Sue Neales Mercury: EXTRAORDINARY claims about the approval of Gunns’ pulp mill have been aired before a parliamentary committee. They include:
FORMER Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon told his deputy premier Steve Kons in early February 2007, that the Tamar Valley pulp mill would be approved within four months. In explosive evidence this morning, Mr Kons’ former government driver Mike Hawkes said his boss was told on Sunday February 4, during a meeting at Mr Lennon’s country home, that the $2 billion Gunns pulp mill would be approved by May. In early February 2007, the Gunns pulp mill was still being formally assessed for approval by the State’s main planning body, the Resource Planning and Development Commission. Gunns did not officially pull out of the RPDC assessment process until March 14, claiming it was taking too long. The following day, Mr Lennon announced special fast track legislation would be put before parliament to make sure the major project was approved within six months.
MR HAWKES. who was compelled under summons to face questioning by the parliamentary inquiry, had earlier revealed that Mr Kons, the former deputy premier, had regarded Cabinet as “bullshit”. The government chauffeur said Mr Kons had told him that all important decisions were made at a separate meeting held every week prior to Cabinet, attended by Premier Paul Lennon, Mr Kons, Treasurer Michael Aird and the head of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Linda Hornsey. “Steve said, ‘Cabinet is bullshit, Mike, all of the main decisions are made before Cabinet’,” Mr Hawkes told the committee. Read more here
