DEPUTY PREMIER ADMITS LABOR INTERVENED IN PULP-MILL ASSESSMENT

Media Release – 18 March 2010

DEPUTY PREMIER ADMITS LABOR INTERVENED IN PULP-MILL ASSESSMENT

Tasmania’s Deputy Premier last night gave a startling admission that the Tasmanian Government had intervened in the assessment of Gunns’ proposed pulp mill.

At the ‘Save Ralphs Bay candidates forum’ held last night at Lauderdale, Deputy Premier Lara Giddings said:

We will not intervene in the independent planning process because that’s exactly what we did do with the pulp mill and we are still feeling the ramifications of that today.

“This is an admission from one of Labor’s most senior ministers that they are experiencing a back-lash from the electorate because of the government’s dodgy deal to approve Gunns’ pulp mill,” said Paul Oosting, pulp mill campaigner for the Wilderness Society.

“Lara Giddings’ admission proves what the public already knew: that the Labor and Liberal parties did a special deal for Gunns and pushed the pulp mill through parliament, ignoring its impacts on the Tasmanian’s community, economy and environment.

“The public have had enough of tired old politicians giving special treatment to big business at the cost of the community. Ms Giddings’ statement confirms Labor knows the public do not support their approval of the pulp mill,” concluded Mr Oosting.

Tonight pulp mill whistleblower, Dr. Warwick Raverty, and UTAS corporate governance lecturer Tom Baxter will speak at a Hobart forum about corruption and ethics in Tasmanian politics and elections. The event is hosted by campaigning groups GetUp and Our Common Ground.

Dr. Raverty will share his inside story, from his time as the Chief Technical Advisor for the Resource, Planning and Development Commission, charged with assessing the Gunns pulp mill, before Gunns pulled out and fast track approval was passed by both major parties.

Where: Moonah Arts Center, 65 Hopkins Street, Moonah

When: 6.30pm, today 18 March 2010

Who: Dr. Warwick Raverty and Tom Baxter
Paul Oosting