Remarks draw wrath
By Geoff Adams
October 21 2002
Country News
If anyone was wondering about the cynicism of some Melbourne people about the drought, their fears were confirmed in a Melbourne newspaper last week.
The Age columnist, Ross Gittins, raised the ire of farmers with an assertion that the drought is really just bad farm management.
The column has become much talked about in the Goulburn Valley and was the sub-ject of a phone-in on ABC rural radio on Wednesday.
Mr Gittins suggested that farmers could minimise the effects of drought "by doing a lot more to preserve the fer-tility level and moisture level of their soil".
Among the remarks:
n "Make a note; droughts aren't bad luck, they're bad management."
n "Farming must be the only for-profit industry in the coun-try that passes round the hat whenever profits slip."
n "If we really care about the drought, we'll stop feeling sorry for farmers who mismanage their businesses and then want to blame it on the Almighty."
n "In plainer English, those who donate to drought appeals are showing as much kindness as people who'd give a drug addict another hit."
Living in Melbourne can be a bit cosseting so Mr Gittins may not have had the opportunity of seeing the dry countryside which is normally green in spring.
He may not have seen the rainfall figures which show that the drought is an exceptional event, categorised by some authorities as a one in a 100-year event.
He may not have had the benefit of seeing Lake Eildon at 24 per cent of capacity and of talking to the engineers who can explain that only rain can fill the reservoir and without the reservoir there is no irrigation water.
He may not have seen the press release from the Victorian Government, a week after $28 million in drought support was released, announcing that $32 million was going to be spent on three Melbourne zoos.
He may not have been able to see the Victorian car industry factories which have benefited from the largesse of successive federal and state governments.
He may not have to use the heavily subsidised Melbourne public transport system for which we all pay, even if we don't use it.
He may not also have read about how Australia has be-come the champion of free trade by sacrificing farm returns, and how the United States and European community contribute massive subsidies to their farmers.
But chances are Mr Gittins does eat and enjoy the fruits of the farmers' labour, comfortable in the knowledge that it is the "cleanest", prepared under stringent quality and safety conditions.
As for his comment that the public is rarely told about the good farmers - that's his newspaper's fault, not the farmers'.
http://www.countrynews.com.au/story.asp?TakeNo=200210210930551
By Geoff Adams
October 21 2002
Country News
If anyone was wondering about the cynicism of some Melbourne people about the drought, their fears were confirmed in a Melbourne newspaper last week.
The Age columnist, Ross Gittins, raised the ire of farmers with an assertion that the drought is really just bad farm management.
The column has become much talked about in the Goulburn Valley and was the sub-ject of a phone-in on ABC rural radio on Wednesday.
Mr Gittins suggested that farmers could minimise the effects of drought "by doing a lot more to preserve the fer-tility level and moisture level of their soil".
Among the remarks:
n "Make a note; droughts aren't bad luck, they're bad management."
n "Farming must be the only for-profit industry in the coun-try that passes round the hat whenever profits slip."
n "If we really care about the drought, we'll stop feeling sorry for farmers who mismanage their businesses and then want to blame it on the Almighty."
n "In plainer English, those who donate to drought appeals are showing as much kindness as people who'd give a drug addict another hit."
Living in Melbourne can be a bit cosseting so Mr Gittins may not have had the opportunity of seeing the dry countryside which is normally green in spring.
He may not have seen the rainfall figures which show that the drought is an exceptional event, categorised by some authorities as a one in a 100-year event.
He may not have had the benefit of seeing Lake Eildon at 24 per cent of capacity and of talking to the engineers who can explain that only rain can fill the reservoir and without the reservoir there is no irrigation water.
He may not have seen the press release from the Victorian Government, a week after $28 million in drought support was released, announcing that $32 million was going to be spent on three Melbourne zoos.
He may not have been able to see the Victorian car industry factories which have benefited from the largesse of successive federal and state governments.
He may not have to use the heavily subsidised Melbourne public transport system for which we all pay, even if we don't use it.
He may not also have read about how Australia has be-come the champion of free trade by sacrificing farm returns, and how the United States and European community contribute massive subsidies to their farmers.
But chances are Mr Gittins does eat and enjoy the fruits of the farmers' labour, comfortable in the knowledge that it is the "cleanest", prepared under stringent quality and safety conditions.
As for his comment that the public is rarely told about the good farmers - that's his newspaper's fault, not the farmers'.
http://www.countrynews.com.au/story.asp?TakeNo=200210210930551