Angus “The Enforcer” Taylor – out to settle the score

Yesterday, STT covered day one of proceedings last week before the Planning Assessment Commission dealing with the proposal being tossed up by Thai wind scammers RATCH to destroy the peaceful hamlet of Collector in NSW.

STT hears that it was one seriously spirited little meeting.

In a bold move, the Clean Energy Council sent one of their goons to berate the locals for their temerity in opposing RATCH and its plan to line its pockets with a steady stream of RECs.

Her attitude and approach to the local crowd can be summed up as: how dare these climate change denying red-necks express their opposition to a foreign corporation’s plan to use buckets of Australian taxpayers’ money to destroy their otherwise harmonious community?  The cheek of these people.

When the CEC’s spin doctor started lashing into the huge and hostile crowd the Commissioners reminded her that it was the Panel that she had to convince and that by directing her attention to the crowd she was only inviting trouble.

Faced with a challenge about the impact of giant fans on property values she blundered on, telling locals that she came from the Gold Coast and that the value of her property there had fallen by 30% in the last couple of years.

A band of rambunctious young rapscallions at the rear of the hall – in rather colourful language – told the hapless lassie that she was more than welcome to return to the Gold Coast.  One of the words comprising that robust spur-of-the-moment invitation apparently rhymed with “truck”. Fair enough!

Local Federal Member, Angus “The Enforcer” Taylor was at the meeting and gives his take on the enormous backlash dished up by locals in this cracking interview on Alan Jones.

Alan has a little radio show that more than just a few Australians tune into each morning. Syndicated through over 77 Stations and with close to 2 million listeners Countrywide – AJ as he’s known – is one of those people that leads the political charge on many issues that really affect ordinary Australians and which the rest of the press ignore.

For a truly brilliant interview click on the player below or watch the movie (non-flash devices).

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Angus doesn’t mince his words and made it crystal clear that – with the RET review about to kick off – anyone thinking of “investing” in wind farms in Australia must have rocks in their head:

“And one of the most compelling things that the community at Collector said to the PAC was there is going to be a review of this scheme. Why don’t you hold off? It just doesn’t make sense to get on with this.

You know, frankly, if I was an investor and I sat through that PAC session – I would have walked away. There is just no way. Why would any investor want to invest in this and against the community? And with so many risks? It’s just crazy.”

In case anyone didn’t get the point we will spell it out in capital letters: R-I-S-K.

That’s what’s dripping off every wind farm proposed, from SA to Queensland, and all points in between.

As we reported a few posts back The Enforcer is looking to settle scores with the wind industry and its goons over the way they treated him during the election campaign.  Personal attacks were one thing, but hostile and pernicious attacks on his family were clearly a bridge too far.

The wind industry may have drawn first blood, but STT thinks it will be Taylor that lands the last and fatal blow.

One other curious feature of the Collector meeting was the appearance of the elusive Frank Bestic.  Yesterday, we reported on Frank’s battle to save his patch of paradise at Biala, which is just up the road from Goulburn in NSW.

STT has put out an “all points bulletin” in an effort to bring Frank in from the cold.

As we reported yesterday, Frank apparently worked for Transfield Services – until very recently – which is an outfit responsible for dropping fans all over the Australian countryside.

STT fears for Frank’s safety, because, if Transfield Services get to him first, he could be in serious trouble.

We know that Frank was very keen to be at the Collector meeting.  Here’s his email to Linda Pahl making sure he could speak at the meeting and that he would be “on message” when he did.

From: Frank Bestic [mailto:frank.bestic@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, 9 October 2013 8:09 AM
To: Linda Pahl

Subject: Re: FW: Notification of PAC Meeting l Collector Project Amended Time and Venue

Dear Linda

I wanted to ask your advice please. I see there is the opportunity for individuals to have a say at the meeting. I was wondering if I should register and, if so, what I should say in support of the cause?

I’d appreciate your advice.

Kind regards
Frank

Thoughtful, courageous Frank Bestic – exactly the kind of anti-wind power fraud warrior we celebrate at STT.

Linda Pahl is always quick to spot a new recruit.  Here’s her earlier response to another email from Frank:

On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 2:00 PM, linda pahl wrote:

Thank you for your email.  Format of NSW Planning Assessment Commission is formal and legal.

1. Presentations will be given by those who have submitted formal submissions in writing 18 months ago.  These submissions were both from those who object and from those that profit from this development.

This is the legal final stage of the approval process and will simply ‘rubber stamp’ the NSW Dept of Planning eagerness to industrialise our rural community with useless windfarms aplenty.

Over 80% of Collector residents (within 5 kms) of these 63 turbines have opposed the development. (Professional market survey done).  But this matters not.

We as a community have offered a voice by many to local, national and international media and radio, in addition to political briefings.

We worked hard to get our politicians to stop and listen to the many concerns about industrial windfarms.

In the recent federal election we now have an understanding ear from this new Govt at long last, but for NSW Govt the juggernaut continues regardless.  They are not benign windmills.

However the facility will get approval regardless of our concerns.  Concerns that are now told globally from England to Japan to Denmark to the USA.  And multinationals will get their booty of subsidies which form a large part of your increased power bills. They will sell this facility quickly and run away, I am sure.

With our extensive and deep submission, Friends of Collector, it has all come to zip and we are simply ‘road kill’ for the greater good of any multinational with a cheque book to do as they wish to regional communities who have a lesser VOTE than our city counterparts. There are less of us so we do not really matter. The juggernaut rolls on.

2. I am happy to enter you on my Friends of Collector email list just need to provide me with details of email, your name, address and your involvement to date.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings but I wonder if this is a democracy at all.  People’s Republic of China is more our governance model.

3. I am happy to provide you with recent emails of the process unfolding Tues 29th Oct 2013.

All the best
Linda Pahl

Frank came back, quick as a flash, with this fine response.

On 03/10/2013, at 4:37 PM, Frank Bestic <frank.bestic@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Linda

Thank you for getting back to me so quickly. Far from ramblings, I think your email speaks volumes about what I am increasingly understanding is causing such community grievance in the Southern Tablelands.

I live to the west of the Biala Wind Farm, which you are no doubt aware is currently at the proposal stage.

I am eager to understand your experiences on the frontline as I commence my opposition to this new ridiculous proposal.

I have had several email correspondences with Sarah Laurie over the last 12-18 months and she has been extremely generous with her time and information (she must have tremendous energy).

You can reach me on this email at all times frank.bestic@gmail.com. If you don’t mind I would prefer to keep my address confidential; I prefer the quieter life. In fact, perhaps I could ask you a favour to include my email address as “bcc” in your correspondence to the larger group?

Best regards and I look forward to meeting you in the near future.

Frank Bestic

What a warrior.  Clever and careful in equal measure.  You can tell that this man is in bitter earnest.  This Country needs more like him.

And the fact that he was very keen to keep his email address confidential suggests that Frank knows the risks he faces – that’s right Frank, it pays to fly under the radar – “loose lips, sink ships”.

Be brave Frank.  Our best people are on this – you are not alone – hang in there – we will reach you soon.