Deja vu as Mill gets Kiss Of Life
www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today responded to the Bartlett government’s latest back flip on the Gunns’ pulp mill proposal, saying that the Pulp Mill Assessment (Clarification) Bill, gives the stalled project the kiss of life.
Greens Pulp Mill spokesperson Kim Booth MP said that the government’s amendment, which seeks to clarify an identified grey area over whether the Pulp Mill Permit has expired under the Land Use Planning Approvals Act, (LUPAA) comprehensively destroyed any credibility that the Premier had sought with his ‘line in the sand’ commitment to the Tasmanian community.
“So much for David Bartlett’s promise that the Gunns’ pulp mill would no longer receive any government support and the matter was now between the proponent and its financiers,” Mr Booth said.
“Upon receiving Solicitor General advice that there is now uncertainty over whether the Pulp Mill Permit has expired, the government should have informed the proponent that they had had their chance but have run out of time. Instead, we have a deja vu scenario where legislation is being rushed through the Parliament to give this controversial project a kiss of life.”
“When Gunns pulled out of the RPDC process two years ago, we saw legislation rammed through the Parliament by previous Premier Paul Lennon, and now we see David Bartlett repeating that abuse of process.”
“Premier Bartlett broke his word with the Tasmanian people when he back-flipped over his line in the sand promise that should have seen the end of the project 12 months ago.”
“It is most unfortunate that he has again justified the public perception of him as ‘dishonest Dave’.”
“The Premier cannot be believed and has once again shown that he is prepared to be divisive and underhand, and continue to put the interests of big business ahead of that of the community and good governance.”
Kim Booth MP Greens Pulp Mill spokesperson
