[Greens-Media] Gunns should fund contractors buyout: Brown

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Saturday, 13 May 2006

Gunns should fund contractors buyout: Brown

Call for woodchip crisis meeting

The state and federal governments should convene a crisis meeting to
ensure Gunns and not the Tasmanian taxpayer funds the buyout of forest
contractors facing ruin, Greens leader Bob Brown said in Hobart today.

"The Tasmanian Forest Contractors Association had failed to avoid the
obvious crunch as plantation woodchips undercut the wild forest woodchip
market," Senator Brown said.

"The Greens have consistently forecast this crisis while the Lennon and
Howard Governments turned their back."

"Had the Latham offer of $800million been taken instead of the Howard
alternative of $50million for structural readjustment in Tasmania, the
contractors would not be facing the compensation drought. But the real
target here must be the island state's wealthiest company, Gunns Ltd,
whose profits, according to contractor Noel Jackman, are being
subsidised by contractors," Senator Brown said.

"The Prime Minister was cheered by hundreds of loggers at Launceston's
Albert Hall just 18 months ago. He won the election. Now the loggers
have been sold out - they're going to the wall. After his overseas
jaunt, Mr Howard should fly back to Launceston and give John Gay a
lecture in fair dealing."

Senator Brown said Bass Greens MHA Kim Booth's pre-election call for
action for the contractors had been scoffed at by representatives.

"But where is Paul Lennon now?" Senator Brown asked.

Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603

Bob Brown v Forestry Tasmania the transcript of proceedings from the
Wielangta case is now available at www.on-trial.info
The trail resumes: 10am, Monday 15th, Federal Court in Hobart



--------------------------------------------------------------
Ebony Bennett
Media Adviser
Office of Greens Senator Bob Brown
Mobile: 0409 164 603
Ph: (02) 6277 3170
Fax: (02) 6277 3185
ebony.bennett at aph.gov.au