used heavy-handed tactics to pressure the miners, traders in China said Beijing had delayed issuing import permits for March, stranding at least three unloaded cargoes at Xingang port in Tianjin. The Chinese move might be a reaction to Rio's decision in January to start exercising contract clauses that enable it to divert up to 10 per cent of contracted volumes on to the spot market. But with iron ore in short supply and spot prices soaring, analysts doubt that the Chinese steel mills can afford to turn away Australian spot cargoes, and BHP chief commercial officer Alberto Calderon believes it will be only a temporary delay. "You may have a temporary thing now and then, but the market works pretty well," Mr Calderon said yesterday. But the Chinese move highlights the deterioration in relations between the Chinese and the Australians, who have dismissed as too low a massive 65-71 per cent increase in annual contract prices agreed to by Brazilian giant Vale. Most Australian ore is sold under long-term contracts, but with spot prices of nearly $US200 a tonnes compared with a new landed contract price of about $US120 a tonne, the Australian miners are moving to sell more ore on the spot market. Both Rio and BHP are also pushing aggressively for an added freight premium to recognise the cheaper cost of landed iron ore from Australia relative to more distant Brazil. Mr Calderon said the freight difference was worth as much as $US8 billion in additional annual revenue for the Australian iron ore miners. That would please the Government, which would gain additional royalties and tax revenue, but not the Chinese who have to pay for it. The Chinese steel mills are already worried at the prospect of BHP taking over Rio and increasing its market clout, but that clout is now already effectively being wielded. "We will be looking to get the highest price possible on this, and it has to be higher than what Vale got," Mr Calderon said, echoing Rio's stance. He indicated that the prospects of winning a freight premium had been improved now that both miners were arguing for it. In 2005, Rio did not support BHP's failed push for a freight premium. "We believe that we will get something now that Rio is on the same side," he said. But Rio and BHP are far from united as Rio seeks to fend off BHP's hostile takeover bid. And in what seemed a move to pacify BHP's Chinese customer base and reassure Beijing over its intentions, Mr Calderon criticised Rio's tough stance on diverting contract ore into spot markets as breaking the "spirit" of the contracts. He said BHP would fulfil 100 per cent of its contracted deliveries, although in the future BHP planned to move more ore on to spot and index-based pricing. The price talks appear destined to spill over into the new contract year starting on April 1. But while any deal will be backdated, there is industry speculation that unless a deal is done by the end of June, Rio and BHP might be able to void some contacts and divert all that ore on to the spot market. "If that is true, then it is a very big stick the Australian producers have," Citigroup analyst Alan Heap told The Australian. During price negotiations in 2006, China at one stage tried to cap prices by barring imports of any ore priced above the previous contract price.

Save your leatherwood

Bob Davey SaveYourLeatherwood Honey Association

Of the three coupes in the Wedge ( Lake Gordon area), previously reported as being currently harvested, two containing scattered Leatherwood have been clearfelled. This is in spite of a request from the Southern Beekeepers that the coupe boundaries and harvesting method be reviewed to help retain the Leatherwood.

REPORT FOR THE TWO MONTHS OF JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2008
THE CHRISTMAS period saw us substantially in recess, except for receiving reports of coupes being assessed or otherwise prepared for harvesting.

Of the three coupes in the Wedge ( Lake Gordon area), previously reported as being currently harvested, two containing scattered Leatherwood have been clearfelled. This is in spite of a request from the Southern Beekeepers that the coupe boundaries and harvesting method be reviewed to help retain the Leatherwood.

The third coupe WE039F, containing valuable Leatherwood resource in a valley towards the end of Clearhill Road, has yet to be harvested. Forestry Tasmania has offered an onsite inspection to audit the Leatherwood content, and with the beekeeper involved, John Duncombe, discuss how the Leatherwood can be preserved. This is notwithstanding the resource being scattered throughout the coupe. The coupe is estimated to support at least 25 hives and perhaps more. An inspection by John and Duncombe and Bob Davey with a Forestry Tasmania representative/planner, is expected to occur early in March. This concession by Forestry Tasmania is pleasing given the previous advice given to John Duncombe and Bob Davey by the planner that the Veneer Wood content was required too urgently to permit the retention of Leatherwood.

Another coupe recently inspected by Paul Wigger and Bob Davey, into which a new road is being constructed, is TN044B. There is Leatherwood all around the base of a hill which makes up most of the coupe. We will inspect the Forest Harvesting Plan early in March to establish Forestry Tasmania`s intentions as regards the Leatherwood content. Every opportunity will then be taken to negotiate the best outcome from a beekeeping resource perspective.
We will report further on the result of the above discussions with Forestry Tasmania, at the end of March.

We continue to be heavily reliant on the advice of beekeepers and other forest users in monitoring when coUpes are being prepared for harvesting. This is critical where a coupe is scheduled for imminent clearfell harvesting by cable method.
Unfortunately the protocol said to be in place where a coupe is found to contain Leatherwood, continues to operate properly only where there is either not an urgent timber resource requirement or where the Leatherwood is in a conveniently concentrated formation and is easily retained without seriously compromising the timber requirement. This makes the ongoing physical coupe by coupe auditing, the only sure way of maximising the retention of the leatherwood resource. Thanks to all our members and other supporters for continued help and advice and more importantly, information about what is occurring in the State Forest.
BOB DAVEY (President ).

