http://ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1170314149/6#6
It's a subject of minor interest to Queensland's well-heeled city-set. But even politicians were startled and inspired by the small, nuggetty man in joggers and t-shirt who spoke at the State Library of Queensland last week.
Last Friday night, acclaimed Western Australian author Tim Winton held a hushed gathering of over 200 ocean wardens, art aficionados and Queensland politicians, spellbound.
Patron of the Australian Marine Conservation Society, Tim was asked to speak at their inaugural art auction. In his speach, Winton fearlessly weighed in on a tide of controversy, tackling well-known Queensland "cultural inertia" and partisan fishing industry notions, with particular regard to Moreton Bay zoning issues that in the last few weeks have sparked fierce debate.
Winton said much public comment had been mischievous.
"The widely held concept of 'no fishing' or 'no go zones' in Moreton Bay is an irrational meltdown, a strange conspiracy conceived by hard core extremists with endless demands."
"The Beattie government must stiffen its resolve against those who don't necessarily represent everyone's interests. This is not about the end of fishing [on Moreton Bay]. It is about logic. Only the pressure of logic can prevail against rank paranoia."
Winton was self-deprecating and refreshingly honest.
"I'm not on a sentimental mission. I've killed many marine species and I'm hard-wired to hunting and gathering. But I'm not a complete idiot,"he said.