AS PETER SPENCER ended his 52-day hunger strike, a family member last night drew a line under suggestions that the NSW grazier had climbed up his pole over a family debt.
The person said: ''Any suggestion that his debt to family members was behind the protest is completely inaccurate. We are all pleased at the news that Peter has come down, and we look forward to his full recovery.
''Peter's hunger strike was motivated by his concern at the effects of the Native Vegetation Act and other related issues.''
Mr Spencer burst into tears after being winched by a harness from his coup, 10 metres above the ground on his property at Shannons Flat, near Cooma. He said he had never expected the hunger strike to last so long.
Mr Spencer was urged by his doctors to end the hunger strike after concerns that his pulse rate, heart condition and low electrolytes could do permanent damage.
''The surgeon called me at 4pm yesterday [Tuesday] and I made the decision to come down then,'' Mr Spencer told the Sydney Morning Herald.
''But once I made that decision I had to really steel myself to stay up there another night before I could come down. It [the last night] was the hardest thing I have ever done.''
Mr Spencer was protesting over land clearing laws that prevent farmers removing trees from their properties without a permit. The laws were introduced, in part, to help Australia reduce carbon emissions and meet its Kyoto Protocol target.
Farmers have long demanded compensation for not being able to remove trees from their land, and Mr Spencer has called for a royal commission into the laws. He would continue his campaign for an investigation, he said.
He was too weak to walk yesterday and was taken by ambulance to Cooma hospital, where he was to stay overnight for observation. He said that he hoped his first meal would be salmon, but thought it would more likely be steak. He survived the 52 days consuming just water, lemon juice, vitamin tablets and painkillers.
The acting Environment Minister, Penny Wong, said the Federal Government welcomed the news that Mr Spencer had given up his protest and said the parliamentary secretary for water, Dr Mike Kelly, was willing to meet Mr Spencer to discuss his concerns. ''Mr Spencer has certainly made his point very clear,'' Senator Wong said.
The Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, said the grazier had made ''an important point''.
''I think he's … highlighted the failures of the Labor Government, both here in NSW and federally, to deal with this issue.''
The Nationals Senator, Barnaby Joyce, who has publicly backed Mr Spencer's campaign, said he would continue to fight against ''these crazy environmental laws''.
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