The axing of the pulp mill debate in parliament last night, was a symptom of an ongoing unhealthy relationship between timber companies and politicians in Tasmania, said Director of Environment Tasmania, Dr Phill Pullinger.
“The concerns and aspirations of most Tasmanians for the future of their forests & the timber industry, has been and continues to be ignored,” said Dr Pullinger,
“The fact that politicians continue to be acting at the whim of Gunn’s, by allowing a further extension of two years to its permit to build its contentious Tamar Valley pulp mill, demonstrates that there is an unhealthy relationship between timber companies and politicians in Tasmania. It is clear that the broader community have had enough of the special treatment given to shareholders of this company.”
Dr Pullinger said “There are many within the business community who would dearly love to have such special allowances made for them, with State planning laws in disarray and many small projects struggling to survive while politicians continue to prop up this public shareholder owned company”
“The CFMEU’s call for the Pulp Mill to be fast tracked is mis-placed – they should be focusing on the continuing significant loss of jobs from the forestry industry, with as many as 300 jobs having been lost from the industry in the last twelve months according to Ferdie Kroon from the TFCA. A Tamar Valley pulp mill is not going to reverse this trend and the CFMEU and the industry in general have to accept as do environmentalists that the ongoing conflict within the forests cannot continue, it is time that all parties worked together to find a lasting solution,” Dr Pullinger said.
Environment Tasmania is the peak body for Tasmanian environment & conservation NGOs, currently representing 26 Tasmanian environment groups with collective representation of over 6000 Tasmanians.
Dr Phill Pullinger, Environment Tasmania
