WILDERNESS SOCIETY CALL FOR FULL DISCLOSURE ON PULP MILL MERCY-DASH

Businessman Geoff Cousins speaks out to confirm he is committed to stopping mill

The Wilderness Society has written to Treasurer Michael Aird requesting full disclosure on all aspects of his pulp mill mercy-dash to Europe. Mr Aird should disclose to any potential investor the fact that there is a high level of community opposition to the project.

“Mr Aird has made a virtue of the fact that he is disclosing this meeting to the public, but he also has an obligation to voters to be open about other aspects of this meeting. He must make it clear to the potential investor that there is massive community opposition to the pulp mill here in Tasmania,’ said Paul Oosting, pulp mill campaigner.

“This pulp mill is opposed by a majority of Tasmanians, and at least twenty major banks and pulp companies have said they won’t be involved in the project. This potential investor needs to know the division it would be buying into.”

In November 2007 Tasmanians clearly expressed their opposition to this mill. A statewide EMRS poll of 1000 Tasmanians revealed 73% of people agreed that the Bartlett government should end its involvement with the pulp mill. Support for the mill was reduced to an embarrassing 20%. Businessman Geoff Cousins remains committed to ensure standing with the majority of Tasmanians to ensure Gunns pulp mill isn’t built.

“All opponents of this mill remain completely committed to preventing its progress, including the majority of Tasmanians,” said Mr Cousins.

“This issue saw the demise of the last Premier and it will end the career of the incumbent one as well, if he continues to offer support when he promised to do the opposite,” continued Mr Cousins.

The Wilderness Society is also requesting Mr Aird publicly release a copy of any presentation or documents he is to deliver to the unnamed company.

“The Premier has promised that ‘Team Bartlett’ will govern for all Tasmanians. That includes the majority of Tasmanians opposed to this mill,” said Mr Oosting. “The Treasurer has a duty to those people to be open about his dealings on their behalf.”
Paul Oosting