The study was funded by Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) , an industry body financed by the federal government, member levies and research grants.

“Community perceptions of Australia’s forest, wood and paper industries: implications for social license to operate” surveyed over 12,000 people from throughout Australia and found 70 per cent of urban, and 65 per cent of rural Australians find logging of native forests unacceptable. This compares to just 10 per cent of urban, and 17 per cent of rural Australians finding it acceptable.

The study only examined the native forest logging industry in general and did not specifically examine attitudes to woodchipping. I have absolutely no doubt that an examination of attitudes to woodchipping would produce even more negative results.

The industry itself has virtually admitted this  and understands that it has a problem. While we don’t have specific and detailed data for this region, there is no reason to believe attitudes to native forest logging would be any more positive here.

Indeed, our direct experience of decades of the most intensive logging in the state and and equal to the worst in Australia gives us every reason to expect that support would be lower.

The Eden chipmill was Australia’s first export woodchip mill and it’s time for it to transition to plantation wood or close. I appeal to candidates in the coming state and federal elections to take note of these results. It is not just a hard core of conservationists who’ve had enough of this industry.

Once again we are hearing news releases coming from some black suits in Canberra in regards to the annual migrant intake being responsible for some of the issues facing the capital cities.

Rest assured, the Social Justice Advocates will continue to operate publicly on the Sapphire Coast by continuing the monthly MAGIC meetings, the literacy program, the Multicultural Festival on August 3 next year and the continuing refugee visits in April and July next year.

The Advocates greatly enjoy your company, insights, life stories and look forward to all participants fulfilling your future potential. We recognise clearly the great benefits you bring to our community. We fully endorse the Bega Valley Shire Council’s “Refugees are Welcome” stance and visible signs and will continue to demonstrate this to the broader community by continuing to take actions to show this in practice.

All ideas and suggestions welcome.

Late Friday afternoon I had to go to Big W to get a tube for my grandson’s bike. 

I pulled up opposite the RTA. Sitting in front of me was a very small car with something big and orange hanging out from its front wheel. On closer inspection I saw it was a big witch’s hat.

An elderly lady was sitting in the driver’s seat and I asked her to wind down her window. She was a little reluctant at first; probably as my wife says when I am off to town “get changed you look like a derelict”. 

Finally after taking a while to work out how to get the window down I told her about the witch’s hat and got it out for her.

Apparently on the way into town she was pulled up by the breathalyser. So now the police are short one witch’s hat.