[Greens-Media] Garrett's Pulp Mill policy: Approve first, ask questions later

[Hollo, Tim (Sen C. Milne)]

Garrett's Pulp Mill policy: Approve first, ask questions later

Brisbane, Friday 7 November 2008  The Rudd Government has treated the
Tasmanian community with contempt by announcing its 'approve first, ask
questions later' pulp mill policy two days after its Community Cabinet
meeting in the Tamar Valley, Australian Greens climate change
spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, said today.

Senator Milne said, "Why didn't Prime Minister Rudd and Minister Garrett
have the courage to tell the Tasmanian community face to face that it
intended to back Gunns regardless of the environmental consequences?

"Everyone knows that the Achilles heel of the Gunns pulp mill project is
the impact of its toxic effluent on Bass Strait. The hydrodynamic
modelling has always been critical and it is why Gunns has gone to such
lengths to prevent the release of the Herzfeld Report, which I expect
will show that it cannot meet the dilution and dispersion conditions set
down by the Commonwealth.

"I have been trying to get access to the Herzfeld report since April.
After I secured its release under appeal, Gunns has now delayed release
at least into next year by appealing to the Administrative Appeals
Tribunal. It remains to be seen whether they also try to block my being
joined as a party to this appeal.

"For Prime Minister Rudd and Minister Garrett to now say that they are
prepared to approve the pulp mill before the hydrodynamic modelling is
done is tantamount to saying that Gunns can proceed regardless of where
the effluent goes or the damage it does.

"Does Minister Garrett expect anyone to believe him if he says that he
will close down an operational pulp mill, if the hydrodynamic modelling
demonstrates environmental damage?

"Cowardice is not an attribute that the Australian community admires,
and nor is a complete cave-in to the CFMEU Forestry Division and to the
industry who want more hand-outs to destroy our precious environment and
the livelihoods of those engaged in fishing and tourism activities."

Tim Hollo
Media Adviser
Senator Christine Milne
ph: (02) 6277 3588
mob: 0437 587 562

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