Ed Coper GetUp

“The Bartlett Government has an unequivocal statement from the Tasmanian people – do not use ours taxes to fill the coffers of a corporation that has already benefited from disproportionate government support,” said GetUp Campaigns Coordinator Ed Coper.
PRESS RELEASE EMBARGOED UNTIL MONDAY 30 JUNE 2008
75% of Tasmanians Oppose Government Assistance for Gunns Pulp Mill: New Poll
Government Urged Not to Extend Construction Deadline

A GetUp-commissioned poll by EMRS of 1000 Tasmanians has found Tasmanians overwhelmingly oppose further State or Federal financial assistance for Gunns’ Pulp Mill.

The poll found 75% of Tasmanians oppose further financial assistance, with only 19% in support.

Opposition to the mill was strong across all demographics, including by region, with 72% of those in the North & North East declaring their opposition.

The results come on the back of a nationwide poll released last week finding 61% of Australians oppose the building of the mill overall.

“The Bartlett Government has an unequivocal statement from the Tasmanian people – do not use ours taxes to fill the coffers of a corporation that has already benefited from disproportionate government support,” said GetUp Campaigns Coordinator Ed Coper.

GetUp is urging the Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett not to extend the deadline for construction on the Sovereign Risk Agreement with Gunns, which requires Gunns to begin construction by today, 30th June. Gunns have requested an extension and Cabinet is meeting today to determine their response.

“The costs of this mill are blowing out – after all it was Gunns themselves who fasttracked the approval process, only to now find themselves well behind schedule.

This, coupled with the poll results showing the community opposition, should ring alarm bells for a Government considering extending their support beyond the terms of their original agreement,” said Mr Coper.

“The Tasmanian Government, having already acquiesced to Gunns’ demands in granting approval to this mill, and now armed with an authoritative statement of Tasmanians’ opinions, need to ask themselves whose interests they are representing – certainly not the vast majority of the Tasmanian people, as this poll shows.”

Over 25,000 GetUp members previously expressed their concerns to the EPBC Inquiry, 31,500 emailed their concerns to ANZ about the financing of the mill, and over 1,000 agreed to visit their branch manager in person. Over $130,000 was raised to run full-page newspaper ads encouraging potential investors not to finance the mill and encouraging the new Tasmanian Premier to distance himself from the mill.

About GetUp: GetUp.org.au is an independent movement to build a progressive Australia.

GetUp brings together like-minded people who want to bring participation back into our democracy. GetUp has over 180,000 members nationwide.
www.getup.org.au Page 2 of 2

EMBARGOED UNTIL MONDAY 30 JUNE 2008
GetUp! Poll
Conducted by EMRS between the 18th – 20th June 2008
n=1000 adults 18+

EMRS conducted a survey of 1,000 Tasmanian adults between June 18 and June 20 2008. 500 adults were interviewed in the South, 280 in the North and North West and 220 in the North West and West.

The purpose was to gain views on whether additional government funding was appropriate for the Pulp Mill project.

Respondents were informed that, The recent resignation of the Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon and the decision of the ANZ to withdraw its involvement from Gunn’s proposed pulp mill in Tasmania’s
Tamar Valley have resulted in more debate on this issue.

They were asked: Do you believe that Gunn’s Pulp Mill should receive any further financial assistance from either the State or Federal Governments?

Download further details: 75percent_oppose_mill_assistance.pdf