GOVERNMENT MUST BE HONEST WITH TASMANIANS OVER NW COAST PROJECT

Will Native Forest be Used, and if so, from Where?

The Tasmanian Greens today called on the Bartlett government to be honest with the Tasmanian community over the mystery north-west project, after Treasurer Michael Aird failed to refute claims that the project is be a silica mine, with an associated smelter or refinery, which is planned to produce raw materials for a range of products including photovoltaics.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that Mr Aird had failed to rule out the use of native forest in the refinery, or to guarantee that a bona-fide manufacturing facility will be part of the proposal.

Mr McKim also said that the Greens want to see appropriate projects proceed, and that while this project may be an appropriate project that Tasmanians can be proud of, the community deserves an assurance from the Government that this will not be yet another divisive proposal like the Tamar Valley pulp mill.

“Taxpayer’s money has already been used on this project, and with certain government support should the project proceed, Tasmanians have a right to much more information than the government is releasing,” Mr McKim said.

“There are no genuine commercial-in-confidence issues preventing the Treasurer from talking about issues like whether native forest will be used, and what the energy source might be.”

“The last thing we need is another pulp mill style saga which divides our community, but that’s what we may be facing if Mr Aird continues to be secretive and hide beyond false claims of commercial confidence.”

“A smelter is not a manufacturing plant, and it is very telling that Mr Aird refused to take the opportunity today to guarantee that a genuine manufacturing facility will be included.”

“Mr Aird was also silent on whether the government was considering entering into a secret contract with the company to offer cheap electricity, and what the opportunity cost of such an arrangement would have, as opposed to selling it into the National Electricity Market.”

“The danger here is that the government will do a secret deal, and the Tasmanian community will be presented with a take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum. If Labor tries that one again after the pulp mill debacle, it will show how out-of-touch they are as a government,” Mr McKim said.
Nick McKim MP Greens Leader