Ben Quin MR

I cannot support the pulp mill project in its current form. There are two main reasons. The first relates to governance. The Premier of Tasmania, Mr. Lennon, on Thursday and Friday of this week, started claiming that he has achieved a consensus in favour of the project. This is clearly not true. The majority of people with whom I have spoken in Lyons remain opposed to this development in the Tamar Valley.

6th October 2007

PRESS RELEASE

I have this morning tendered my resignation as the Liberal Candidate for Lyons to the Tasmanian Division of the Liberal Party. The Party has accepted it.

This decision is based on the approval for the Gunn’s Pulp Mill to be constructed in the Tamar Valley – it is now a matter of both Federal and State Liberal policy. As such, I am no longer able to express contrary opinions whilst I remain the candidate. In this case, my position has become untenable.

I wish to retain the right to speak openly on matters which I believe represent the opinion of the majority of people in the electorate of Lyons. I have been able to discuss this matter with many hundreds whilst campaigning over the past months.

I cannot support the pulp mill project in its current form. There are two main reasons.

The first relates to governance.

The Premier of Tasmania, Mr. Lennon, on Thursday and Friday of this week, started claiming that he has achieved a consensus in favour of the project. This is clearly not true. The majority of people with whom I have spoken in Lyons remain opposed to this development in the Tamar Valley.

There is a deep mistrust of the way in which the Premier has handled the approval process. Many are concerned about the lack of transparency and accountability with which the Lennon State Government conducts its affairs.

This contamination of State process has driven a wedge into the Tasmanian community and it continues to fuel public anger.

Unfortunately, it is now impossible for many people to distinguish between State and Federal responsibility.

With Federal approvals now granted, there is no effective way for the majority to express their opposition. This has become political bullying and represents a fundamental failure of democracy in Tasmania.

I will not stand as a Liberal candidate in support of such circumstances.

The second reason relates to the pulp mill project itself.

For Tasmania’s rural heartland, this Federal election is about climate change, land use and drought.

The Prime Minister has warned that the economic adjustments Australia must make in the coming years are the most significant we have ever attempted. Against this warning, the pulp mill is a bomb for Tasmania.

Its location and scale are wrong. Most significantly, it will cause long term loss of flexibility in the timber industry. Lack of transparency in the wood supply agreements between Forestry Tasmania and Gunns, makes it impossible to determine the extent to which the project is being subsidized and its risk underwritten by the public forests.

This project does not meet future-economy criteria.

The electorate of Lyons, home to many of Tasmania’s farmers and agribusinesses, has a great deal to lose over the next 30 years if we accept the project in its current design, and in the shadow cast by the fast track approval process. It should be rejected.

I will continue to speak out on these matters. Thank you.

Ben Quin