News 
 National News 
 National 
 General 
 Grazier Peter Spencer ends hunger strike after 52 days 

Grazier Peter Spencer ends hunger strike after 52 days

13 Jan, 2010 11:03 AM
NSW grazier Peter Spencer will today be admitted to hospital, ending a 52-day hunger strike over land-clearing laws he says made his property unviable.

The 61-year-old has been fasting in a tent, 10 metres up a wind-monitoring mast on his 5600-hectare property in the high country near Cooma, since November.

But after growing concerns for Mr Spencer’s failing health, his doctor and family organised a bed at a nearby hospital.

He told radio station 2GB his sons would be helping him down from the wind mast today.

‘‘I’ve had to give it a lot of thought,’’ Mr Spencer said.

‘‘The most difficult thing has been, even though many have said ‘Peter you’ve got to come down’, my concerns were that the moment I did, those immoral leaders in our parliament houses that have taken away a lot of our rights ... they’d just put their heads back in the sand.

‘‘I thought about it and ... I spoke to my family and I decided I would come down today so my sons are going to lift me down ... and take me to hospital.

‘‘So it’s over from that perspective but I’m not going to stop ... I’m determined, determined to make these politicians answer to the people.’’

The hunger strike was the latest in a long line of measures Mr Spencer took to draw attention to his plight and those of many other farmers and graziers in NSW and Queensland.

He is campaigning for a royal commission into legislation that bans farmers from clearing native vegetation on their properties.

Mr Spencer says the laws caused his business to fail and is the main reason he now faces the forced sale of his property.

‘‘As much as the nation is concerned about me, my concerns are directed at the families of the hundreds of farmers who have suicided and the politicians who have failed to show any concern,’’ he said in a statement.

Mr Spencer said he planned to continue to lobby the Federal Government for a royal commission.

Print
Increase Text Size
Decrease Text Size



comments


Date: Newest first | Oldest first
Looks like red neck radio & the National Party has lost it's media pin up boy. 2HD will now resume normal transmissions.
Posted by Terry Arki, 13/01/2010 12:09:56 PM
The most significant point about Peter Spencer's protest is that his constitutional rights have been ignored. Section 51 of the constitution clearly states " The Parliament shall have the power to make laws for the peace order and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to the acquisition of property ON JUST TERMS from any State or person for any purpose.........." It seems the dysfunctional NSW Government has ridden roughshod over the Constitution ably abetted by Mr Do Nothing, Kevin Rudd. Both the State and Federal members for the high country once again demonstrated how ineffectual they are by doing nothing to support Mr Spence in his brave pursuit of justice.
Posted by buck, 13/01/2010 1:36:19 PM
Its a win for native vegetation. Climb on down back to earth, and while you are down there look on up at those lovely big trees that are born of this soil, born of this country and appreciate their beauty, or bury your head in the sand!
Posted by tyedel, 13/01/2010 2:21:29 PM
I think Terry Arki has said it all by his compassionless smart alec comments. By denigrating an honest hard working gentlemen like Peter Spencer who has been driven to extreme because of this atrocious law, shows Terry Arki is out of touch with real Australians. Fair minded Australians should applaud Mr Spencer and feel compassion and concern for his plight, and not make ill conceived uneducated generalisations like Mr Arki has done. Being prevented from wishing to clear parts of his own land and now being forced to sell is disgraceful. Rudd and Arki should be ashamed of themselves!
Posted by Mohammed, 13/01/2010 3:23:27 PM
this has become a world wide joke for this so called aussie country. and the so called pollies good god just look about you and what do we see every day beautiful trees been cut down by devolpers for housing estates and there is nothing been done about it, then money sure speaks many lanuages for the greedy councils who approve for this to be allowed to happen, then we have to wait for a permit from the council to touch a tree in our yard that could cause a great deal of damage . let alone thinking of cutting down as mr spencer wants to do in his land. just go ahead sir and do what you want to do as the prime minister is not likly to come near he should tell him australia is a big place go find somewhere else. i wish you all the best in the future and a speedy recovery and aussies should be proud to know you. ROXANE
Posted by roxy, 13/01/2010 3:26:41 PM
So, it's been recently revealed that Mr Spencer didn't even own the land He was sitting on and wanted to clear after it was awarded to others some time ago by a court...didn't take him long to come down once the truth was out.
Posted by dusty, 13/01/2010 5:09:54 PM
Who cares...the guy got hungry and came down. Why do we have sympathy for people that take such extreme measures. It's because the politically correct do-gooders are taking over society..how sad. Sometimes life isn't fair, get on with it.
Posted by Mr T, 13/01/2010 11:59:41 PM
Relief is at hand people.from the 18th Allan Jones and Ray hadlee will be on the local AM station and you canberra will find out what real australia is thinking and how they are all behind this brave man Spencer.
Posted by stanby01, 14/01/2010 11:54:30 AM
Sorry Buck but where are the traditional owners Rights under this Constitution you talk about? My father was a farmer but he didn't destroy native trees. This was a political stunt to bring the red necks out - and it certainly did. Takes us back to the days of the Coogee Beach race riots. I just hope these vandals don't take us back to the bad old Howard days.
Posted by Annie, 3/02/2010 6:31:07 PM

post a comment


Screen name  *
Email address  *
Remember me?
Comment  *
 
We invite and encourage our readers to post comments. Comments are moderated and will appear as soon as our editor has approved them. When posting comments you agree to be bound by our Terms and Conditions.
Peter Spencer ... determined. Photo: Glen McCurtayne
Peter Spencer ... determined. Photo: Glen McCurtayne

Most popular articles

University of Canberra Arts-Design



 SEND...
 SAVE...
 SHARE...