[Greens-Media] Media release: "It is outrageous if Gunns knows what's in this report but not other stakeholders" - Brown

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

28th September, 2007

Pulp mill: Precautionary principle is law - Greens 

"It is outrageous if Gunns knows what's in this report but not other
stakeholders" - Brown

Gunns has itself to blame for failing, over the last 4 years, to do Bass
Strait studies essential to working out where its toxic pulp mill
effluent will spread, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"It is outrageous if the Minister has discussed the contents of the
Chief Scientist's report with Gunns but not the community stakeholders
like the vineyards, organic farms, tourist outlets and fishing industry
in the Tamar Valley," Greens Leader Bob Brown said.

"Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull cannot give the go-ahead for this
polluting mill until those studies, reportedly called for by Chief
Scientist Jim Peacock, are done.  The whole point of an environmental
impact assessment is to get the information before making a decision. 

"For Turnbull to say 'start building the mill and then complete your
assessment' would be like saying 'here's your licence - now go out and
show us you can drive'.  It would be a travesty of commonsense and the
nation's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999)
which makes the precautionary principle central to these decisions,"
Senator Brown said.

"The Howard Government must also insist the Chief Scientist assess the
impact on forests, wildlife and the air 100,000 people in the Tamar
Valley breathe before the mill decision is made," Senator Brown said.

Today, the Greens candidates for Turnbull's seat of Wentworth, Susan
Jarnason, and for Peter Garrett's adjacent Sydney seat of Kingsford
Smith, Sue Mahony, are touring the Tamar Valley and clearfell logging
operations, with Bass candidate Tom Millen.  

Senator Brown will join them for a press conference in Launceston at
2:15pm.


Further information: Prue Cameron 0408 473 379



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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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www.myspace.com/bobbrowngreens