We now find those same people demanding that we waste up to $200 million on a plebiscite to reverse that decision. Several members say that they will ignore the result. Please can we demand that the politicians do the job they were elected for; make the decision, with a free vote.

TRAVELLERS on roads in the Tamar region during the last week may well have wondered what was going on if the saw people in high visibility vests, scurrying up and down banks on the sides of the roads, cutting down shrubs with a mass of yellow flowers. 

What they were seeing is some of the small army of community volunteers mobilised by Tamar NRM for the annual Boneseed Blitz.

Volunteers from Landcare groups, family groups and “Friends of’ groups have covered hundreds of kilometres of roads in the Launceston, West Tamar and George Town municipalities cutting down boneseed plants and poisoning the stumps to prevent regrowth and pulling out seedlings from the sides of roads, parks and reserves and the foreshore along the Tamar River.

It is pleasing to note that since the start of the annual Boneseed Blitz in 2005, landholders have become aware of the threat of boneseed and many actively remove the weed on their own properties and where they see it on public land.

With this volunteer effort during the “blitz”, boneseed has been effectively controlled along many roadsides and reserves.

Boneseed (chrysanthemoides monilifera) is a woody weed and is common within the Tamar Valley. It can grow densely and crowd out native vegetation and animals. It can also impact on public recreation.

Originating in South Africa, boneseed is a weed of national significance and invades natural areas and will out-compete native plants, reducing biodiversity.

It can be found in disturbed bushland, housing development blocks, and coastal vegetation and even suburban gardens. This time of year it can be easily seen with its bright yellow daisy-like flowers.

As boneseed is a ‘declared weed’, it is the responsibility of all landholders to control on their land. I urge landholders, land managers, large and small, and gardeners to do their bit and take the opportunity to blitz their boneseed before it seeds.

I love Pauline Hanson very much because more she speaks against Muslims, more I get motivated to prove her wrong by doing all the right things.

I respect Australia’s judicial system as I have never found it contrary to Islamic Sharia law. I chose this country and its democratic values more than a decade ago and I have never been unemployed.

Along with my full-time jobs, I have earned four tertiary qualifications and presently working towards my doctorate degree.

I have never missed any social event, including Clean-up Australia Day, Red Cross Knock Door Appeal, or any other charity event. Just this year, I have helped my small community to raise more than $46,000 for Red Cross.

I have been enjoying the freedom of religion and conscious, immense love and support from Australian community, although Ms Hanson does not sound Australian to me.