The elevation of Evan

Peg Putt MR

“This appointment is Paul Lennon’s way of saying, ‘if you thought that me and my government were too inclined to do Gunns’ bidding and make special rules just for them, you haven’t seen anything yet’.”

TASMANIA: BRANCH OFFICE OF THE FOREST INDUSTRY
Greens Horrified by Rolley Appointment to DPAC
Peg Putt MHA
Greens Opposition Leader
Monday, 17 September 2007
For Comment: Peg Putt, 0418 127 580
The Tasmanian Greens today are horrified by the appointment of former Forestry Tasmania CEO Evan Rolley to head the Premier’s Department, saying that Paul Lennon has chosen to overtly consolidate forest industry control of government.

Greens Opposition Leader Peg Putt MHA believes that the politicisation of the public service will go further under the new appointment, and that the Premier should have looked for new, young talent with a strong social justice background so as to prioritise tackling major problems in health, housing and human services in Tasmania.

“How incredible that Paul Lennon should move to strengthen forest industry control of government by appointing Mr Rolley to head the Premier’s Department at time when the Premier has been widely criticised for being too close to Gunns Ltd,” Ms Putt said.

“This appointment is Paul Lennon’s way of saying, ‘if you thought that me and my government were too inclined to do Gunns’ bidding and make special rules just for them, you haven’t seen anything yet’.”

“Mr Rolley was highly political in the way he conducted himself at Forestry Tasmania, and now the politicisation of Tasmania’s public service will go further as the government becomes a sort of forest industry branch office.”

“It’s a missed opportunity for Tasmania and a sad indictment of the Premier’s priorities at a time when new blood and a stronger focus on social justice issues are needed.”

“Tasmania has enormous problems in the delivery of health, housing and human services which will worsen as our population rapidly ages and we needed someone focused on these areas, not a blast from the redneck past.”

Ms Putt pointed out that the forestry old boys’ club in government now involved:

• the former CEO of Forestry Tasmania becoming DPAC head;

• a former head of the Forest Industries Association of Tasmania (FIAT), Mr Mark Addis, heading the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources;

• the former head of the infamous Pulp Mill Task Force (which acted as Gunns’ PR agent) Mr Bob Gordon now heading Forestry Tasmania.