Dave Groves
TODAY’S Examiner has John Gay surfacing at last to spruik the wonders of his now apparently pulped dream. Jobs, $150m on the line
Fear is his weapon of choice in his spinning oratory with “jobs” at the top of his list.
“Believe me, Tasmania will go through a very, very difficult period and commercially, fundamentally and financially this State is losing jobs rapidly,” Mr Gay said.
Who writes this poppycock for Mr Gay?
We have never seen such wealth in the state and we have never had it so good.
The only ones who are shedding jobs seem to be the forest sector and we all know that they are only there due to the massive tax subsidies provided in lieu of health and education.
Changes to the company’s structure would be made immediately if Monday’s decision was not favourable, Mr Gay said.
Gunns have been trading in recent times at around 25% of what they were when this archaic project was first announced, which was a few days after they announced the infamous “Gunns 20” SLAPP suit. Why have they waited so long to do something about their dire situation?
“If the mill doesn’t go ahead and we don’t add value to forestry, it will be a downward spiral and that means jobs will be lost in the forestry sector.” (John Gay).
Jobs are already being shed in the forest industry because the focus remains on the high volume low return woodchip industry.
They are competing in a market that has cheaper labour costs and much faster turn around on resource than the Tasmanian model could ever dream of.
They rely on MIS to keep the company afloat, but this flawed scheme in now rapidly unravelling.
Their first and last resort for cash flow has been realised by the giveaway of our iconic Tasmanian native forest by Forestry Tasmania as so beautifully framed by Sam Rosewarne in the recent photo of a queue of log trucks waiting to enter the chippers at Triabunna.
Is this the fear campaign the last resort for Gunns to push Garrett into signing off on the pulped project so they can do what with it exactly?
As this fiasco enters year five, finance is as remote as it ever was. Let’s face it; it’s a dead horse that is well and truly on the nose.
Lastly I must mention Peter Garrett, the man who rode to fortune and fame on the back of the environment who is no doubt busily dusting over Gunns “modules” instead of hanging at the beach.
“Peter Garrett said he would work through the weekend to finalise assessment of the remaining 12 modules”.
This is not a good look for Garett.
It seems that he is like the school kid with homework for the holidays who decides on the last day that he better get something done to make it look like he has had a go.
This show is one of bad dreams.
