Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
MEDIA RELEASE - Environment Tasmania, DECISION ON PULP MILL MARINE MODULES
MEDIA RELEASE - 27/02/2011
ENVIRONMENT GROUPS WATCHING COMMONWEALTH
DECISION ON PULP MILL MARINE MODULES
In advance of the March 4th approval deadline on the final EPBC modules for Gunns Tamar Valley
pulp mill proposal, Environment groups have today released a précis on the proposed mill’s risks to Tasmania’s marine and coastal values.“The mill proposal will involve the dispersal of 23 - 51 gigalitres per year of industrial process effluent into a sensitive and pristine part of the Bass Strait environment,” said Dr Thomas Moore, thereports author, oceanographer, and Environment Tasmania’s coasts coordinator, “We are concerned about the impact that this industrial effluent will have on fisheries, marine ecosystems, the local coastal environment, and human health,” he continued, “We are alarmed that some of these impacts will not have been adequately considered given the collapse of the RPDC process in 2007 which split the assessment into two separate approvals processes – and we will be closely scrutinizing the decision that Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke makes on these final EPBC modules,” he continued. The Chief Scientist’s report clearly states that the 2007 Federal decision ignored independent advice regarding the threat of pollution on Tasmania’s beaches and in State waters. Further, documents released to the Tasmanian Greens under FOI show that Government is aware that there is both scientific uncertainty and increasing concern about risk to ecosystems and fisheries from compounds like sterols, which originate from the pulping, rather than the bleaching process. “Environment groups are calling on the Minister to fully apply the precautionary principle - safeguarding against threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage despite the lack of full scientific certainty,” Dr Moore continued, “Environment groups are also urging the proponent, Gunns, to show due care and regard for Tasmania's marine industries, coastal environment, and amenities,” he concluded. Environment Tasmania is supportive of the development of a range of downstream processing facilities for plantation timber, but does not support the current pulp mill proposal. Environment Tasmania is the peak body for Tasmanian environment & conservation groups – and represents over 20 Tasmanian environment groups with collective representation of over 5000 Tasmanians.
For more information or comment:
Dr. Thomas Moore, Coasts Coordinator, Environment Tasmania
E: thomas.moore@et.org.au, M: 0488 334 733
2nd floor 100 Elizabeth St, Hobart
PO Box 1073, Hobart 7001, Tasmania
T 03 6224 6319
office@et.org.au
http://www.et.org.au/
Full text of Dr Raverty's devastating response to Lindsay Millar's Examiner letter.
Dear Sir,
Re “Pulp mill works” – letters to the Editor, 26th February
In his letter under the heading ‘Pulp mill works’, Mr Millar of Hillwood has shot the pro-mill case well and truly in the foot. Yes Graz has a pulp mill at Gratkorn, 10 km from the centre of town. A little additional research on the web would have informed Mr Millar that the SAPPI Gratkorn Mill is NOT A KRAFT MILL. Gratkorn Mill is a magnefite acid sulfite mill that uses a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT set of chemicals, lacking any smelly sulfides, to produce bleached sulfite pulp at 23% of the scale of Gunns’ proposal. The Gratkorn Mill thus produces NO FOUL GAS EMISSIONS and, significantly, is also able to use TOTALLY CHLORINE FREE bleaching to whiten its sulfite pulp. Being operated by SAPPI, one of the most experienced and environmentally conscious, FSC certified pulp and paper companies in the world, the effluent treatment system is able to treat the dioxin-free and AOX-free mill effluent to a standard where it can be discharged into the Mur River under EPA licence. Mr Millar did not have to travel to Austria to find a magnefite mill – there is a smaller one at Tantanoola, near Millicent, South Australia, operated by Kimberley Clark that The Company put up for sale in the last month. Like Graz, Millicent has no odour problems. Unfortunately bleached magnefite pulp is not as strong as kraft pulp and SAPPI has to import around 600,000 tonnes per year of bleached kraft pulp into order to supplement the 255,000 tonnes of weaker sulfite pulp made at Gratkorn to make 920,000 tonnes of strong coated printing papers each year.
