Peter Spencer comes to town

MEETING organiser Anne Thompson joined local farmer Brenda Bryant to meet Peter Spencer at McKees Hill Hall on Tuesday night.

Doug Eaton

THE hunger-striking farmer Peter Spencer brought his Tower of Hope Tour to Mckees Hill on Tuesday night.

About 200 people turned up to hear a presentation from the man who undertook a 52-day hunger strike to protest against the NSW Native Vegetation Act, which he claims ‘locked up’ his farm.

Mr Spencer, who spoke for more than 90 minutes, had a clear message – government regulation had gone too far.

Mr Spencer evoked the names of Martin Luther and Mahatma Gandhi, even the Anzacs and the suffragettes got a mention, to inspire farmers to take up the fight against the government.

Red in the face and at times screaming and weeping, Mr Spencer told farmers they were serfs on their own land and the government had become like an aristocracy.

“The new aristocracy sees us like a big Friesian cow they can just keep milking,” he said.

According to Mr Spencer, the Australian Government had stolen 190 million hectares of land from farmers to meet requirements under the Kyoto Protocol.

Mr Spencer said Australians were being made to feel good about achieving Kyoto targets, but farmers were being ripped off in order to meet them.

Mr Spencer also criticised the National Farmers Federation, who had done nothing for farmers whose land had been stolen, he claimed.

“They serve two masters (farmers and the government),” he said.

During his speech former NSW Premier Bob Carr, former prime minister Paul Keating and the current federal Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water, Penny Wong, came under fire.

The government and the court’s legislative powers had become too strong, Mr Spencer said.

“Why pass a law to take people’s land when it’s stealing,” he said.

Mr Spencer also said environmental extremists had used fear tactics to lock up farmer’s land and when it came to endangered animals, the people should be asked if they want to save them before they steal people’s land to do so.

The tour is continuing through Northern NSW and Queensland.

Related stories:

http://www.northernstar.com.au/story/2010/03/13/hungry-for-some-action/

http://www.northernstar.com.au/story/.../govt-over-regulation-focus-of-action-plan/

http://www.northernstar.com.au/story/2010/01/04/hunger-strike-raises-hackles/

http://www.northernstar.com.au/.../weary-protesters-home-after-land-clearing-fight/

http://www.northernstar.com.au/story/2010/.../farmers-maintain-rage-on-land-use/