Thread by @jommy_tee

THREAD
@RonniSalt #angusgate #grassgate

Meet John....John Auer. John is a farmer from Tubbut in Vic, near the NSW border. We can't show you John's face...oh hang on a sec we can.

When John's not busy farming he's plotting to kill Australia's native wildlife,especially eagles.

You see John is the "mastermind" behind the deaths of at least 406 wedge tailed eagles over the period 2016-18. John, coached his farm hand, Murray Silvester, on how to poison the majestic raptors. The full stories are here:
theage.com.au/national/victo…
and
abc.net.au/news/2018-09-2…

John, may self-identify as a quiet Australian - we're not sure perhaps the ABC can ask him?

Before John was plotting a species extinction on and around his farm he was also a long time director and part owner of a company called Jam Land.

You may have heard of it.

That's right John Auer was director and part-owner of Jam Land from its inception to 2016.

He left the company in July 2016, and his directorship was assumed by Richard Taylor (Angus' brother).

John Auer, and his partner, owned a total of 48 shares in Jam Land or 33% of the company.

The Auers shareholding was bought by the respective family companies of Angus Taylor, Richard Taylor, Duncan Taylor and Charlie Taylor and Tony Reid on 18 May 2017.

So at roughly the same time as Auer was plotting his eagle poisoning spree he was still a part owner of Jam Land.

Of course Jam Land have been accused of poisoning of a different kind, spraying protected native temperate grasslands. That case is ongoing and ongoing...and ongoing

Seriously, Rip Van Winkle could take a nap and re-awaken and the case would probably still be ongoing.

It begs the question of how well the Taylors knew Auer?

It turns out Auer and Richard Taylor go back to at least 2008 with their involvement in Monaro Farming Systems (MFS)

If you missed it Richard now heads up MFS, and if you also missed it, in 2018 MFS won a land care grant of $563,728.

Ironically, the grant was for implementing new and innovative tools and farm practices.

So Jam Land has had a former owner, Auer, who is a serial killer of eagles, and a bunch of owners and directors who seem incapable of understanding environmental regulation.

And of course they have a Minister who is a part-owner and sought to intervene in the matter.

The reasons for the Auers getting out of Jam Land are unclear.

What is clear, however, is that the farming practices of this bunch of quiet Australians, could not be deemed best practice.

It's a pity that Wendy Craik, who headed up a review, into the matter proffered

So on a day when the the Guardian announces the Bird of the Year....spare a thought for the wedge-tailed eagle which finished sixth.

ENDS

theguardian.com/environment/20…