Significantly for Tamar residents, the city of GRAZ IS ALSO HEADQUARTERS FOR ANDRITZ AG, the company that Gunns proposes to use for supply of its major items of kraft pulping equipment. With Andritz ‘next door’ in Graz so to speak, one might expect SAPPI to have adopted Andritz’s kraft pulping technology for Gratkorn as part of the many upgrades it has made to the mill in recent years. SAPPI HAVE NOT CHANGED TO KRAFT BECAUSE IT WOULD RUIN THE TOURISM AND HERITAGE VALUES ON WHICH GRAZ RELIES because of the fugitive foul gas odour and it would also make the effluent impossible to treat to a standard where the Austrian EPA would allow discharge into the Mur River. IN FACT NONE OF SAPPI's chemical pulp mills in Germany and Austria USE KRAFT PULPING AND ECF BLEACHING - they ALL use the acid sulfite process and TCF bleaching. It is high time that the Tasmanian Government admits its mistakes and reverts to ethical standards. There have been significant changes in pulping technology since 2007 and the PMAA must be revoked and Gunns’ proposal re-submitted to independent, detailed expert scrutiny rather than to a compromised consultant like Sweco Pic, that relies on Andritz for a significant part of its income.
Dr Warwick Raverty, Clayton South, VIC
Re “Pulp mill works” – letters to the Editor, 26th February
In his letter under the heading ‘Pulp mill works’, Mr Millar of Hillwood has shot the pro-mill case well and truly in the foot. Yes Graz has a pulp mill at Gratkorn, 10 km from the centre of town. A little additional research on the web would have informed Mr Millar that the SAPPI Gratkorn Mill is NOT A KRAFT MILL. Gratkorn Mill is a magnefite acid sulfite mill that uses a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT set of chemicals, lacking any smelly sulfides, to produce bleached sulfite pulp at 23% of the scale of Gunns’ proposal. The Gratkorn Mill thus produces NO FOUL GAS EMISSIONS and, significantly, is also able to use TOTALLY CHLORINE FREE bleaching to whiten its sulfite pulp. Being operated by SAPPI, one of the most experienced and environmentally conscious, FSC certified pulp and paper companies in the world, the effluent treatment system is able to treat the dioxin-free and AOX-free mill effluent to a standard where it can be discharged into the Mur River under EPA licence. Mr Millar did not have to travel to Austria to find a magnefite mill – there is a smaller one at Tantanoola, near Millicent, South Australia, operated by Kimberley Clark that The Company put up for sale in the last month. Like Graz, Millicent has no odour problems. Unfortunately bleached magnefite pulp is not as strong as kraft pulp and SAPPI has to import around 600,000 tonnes per year of bleached kraft pulp into order to supplement the 255,000 tonnes of weaker sulfite pulp made at Gratkorn to make 920,000 tonnes of strong coated printing papers each year.
Significantly for Tamar residents, the city of GRAZ IS ALSO HEADQUARTERS FOR ANDRITZ AG, the company that Gunns proposes to use for supply of its major items of kraft pulping equipment. With Andritz ‘next door’ in Graz so to speak, one might expect SAPPI to have adopted Andritz’s kraft pulping technology for Gratkorn as part of the many upgrades it has made to the mill in recent years. SAPPI HAVE NOT CHANGED TO KRAFT BECAUSE IT WOULD RUIN THE TOURISM AND HERITAGE VALUES ON WHICH GRAZ RELIES because of the fugitive foul gas odour and it would also make the effluent impossible to treat to a standard where the Austrian EPA would allow discharge into the Mur River. IN FACT NONE OF SAPPI's chemical pulp mills in Germany and Austria USE KRAFT PULPING AND ECF BLEACHING - they ALL use the acid sulfite process and TCF bleaching. It is high time that the Tasmanian Government admits its mistakes and reverts to ethical standards. There have been significant changes in pulping technology since 2007 and the PMAA must be revoked and Gunns’ proposal re-submitted to independent, detailed expert scrutiny rather than to a compromised consultant like Sweco Pic, that relies on Andritz for a significant part of its income.
Dr Warwick Raverty, Clayton South, VIC
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Wilkie is right. While most Tasmanians dont support Gunns proposed Tamar Valley pulp mill, they do probably do support the concept of a pulp mill of some type, somewhere, sometime in Tasmania. Despite what you and I think.
ehttp://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/pm-optimistic-about-tas-pulpmill-deal-20110224-1b6wk.html
If there is one thing i distrust and dislike almost as much as the crappy gunns pulp mill which has torn this state apart for the last 6 years it is ideological hardliners and puritans. These people are allergic to rational thought, enslaved to their peer group and often lose the ability to think for themselves. They can be very dangerous.
When the dark greens begin to take Andrew Wilkie to task because he believes that most Tasmanians would not oppose 'a pulp mill' they do so out of fear and insecurity. You simply cannot reason with ultra hardliners.
Phrases like 'support pulp mill' 'hampshire' and 'not opposed to a pulp mill' elicit an immediate reaction as they rush for the keyboard, going into emotional paroxysms and intellectual anaphalaxis. As fear, emotion and insecurity take over, reasonable and rational thought and even friendships go out the window. Nothing is more important than the idea or the principle.
