Environment
Mill: the approval
Paul Oosting MR
“A Roy Morgan poll from November last year showed that a majority of Australian electors wanted an inquiry to review the assessment process that approved Gunns’ pulp mill . Instead of an inquiry we have Peter Garrett and the Labor Party approving the first stages of a environmental and climate change disaster.”
MEDIA RELEASE – Friday 1st February
GARRETT APPROVES CLEARING OF PULP MILL SITE
In an act of cowardice that highlights the unpopularity of his decision, Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett, announced his approval for clearing of vegetation on Gunns’ proposed pulp mill site at 5:20pm this afternoon.
“In the hope of avoiding media scrutiny, Peter Garrett has highlighted his government’s unease with the pulp mill and shown total disregard for the people of Australia by approving parts of the pulp mill construction last thing on a Friday afternoon,” said Paul Oosting, pulp mill campaigner for The Wilderness Society. “This decision is not final approval for the mill, but limited approval to clear endangered species habitat on the pulp mill site”.
“Endangered species such as the Tasmanian Devil, Green and Gold Bell frog and the Mt Arthur Burrowing crayfish are known to inhabit the site and local populations of these species would be threatened by the clearing to make way for the pulp mill. “
“The impact on these species is greatly overshadowed by the impacts Gunns’ pulp mill would have on climate change, Tasmania’s native forests and forest dependent wildlife. These issues have gone totally unassessed by Minister Garrett,” said Mr Oosting.
Despite this approval, the development of the mill is still far from guaranteed. Gunns’ board is yet to agree to go ahead with the project, they are yet to meet significant environmental conditions such as the impact of effluent on Bass Strait and the ANZ bank have yet to decide on financing the project.
“Despite significant hurdles and the fact that Gunns’ still haven’t proven they can meet another 14 module’s, including how the daily discharge of 64,000 tonnes of effluent will affect Bass Strait, Peter Garrett is allowing Gunns to start destroying endangered species habitat,” said Mr Oosting.
“A Roy Morgan poll from November last year showed that a majority of Australian electors wanted an inquiry to review the assessment process that approved Gunns’ pulp mill . Instead of an inquiry we have Peter Garrett and the Labor Party approving the first stages of a environmental and climate change disaster.”
“Native forest logging needed to feed the pulp mill is conservatively estimated to add 2% to Australia’s annual greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of an extra 2.3 million cars on the roads every year. Claiming to tackle climate change on one hand and approving the pulp mill on the other is the height of hypocrisy for the Rudd Government.”
“As Minister Garrett has failed the people and refused to take into account the climate change implications of the mill, we call on Climate Change Minister Penny Wong to intervene.”
“To lead the world on addressing climate change the Rudd Government must reject Gunns’ pulp mill,” concluded Mr Oosting.