Kim Booth Greens MR

“It is an outrage that this deal was made between Gunns and the Lennon Government to evade any public debate or discussion, but it is typical of Paul Lennon and his mates’ deals,” said Mr Booth. “The pipeline infrastructure arrangements for the mill are obviously well advanced, yet Tasmanians have been told nothing about this key public interest issue since it came to light that the government was in secret talks with Gunns and had set up a steering committee to look at public subsidy and ownership of the pipeline.”

LENNON GOVERNMENT DENIES ACCESS TO GUNNS’ PIPELINE DOCUMENTS
Special Agreement Between Gunns And Lennon Government Revealed
Kim Booth MP
Greens Shadow Pulp Mill Spokesperson
Thursday, 1 May 2008

www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today revealed that the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDT) has refused in its entirety a Freedom of Information request by the Greens, exempting all information held by the Pulp Mill Steering Committee relating to the controversial proposed water and effluent pipeline for Gunns’ Tamar Valley Pulp Mill.

Documents refused include ‘Draft Paper On Infrastructure Options’; ‘List of Agreed Actions’; ‘Consultancy Brief’; ‘Consultant’s Draft Report – Assessment of Infrastructure Options’; ‘Draft Working Paper on Potential Infrastructure Arrangements,’ and a number of ‘Key Issues Tables’.

The letter of refusal from DEDT also revealed that,

“There is an explicit arrangement between the agency and Gunns Limited that information will be only communicated on the understanding that it is in the strictest confidence. Gunns has requested the agency to exempt the information from release on the basis that it is commercial-in-confidence.”

“It is an outrage that this deal was made between Gunns and the Lennon Government to evade any public debate or discussion, but it is typical of Paul Lennon and his mates’ deals,” said Mr Booth.

“The pipeline infrastructure arrangements for the mill are obviously well advanced, yet Tasmanians have been told nothing about this key public interest issue since it came to light that the government was in secret talks with Gunns and had set up a steering committee to look at public subsidy and ownership of the pipeline.”

“There was a huge public outcry when it was revealed in March that the government was secretly considering plans to help Gunns out by taking over and paying for the pipeline, and now the government is ignoring the public interest by refusing to release these crucial documents.”

“The public have the right to know about projects that may result in the Lennon Government using public money to compulsorily acquire people’s property and subsidise this favoured company’s estimated $100 million pipeline by taking it on as public infrastructure,” said Mr Booth.

“It was not the government that told Tasmanians that they were doing secret pipeline business, the information came out despite their determination to keep it under wraps and they were very coy about it in parliament.”

“The Lennon Government’s involvement in Gunns’ pipeline was not part of the pulp mill approval process, and the total exemption of all information related to this critical issue is unprecedented and unwarranted.”

“Clearly, the secret plans are now well advanced.”

“The letter of refusal has revealed the Lennon Government are withholding 25 documents about Gunns’ water and effluent pipeline project; that ex-Deputy Premier Steve Kons had intended to take a proposal to Cabinet about Gunns’ pipeline; that Crown Law advice has been sought in relation to the pipeline, and that Gunns have this ‘explicit arrangement’ with the DEDT to prevent the release of information to the public,” said Mr Booth.

“Tasmanians are horrified that a secret deal to seize private property to facilitate Gunns’ pipeline is even being considered, let alone acted upon behind closed doors with one of the Lennon government’s major political donors.”

“People are queuing up for hospital beds, homelessness is rising and education facilities such as Ravenswood’s Northern Support Schools Program are being axed while Lennon conspires with Gunns behind closed doors to plunder the public purse for a private project.”

“So much for openness and accountability from the Lennon government.”

“I will be appealing the decision to refuse these documents. The blanket refusal is out of line with the objectives of the Freedom of Information Act 1991. They are making a joke of Tasmania’s Freedom of Information laws,” said Mr Booth.