For what its worth Andrew Wilkie. Dont get into a debate with the puritans and pharisees. Avoid them. dont give them oxygen. You might want to take the phone of the hook and screen those emails to too. Some of these people dont know where to draw the line as they cant get their narrow minds around the fact that most people dont belong to and therefore think like the far left.
When these people have knocked on the doors and canvassed the amount of Tasmanians you have they might be qualified to have an opinion. Keep working to stop Gunns proposed Tamar Valley Mill Andrew, keep calling it the way you see it and dont allow yourself to be cowed or bullied by the left or the right side of politics.
If there is one thing i distrust and dislike almost as much as the crappy gunns pulp mill which has torn this state apart for the last 6 years it is ideological hardliners and puritans. These people are allergic to rational thought, enslaved to their peer group and often lose the ability to think for themselves. They can be very dangerous.
When the dark greens begin to take Andrew Wilkie to task because he believes that most Tasmanians would not oppose 'a pulp mill' they do so out of fear and insecurity. You simply cannot reason with ultra hardliners.
Phrases like 'support pulp mill' 'hampshire' and 'not opposed to a pulp mill' elicit an immediate reaction as they rush for the keyboard, going into emotional paroxysms and intellectual anaphalaxis. As fear, emotion and insecurity take over, reasonable and rational thought and even friendships go out the window. Nothing is more important than the idea or the principle.
For what its worth Andrew Wilkie. Dont get into a debate with the puritans and pharisees. Avoid them. dont give them oxygen. You might want to take the phone of the hook and screen those emails to too. Some of these people dont know where to draw the line as they cant get their narrow minds around the fact that most people dont belong to and therefore think like the far left.
When these people have knocked on the doors and canvassed the amount of Tasmanians you have they might be qualified to have an opinion. Keep working to stop Gunns proposed Tamar Valley Mill Andrew, keep calling it the way you see it and dont allow yourself to be cowed or bullied by the left or the right side of politics.
Pulp Mill host community say no. 100 fill Rowella Hall. Liberal and Labor fail to show
........."Like all Tasmanians, Rowella is represented by nineteen state and federal representatives. The gravy train is long and the trough is deep and wide. Twelve senators, five members for Lyons, one upper house rep and one federal member for Lyons. They had all been invited. Of the nineteen only Tim Morris showed-up".........Read More Here
Friday, February 25, 2011
Tamar Valley mill opponents warn Gillard re. more taxpayer funds for Gunns
.......Bob McMahon from the anti-pulp mill group, TAP into a Better Tasmania, said the community would take to the streets to protest against any further government help for the pulp mill. "Well they will do all sorts of thing I guess. There will be blockades, there will be protests all around shall we say it will probably be a little Egypt," Mr McMahon said. Read More Here
February EMRS. Labor on the nose. Mckim the big loser.
After adjusting for the undecided voters - Labor 25%, Greens 27% Liberal 46%.
Mckim loses 25% of his support as he drops from 21 to 16% as preferred Premier since November 2010.
Giddings 27% and Will Hodgman 38%
Mckim loses 25% of his support as he drops from 21 to 16% as preferred Premier since November 2010.
Giddings 27% and Will Hodgman 38%
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Some interesting info passed on by TAP.
From Tony Gray's column in Monday's Examiner: - Directors (Gunns') are in a difficult position - if they come to the view that the pulp mill will probably not proceed, then a major write-down and loss will be recorded and debt covenents breached. ( I heard Tony Gray say as much on radio last year)
In other words, Gunns cannot admit that the pulp mill is not going ahead. If they do then the company will fail.
In other words, Gunns cannot admit that the pulp mill is not going ahead. If they do then the company will fail.
Asia Pulp & Paper: "We have no specific plans in Tasmania"
Response I received from Asia Pulp and Paper. "Thank you for your e-mail. It is our policy to continually look for sound investment opportunities, and also review those opportunities against our sustainability policy. Currently, we have no specific plans in Tasmania."
Posted by: Dave of Grindelwald 1:08pm today
Comment sourced from The Mercury's online comments Here
Posted by: Dave of Grindelwald 1:08pm today
Comment sourced from The Mercury's online comments Here
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
What the ? Secret Hydro infrastructure on the Franklin River?
Hydro industrial eyes sores on the mighty Franklin. Why? Read More Here
I recieved this email today from the Wildo's
Dear Rick,
We wrote to you last week about the implementation of the Tasmanian forest agreement, a major breakthrough that represents the best opportunity in a generation to resolve the long-running conflict over logging in Tasmania's irreplaceable native forests.
