[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Bartlett Double-Speak on Pulp Mill Support_K Booth MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

PULP MILL 'LINE IN SAND' DOUBLE-SPEAK BY PREMIER BARTLETT

Wood Supply Agreement = Ongoing Government Support

Kim Booth MP
Greens Shadow Pulp Mill spokesperson

Friday, 31 October 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today have accused the Premier, David Bartlett, of
using double-speak to con the Tasmanian public over his so-called 'line
in the sand' regarding the government withdrawing support for Gunns'
stalled pulp mill proposal.

Greens Shadow Pulp Mill spokesperson Kim Booth MP said that the public
were being conned into thinking that Labor's pledge to not extend the
Sovereign Risk Agreement beyond the 30th of  November, an Agreement
which Gunns actually does not consider very important as they have not
even signed the last extension offered, actually equates withdrawing
support for the pulp mill, when in fact the Premier's refusal to end the
Wood Supply Agreement means that government support for the pulp mill
will continue.

"The Pulp Mill Wood Supply Agreement signed between Forestry Tasmania, a
publicly owned Government Business Enterprise, and Gunns Ltd is the key
plank of support for this pulp mill proposal, and Premier Bartlett has
refused to direct Forestry Tasmania to end that agreement now it is
apparent that the project is on the backburner," Mr Booth said.

"Until the Premier directs Forestry Tasmania to pull the plug on the
pulp mill Wood Supply Agreement, this Bartlett government will be
continuing to provide real support to the Gunns' pulp mill proposal,
there is no two ways about it."

"Reference to drawing 'a line in the sand' over the Sovereign Risk
Agreement expiry date of 30th of November is meaningless if the critical
Wood Supply deal is left in place, which Mr Bartlett well knows but he
is happy to continue the double-speak hoping it will confuse the
Tasmanian public."

"It is ludicrous for Labor to expect to get some form of kudos for
asserting it will stand firm and not extend the Sovereign Risk
Agreement, a deal which means so little to Gunns that they have not even
bothered to sign the extension they sought earlier this year!"

"This is double-speak in the extreme."

"Mr Bartlett's loudly touted 'line in the sand' regarding this pulp mill
proposal does not exist while the Wood Supply Agreement remains in
place," Mr Booth said. 

Mr Booth also pointed out that the pulp mill Wood Supply Agreement had
also resulted in devastating consequences for the State's forestry
contractors.




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