[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Bartlett Must Refuse to Extend Pulp Mill Wood Supply Agreement_N McKim MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

BARTLETT MUST TERMINATE PULP MILL WOOD SUPPLY AGREEMENT
 
Or is His 'Line in the Sand' a Moveable Feast?

Nick McKim MP
Greens Opposition Leader

Friday, 29 August 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today said that Mr Bartlett's reported promise to
cut off all government support to the pulp mill if finance is not
achieved by 30 November this year must include instructing Forestry
Tasmania to terminate its Long Term Pulpwood Supply Agreement (the wood
supply agreement) with Gunns Ltd. 

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP demanded that Premier David Bartlett
instruct Forestry Tasmania to terminate the wood supply agreement due to
Gunns Ltd's failure to meet the 30 November deadline for the
commencement of construction of the pulp mill contained in Section 3,
and said that if the Premier were to fail to do this it would constitute
further government pulp mill largesse contrary to his 'line in the sand'
commitment.

"This is the crucial test for Mr Bartlett, and if he is fair dinkum
about his 'line in the sand' rhetoric he will instruct Forestry Tasmania
to terminate the wood supply agreement in line with Section 3 of that
agreement.

"Mr Bartlett is the Premier and the buck stops with him. He has the
capacity to ensure that Forestry Tasmania exercises its rights to
terminate the agreement, the question is whether he has the political
will."

"Mr Bartlett knows that the mill could still go ahead without the
sovereign risk agreement, but it cannot possibly go ahead without wood
supply, and any failure to terminate the wood supply agreement would
constitute further government largesse to Gunns Ltd under a Premier who
has pledged to end such support."

Mr McKim also said that terminating the wood supply agreement would
create the opportunity to 're-imagine' a future for Tasmania's forests
based on carbon sequestration and high value adding.

"Gunns' announcement provides Mr Bartlett with the opportunity to bring
Tasmania's forest sector into the 21st century. The question is whether
he has the capacity and vision to work with the community to deliver the
required outcomes."



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