Friends of the Tamar Valley and Pulp the Mill: Steadfast community opposition to pulp mill remain

Community groups Friends of the Tamar Valley and Pulp the Mill stand by Bass Greens’ MP Kim Booth in his support for the community,and condemnation of Tasmanian premier Lara Giddings’ decision to recall Parliament for the purpose of introducing ‘doubts removal’ legislation over the legality of the disputed pulp mill permits.

“Regardless of who wants to build it, the Tamar Valley pulp mill will never receive community acceptance or a social licence, and any potential bidder should be aware that community opposition is entrenched and ongoing,” said FTV spokesperson Anne Layton-Bennett.

“This is a blatant political ploy that interferes with the judicial system, and is a repeat of the corrupted process which gave us the highly controversial and fast-tracked Pulp Mill Assessment Act in 2007, with its appalling Section 11 clause,” Ms Layton-Bennett said.

“Both Labor and the Liberals need to wake up from their 10-year pulp mill dream. For over 65 per cent of Tasmanians it’s just been an ongoing nightmare, and the major parties’ stubborn, irrational pursuit of this despised, last century chemical factory merely shows how out of touch they are with comminity sentiment, as well as how devoid they are of alternative, realistic and sustainable ideas for the future of this state’s economy,” Ms Layton-Bennett concluded.
Anne Layton-Bennett, Friends of the Tamar Valley and Pulp the Mill