[Greens-Media] Senator Milne and Kim Booth MHA: Liberals' empty pulp mill rhetoric will be exposed unless they lobby Turnbull

[O'Connor, Cassy (Sen C. Milne)]

State and Federal Liberals' empty pulp mill rhetoric will be exposed
unless they lobby Turnbull on pollution impacts

Tasmanian State Liberals and federal MPs and Senators must acknowledge
their rhetoric on the proposed Gunns' pulp mill is empty unless they
start acting on, and informing Environment Minister, Malcolm Turnbull
of, the strength of the science that confirms the mill will be
environmentally destructive, the Greens said in Launceston today.

Australian Greens Senator Christine Milne and Tasmanian Greens' pulp
mill spokesperson Kim Booth, said the Liberals in Tasmania can't have it
both ways.

The Greens believe by their conduct, the Liberals are failing the
Tasmanian people and the business community reliant on a clean, green
brand.

"It's no use them saying they support the mill if it meets the
environmental guidelines, when both the RPDC - acting on expert and
scientific evidence - and Sweco Pic found the mill will pollute the
Tamar Valley airshed and Bass Strait," Senator Milne said.

"This mill would take from Tasmanians 30 billion litres of water each
year, then turn it into effluent containing dioxins and other
organochlorines, and dump it into Bass Strait where the scientists tell
us there are flushing problems.  Malcolm Turnbull should be appalled by
this excess, but are his Tasmanian Liberal colleagues raising these
issues with him?

"Federally, it's now time for Michael Ferguson, Mark Baker, Eric Abetz,
Guy Barnett, Richard Colbeck and John Watson to come clean and say that
as far as they are concerned, it doesn't matter what the environmental
impacts are, they will support the mill regardless," Senator Milne said.

"We're calling on the Liberals - State and Federal - to stand up for
Tasmania, and not just for the merger between State and corporate power
that Tasmania has become," Mr Booth said.

"This merger will be on show in Launceston this Thursday, where the
Lennon Government will dragoon its employees in the GBE, Forestry
Tasmania, to go to the City Park rally to support Gunns, its front group
Timber Communities Australia, and its union cheer squad, the CFMEU.

Senator Milne and Mr Booth said the jury is NOT out on whether the pulp
mill would destroy native forests, pollute the Tamar airshed and Bass
Strait.

"What the jury has not returned a verdict on is whether the Liberal
party will stand up for democracy and the people of Tasmania.

"The strong feeling we have from the community is that whoever breaks
ranks with the unholy Gunns, Labor and Liberal triumvirate on this issue
will win the electorates of Bass and Braddon at this year's Federal
Election."


Media contacts:  Cath Hughes (Tas Greens) 0419 886 304 or Cassy O'Connor
(Sen. Milne)  03 6224 8899"