[Greens-Media] PM should withdraw $5 M promised for a clean pulp mill

[Katrina Willis]

Wednesday, 17 August 2005

Greens call on Prime Minister to withdraw 
$5 M promised for a clean pulp mill

Campbell should reject new proposal

Australian Greens Senator for Tasmania Christine Milne today called on 
Prime Minister John Howard to withdraw the offer of $5 million of 
Commonwealth funds for the proposed Gunns' pulp mill in Tasmania.

"The Prime Minister offered Gunns $5 million towards the feasibility 
study for a clean pulp mill, but the latest proposal from Gunns is for 
an old-style, polluting mill that will consume Tasmania's native 
forests," Senator Milne said in Canberra.

"Environment Minister Ian Campbell failed to stop the initial Gunns' 
project. Now he should exercise his responsibility for protecting 
Australia's environment by rejecting this new proposal."

Senator Milne, who led the successful campaign to stop the Wesley Vale 
pulp mill in the late 1980s, said Gunns' latest proposal relied largely 
on the same technology as the rejected Wesley Vale mill.

"The proposed mill is not chlorine-free as promised," Senator Milne 
said. "It will pump 30 billion litres of liquid effluent containing 
toxic chemicals into Bass Strait every year, affecting marine life in 
Commonwealth waters.

"Gunns wants access to native forests for at least 30 years to supply 
its mill which would burn 500,000 tonnes of wood waste each year. That 
is equivalent to 71,000 wood heaters, negating the Commonwealth's wood 
heater buyback scheme.

"The stench of sulphur will permeate the Tamar Valley, solid waste 
leachate threatens the Tamar River, and heavy metals at Longreach will 
be stirred up by construction of a wharf for the pulp mill.

"This polluting factory is unacceptable to a clean, green and clever 
Tasmania." 


Contact: Katrina Willis 0437 587 562 or 02 6277 3063

Katrina Willis
Adviser
Office of Senator Christine Milne
Ph: 03 6234 4566
0437 587562
Fax: 03 6234 2144
<http://www.greens.org.au>