HAS BARTLETT GOVT DONE A DEAL WITH GUNNS OVER LUPA BREACHES?

Any Other Tasmanian Would Have Been Prosecuted, but not Gunns

www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today called on Environment Minister Michelle O’Byrne to reveal whether or not the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investigated Gunns Limited for breaches of the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 (LUPA) for clearing work carried out by Gunns while its LUPA permits were invalid.

Greens Pulp Mill spokesperson Kim Booth MP said any other Tasmanian would have been prosecuted for such an act, but that the Bartlett Government had instead rushed legislation into the Parliament to validate Gunns’ LUPA permits, raising the suspicion that a secret deal had been done between the Bartlett Government and Gunns over its invalid permits.

“Minister O’Byrne must reveal whether the EPA investigated Gunns for breaches of LUPA permits, whether any breaches occurred, and if so why no prosecution followed.”

“Any other Tasmanian would have been investigated and prosecuted, and the Minister must answer the question as to whether a secret deal was done with Gunns to cover up and then retrospectively validate any breaches if they occurred,” said Mr Booth.
Kim Booth MP Greens Pulp Mill spokesperson