truth about the protesters

We have been visited by several posters in the last week who have attempted to mislead the MEL shareholders regarding the feelings of Casino residents. I was speaking to a farmer who was closely involved in the Doubtful Creek Protest via his position with a voluntary organisation this morning and I felt shareholders might be interested in his comments.

1. The "farmers" who have been trotted out as examples of grass roots support for the protest are really hobby farmers.One source remarked that "if you mustered all their cattle together you'd be flat out getting enough for a hamburger."

2. A survey was conducted on all vehicles parked at the protest and 50% carried Qld plates. Those protesters arrested were from outside the area.

3. The protesters camped on the side of the road and used the area as toilet. Human waste was not removed.

4. Items were stolen from local farms including $1,500 worth of diesel. Locks were filled with superglue. In case a plank used by an elderly lady to cross her cattle grid was stolen.
(later recovered from the roof of a protesters vehicle).

5. Parents of school age children spent an extra hour per day driving their kids around the protest to the school bus.
This was to stop distress to the children as the family was heckled each time they passed through. The mother was also concerned at spectacle of people openly using the road as a toilet.
A mother with a young baby on board was harassed and her vehicle damaged.
Policemen were told "we know where your kids go to school".

6. Protesters were paid to protest. The going rate I have been told was $17.50 per hour. Bonus paid for bringing your kids and chooks. (chooks were encouraged to get onto the road so that motorists would slow down enough to be harassed).

7. A local farmer who has placed several letters in the Express Examiner regarding the actions of the protesters has received overwhelming support from the farming and town community.( the same letters were submitted to the Northern Star but rejected for publication. Surprised?)

8. Many farmers see this issue as a "draw a line in the sand" moment. As a farmer said "the governments have shafted us over native vegetation, live cattle exports and the RSPCA wants to shut saleyards down.If we don't stand up for our rights now we'll have none left."

I post the above purely as anecdotes I have collected from the locals at Doubtful Creek to highlight the real situation from the false picture built up by LTG. If anything I feel the events of the last three months has damaged their standing in the community. If MEL can re-group in six months it should be possible to counter their influence far more effectively and hopefully shareholders will see their patience rewarded.

Cheers,
CC