The announcement (HERE) yesterday by Tasmanian Liberal leader Will Hodgman should bring little comfort to timber workers.
Under yesterday’s Liberal election plan on forestry, it was announced that ‘everything possible would be done to ensure that the proposed Gunns Ltd Pulp Mill project would ‘be moved forward’.
“The Liberals are following the same policies as the Labor party”, said ‘TAP Into A Better Tasmania’ spokesman, Bob McMahon.
“They are pinning their hopes on a company that is experiencing looming massive debt through unpaid taxes, no woodchip market and a large number of employee redundancies. All the financial eggs are in one broken basket”
Gunns have systematically reduced forest contracts forcing many timber workers and log truck drivers, many with huge personal debt, into unemployment.
“It is ludicrous that the Liberals should attempt to inflict further pain by offering the false hope of a Gunns- led salvation This is a company that is following the same financial demise as Forest Enterprise Australia (FEA). Gunns will be lucky if it survives . How can it promise anything of substance?”.
Both major state political parties support the mill project . The Greens do not. Gunns share price is in steady decline.
Recent media reports have revealed Gunns’ financial problems include requiring public funds to pay for pulp mill pipeline infrastructure, being unable to find markets for its woodchip stockpiles, and a need for major redundancies to remain solvent.
Gunns shares were valued at $4.75 in 2005. Shares closed on Tuesday 3rd of March at 57 cents a share.
Website: http://www.tapvision.info/
