[Greens-Media] Greens condemn Rudd pulp mill endorsement

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Tuesday, 24 July 2007

Greens condemn Rudd pulp mill endorsement

Despite the 'if' in today's endorsement of Gunns' polluting pulp mill by
Kevin Rudd, his message will dismay a huge number of small businesses in
Northern Tasmania which are dependent on the island's clean, green
image, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"The corruption of the process to assess the pulp mill's environmental
impact is legendary, but apparently has Kevin Rudd's endorsement as much
as the mill," Senator Brown said.

"Yesterday Mr Rudd gave $8 million to the logging industry to help it
assess and protect itself from climate change. Today he has endorsed a
pulp mill which involves a forest furnace burning 500 thousands tonnes
of wood per annum and the continued destruction, through logging and
burning, of thousands of hectares of old-growth forest every year. These
factors spell massive greenhouse gas pollution." 

"Apparently Kevin Rudd doesn't understand the contradiction of his
announcements. He is showing less and less difference from John Howard
in his understanding of climate change and the need to protect
old-growth forests," Senator Brown said.

Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603


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Ebony Bennett
Media Adviser
Office of Greens Senator Bob Brown
Mobile: 0409 164 603
Ph: (02) 6277 3170
Fax: (02) 6277 3185	

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