Pulp mill threats and bullying must end

Kim Booth Greens MR
“For Gunns to bleat about job losses in the timber industry is hypocrisy on a breathtaking scale, with 30% of forest contractors facing financial ruin due to harsh and oppressive contracts forced on them by Forestry Tasmania and Gunns.”

PULP MILL THREATS AND BULLYING MUST END
Public Sick of ‘Chicken Little’ John Gay
Kim Booth MP
Pulp Mill Spokesperson
Saturday, 3 January 2009

www.tas.greens.org.au

The Tasmanian Greens today responded to threats made by Gunns Ltd boss John Gay to sack workers and reduce expenditure in plantation expansions if Federal government approval for the polluting Longreach pulp mill was not granted on Monday 5 January 2009.

Greens’ Pulp Mill spokesperson Kim Booth MP said that Mr Gay is regurgitating the same empty threats of economic doom that were parroted by he and ex-Premier Paul Lennon when they rushed its approval through Parliament.

“John Gay is sounding more and more like Chicken Little every day, but the Tasmanian public would heave a sigh of relief if the Federal government finally bins this polluting and environmentally damaging proposal on the 5th January,” said Mr Booth.

“The reality is that Gunns’ threats are based on nothing more than self-serving greed rather than benefit to the community, which has now clearly spoken out against this polluting and environmentally damaging proposal.”

“For Gunns to bleat about job losses in the timber industry is hypocrisy on a breathtaking scale, with 30% of forest contractors facing financial ruin due to harsh and oppressive contracts forced on them by Forestry Tasmania and Gunns.”

“The Tasmanian community has watched a corrupt Parliamentary fast track pulp mill approval that did not assess public health and safety, and now the bullies are out again raising the same threats of job losses and economic collapse if Gunns don’t get their way”

“Tasmanians are more concerned about their health, safety and amenity than Gunns’ wallet, and they will simply not allow this damaging project to be built in the Tamar Valley no matter what John Gay says.”

“The public is sick of lies and intimidation, and watching our native forests and landscapes trashed for the benefit of a few greedy men, and any politician who ignores the growing anger does so at their own peril”, Mr Booth said.
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