A) All Integrated Impact Statement (IIS) work relating to impacts on the public should be identified, forecast and carried out by competent, independent personnel who have no vested interest in the outcome and are not in a position to be unduly influenced by either Gunns, or those who have already declared a bias (e.g. State government).
B) Issues to be explored in the IIS should be fleshed out with public meetings held by an independent body, where members of the public are invited to comment freely and safely on any concerns that they may have about the proposal.
C) Respondents for the public interest should have access to financial support to prepare submissions and proposals and be treated equally in all respects to the proponent.
D) All decision makers for the pulp mill proposal should be required to sign a declaration that neither they, nor their families, have any interest in Gunns.
E) Competitive options for use (or conservation) of the resources that are proposed to be used by the proponent, should be sought both locally and internationally and at least 2 such options should be used as comparisons when reaching a decision about the proposed pulp mill to help assure Tasmanians are getting the best deal.
F) A clear context in terms of resource use and the development of the region involved, should be provided or created so that any decision is made within a known and unambiguous context.
G) All facts and decisions should be recorded and all discussion and information should be made part of the public record within 2 days of those discussions.
H) Any decision is made public with comprehensive reasons provided, and supported by evidence.
The results of these suggestions would mean that the outcome would express the context and boundaries in which any recommendations are made, that the process was transparent and patently comprehensive, that other alternatives for the future had been considered and evaluated using standard methods and that the recommendations were therefore likely to be the best decisions for the Tasmanian people, its government, its businesses and in the long-term stability of the pulp mill itself.
Mike Bolan is consultant with Executive Planning P/L
Today,
Concern at mill group’s power
Earlier,
Pulp smoke and mirrors
