buzzanddidj wrote on Feb 20
th, 2011 at 12:26pm:
Doubt on cattle trial's impartiality
Melissa Fyfe
February 20, 2011
THE independence of the Baillieu government's controversial alpine grazing trial has been called into question, with the revelation that
cattle farmers
have raised money for the scientist leading the experiment.
This comes as federal
Greens MP Adam Bandt this week finalises Commonwealth environment law amendments designed to force the Gillard government to shut down the trial
, which has reintroduced 400 cattle into Victoria's Alpine National Park.
The Baillieu government chose the University of Sydney's Mark Adams to run the trial, which it says will measure whether grazing reduces high-country fire risk. Cattle were banned from the park by the Bracks government in 2005.
The Mountain Cattlemen's Association of Victoria has since campaigned to return to the park. Last year, the Coalition promised grazing would resume. Since January, cattle have grazed in the park at no cost to the cattlemen.
A 2009 edition of the association's journal Voice of the Mountains reveals that the group considered Professor Adams an ''ally'' and pledged $10,000 to his research into the impact of grazing and low-intensity fires on water production in catchments.
Then president Christa Treasure wrote:
''The cattlemen see his work as vital to our cause and we have pledged $10,000 this year
… But he needs $500,000 a year to continue his long-term study - if anyone would like to donate … please contact our secretary.''
Doubt on cattle trial's impartiality Melissa Fyfe
February 20, 2011
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THE independence of the Baillieu government's controversial alpine grazing trial has been called into question, with the revelation that cattle farmers have raised money for the scientist leading the experiment.
This comes as federal Greens MP Adam Bandt this week finalises Commonwealth environment law amendments designed to force the Gillard government to shut down the trial, which has reintroduced 400 cattle into Victoria's Alpine National Park.
The Baillieu government chose the University of Sydney's Mark Adams to run the trial, which it says will measure whether grazing reduces high-country fire risk. Cattle were banned from the park by the Bracks government in 2005.
Advertisement: Story continues below The Mountain Cattlemen's Association of Victoria has since campaigned to return to the park. Last year, the Coalition promised grazing would resume. Since January, cattle have grazed in the park at no cost to the cattlemen.
A 2009 edition of the association's journal Voice of the Mountains reveals that the group considered Professor Adams an ''ally'' and pledged $10,000 to his research into the impact of grazing and low-intensity fires on water production in catchments.
Then president Christa Treasure wrote: ''The cattlemen see his work as vital to our cause and we have pledged $10,000 this year … But he needs $500,000 a year to continue his long-term study - if anyone would like to donate … please contact our secretary.''
Current association president Mark Coleman said the $10,000 ''tentative pledge'' was offered to Professor Adams, but not accepted. In an email to The Sunday Age, Professor Adams said the University of Sydney has ''never accepted or been offered funds'' from the cattlemen. But the Victorian National Parks Association says the pledge puts a question mark over his relationship with the cattlemen.
''Mark Adams seems to have been given this job without any due process. It is clear he was hand-picked for this job. We need to go back to square one and have an independent group of scientists look at the research needed in the park,'' said spokesman Phil Ingamells.
Mr Coleman said Professor Adams, the university's dean of agriculture, food and natural resources, works in fields of interest to the association. ''It is quite proper, indeed [the association] has a responsibility to its members, to take an interest.''
The reference to Professor Adams as an ''ally'' must be taken in context, he said.
The Baillieu government has refused to answer questions about the cost of the trial and how much Professor Adams is being paid.
The Department of Sustainability and Environment also told The Sunday Age that aspects of the trial have the support of the Australian Academy of Science. The academy, however, reiterated last week that it does not support the trial in its present form and believes it will not produce ''credible scientific evidence''.
The Victorian National Parks Association has received a report from consultants Ecology Australia that says the trial breaches Victoria's National Parks Act. This is backed by legal advice from the Environment Defende
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