Call for rail timetable to be released

The Tasmanian Opposition has accused the State Government of dragging its feet in securing road and rail funding promised by the Federal Government.
The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced a road and rail package worth $440-million during the election campaign.
The Opposition's Infrastructure spokesman, Peter Gutwein, says he has been told one of Pacific National's trains derailed on the Midlands line on Sunday.
"I think the new Infrastructure Minister, rather than crowing about having a super portfolio in Parliament as he was last week should begin doing his job," he said.
"Find out when the money's going to arrive and ensure that Tasmania's road and rail infrastructure receives the necessary funding um that it requires."
He says Tasmania's rail network is deteriorating and this latest incident should be a wake-up call for the Government.
"I think it's long overdue for the Tasmanian Government to not only begin discussions with their federal counterparts but to be to be rolling out a timetable in regards to when we're going to see this rail funding appear and the work to be done that's so desperately needed," he said.
The state's rail operator, Pacific National, could not be reached for comment.

GM foods 'probably safer' than others: scientist

One for you "Just a consumer"
Posted 1 hour 2 minutes ago
A CSIRO scientist has told a Tasmanian parliamentary inquiry that genetically-modified (GM) foods are probably safer than conventionally-grown foods.
Tasmania has a ban on GM foodstuffs.
The CSIRO's Tom Higgins has told the joint select committee investigating gene technology that genetically-modified material is rigorously tested.
"I think it probably is true to say that that, that they are probably safer than conventional foods, just because they undergo so much more regulatory scrutiny," he said.
But Dr Higgins also told the inquiry he abandoned an experiment using genetically modified material after mice were adversely affected.
Dr Higgins said he had tried to make peas resistant to weevils by transferring genetic material into them from beans, but when tested on mice the peas provoked an allergic response.
He says the response was only mild, and was not why he abandoned his research.
"Well, just because of the sensitivities, of people to, to this technology, it seemed to me that it would not be wise to carry on with the project, that had that associated with it.
"I think it was very important to be able to publish those results and say, well, this can happen."

Millions in China to see Tasmania on TV

More than two million Chinese are being urged to travel to Tasmania to experience one of the world’s Last Paradises.
The Minister for Economic Development and Tourism said the series of five half-hour travel programs on Tasmania began in late February on TVB, the most influential television station in Hong Kong.
“Tasmania was one of only two international destinations chosen by TVB to launch its first high-definition travelogue - the nature-based Last Paradise series,” Ms Wriedt said.
“The only other international destination was the Seychelles Island.
“This is such an incredible opportunity for Tasmania because not only does TVB have an immediate household audience of 2.1 million people, but its cable network in China reaches 60 million households worldwide,” Ms Wriedt said.
The program stars celebrity Eason Chan – an acclaimed singer and actor on the threshold of major stardom.
“He was so impressed with Tasmania that he also included shots taken here in his latest music video.”
Ms Wriedt said Tourism Tasmania supported TVB’s visit through its Visiting Journalist Program.
The crew travelled the State in November 2007 to work on filming Last Paradise.
“The program also includes a competition to win a holiday in Tasmania, and contains a range of holiday packages.
“The Last Paradise series adds enormous value to the many promotional activities Tourism Tasmania undertakes in the south-east Asian market, including recent Tasmanian articles in Singapore’s Business Times, Today Newspaper and the Straits Times, Action Asia, Elle Magazine and the Brunei Times,” Ms Wriedt said.
It also comes hot on the heels of a recent visit to Tasmania by five of Hong Kong’s leading executive chefs, who toured the State and sampled our superb natural produce.
“Hong Kong is Tasmania’s second largest export destination, worth $487 million a year. However it currently provides only a few thousand visitors to the State each year,” Ms Wriedt said.
“Programs like these can only help encourage more visitors from this market.
“It’s an expensive market to advertise in, so the smarter Tasmania can be in promoting itself, the further its collective marketing dollar goes,” Ms Wriedt said.

Poppy proliferation

Tasmanian poppy growers are likely to be a lot busier over the next few years, as one of the state's three main poppy processors prepares to heavily increase its workload.
The poppy processor Tasmanian Alkaloids plans to spend more than $60-million on equipment over the next five years to double its output.
The Northern Midlands based company produces thebaine, which is used in analgesics.
The general manager of Tasmanian Alkaloids, Tol Sereda, says the aim of the big spend is to increase their business overseas.
"Australia, in itself, because of the small population base typically only uses a small quantity of of analgesics so most of our market will be in Europe and the United States, which is very dominant," he said.
Mr Sereda says securing more business from the United States and Europe and the move will benefit poppy growers statewide.
"Well the north west coast is the premium growing area, but we do grow throughout Tasmania so it's a matter of expanding all areas."