The implementation process has highlighted a number of key issues that need to be addressed including the proposed Gunns Tamar Valley pulp mill, an issue that many Wilderness Society supporters care deeply about.
As a signatory to the forest agreement we acknowledge that a pulp mill could be one of a range of plantation processing options that a new, reformed industry could develop.
But the Wilderness Society's opposition to the current Tamar Valley proposal remains.
While Gunns have taken a number of positive steps to address some critically important issues, including a public commitment that the pulp mill would not use timber from native forests, we will continue to oppose the pulp mill on a number of grounds including:
Gunns has begun to change a number of things about the way it does business which we welcome. These changes have come about due to sustained pressure by people like you.
There have been major changes in the leadership and on the board of Gunns over the past 12 months, however the company still has native forest timber supply agreements with Forestry Tasmania, so the forests we care about are not yet protected and there is plenty more work to be done.
Meeting with Gunns
In this complex and fast moving environment, and as a part of the commitment to the forests peace plan, the Wilderness Society will be meeting this week with Gunns to discuss our concerns about the Tamar Valley pulp mill.
We'll also discuss what needs to happen to deliver peace in the forests via the Tasmanian forest agreement. Other conservation groups have also agreed to meet with Gunns, as has the leader of the Australian Greens, Senator Bob Brown. As outlined previously, we'll be seeking Gunns' response to a range of concerns and issues including marine pollution, wood supply, the fast-track assessment process, location in the Tamar and fresh water use.
Thanks for your ongoing support in these exciting but difficult times. We commit to keeping you informed as discussions progress.
Vica Bayley & Paul Oosting
On behalf of the Tasmanian Forest Team
We wrote to you last week about the implementation of the Tasmanian forest agreement, a major breakthrough that represents the best opportunity in a generation to resolve the long-running conflict over logging in Tasmania's irreplaceable native forests.
The implementation process has highlighted a number of key issues that need to be addressed including the proposed Gunns Tamar Valley pulp mill, an issue that many Wilderness Society supporters care deeply about.
As a signatory to the forest agreement we acknowledge that a pulp mill could be one of a range of plantation processing options that a new, reformed industry could develop.
But the Wilderness Society's opposition to the current Tamar Valley proposal remains.
While Gunns have taken a number of positive steps to address some critically important issues, including a public commitment that the pulp mill would not use timber from native forests, we will continue to oppose the pulp mill on a number of grounds including:
- its location
- its impacts on the marine environment
- its use of fresh water
- the discredited, fast-tracked approval process put in place by the Lennon Government in 2007.
- We also acknowledge that the majority of local residents and Tasmanians remain strongly opposed to the Tamar Valley pulp mill.
Gunns has begun to change a number of things about the way it does business which we welcome. These changes have come about due to sustained pressure by people like you.
- Reforms include: seeking globally recognised Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification for its wood products
- ending the poisoning of native wildlife and the clearing of native forests for plantations
- making an exit from native forest logging across across the country, including in Western Australia and Victoria.
- Native forest logging has been a key concern for the Wilderness Society for many years and we have publicly supported Gunns' intent to move away from this destructive practice and towards a 100% plantation-based business model. This is a critical step towards protecting Tasmania's forests.
There have been major changes in the leadership and on the board of Gunns over the past 12 months, however the company still has native forest timber supply agreements with Forestry Tasmania, so the forests we care about are not yet protected and there is plenty more work to be done.
Meeting with Gunns
In this complex and fast moving environment, and as a part of the commitment to the forests peace plan, the Wilderness Society will be meeting this week with Gunns to discuss our concerns about the Tamar Valley pulp mill.
We'll also discuss what needs to happen to deliver peace in the forests via the Tasmanian forest agreement. Other conservation groups have also agreed to meet with Gunns, as has the leader of the Australian Greens, Senator Bob Brown. As outlined previously, we'll be seeking Gunns' response to a range of concerns and issues including marine pollution, wood supply, the fast-track assessment process, location in the Tamar and fresh water use.
Thanks for your ongoing support in these exciting but difficult times. We commit to keeping you informed as discussions progress.
Vica Bayley & Paul Oosting
On behalf of the Tasmanian Forest Team
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Enough is Enough. Mckim must give Giddings Labor an ultimatum over support, use of public money for Gunns Pulp Mill.
When it comes to the proposed Tamar Valley Pulp Mill, Gunns chief, Greg L'Estrange has been very clear about what he wants.
Before the ink was even dry on the so called Tasmanian forests peace deal, L’Estrange moved quickly, cynically leveraging off the reference to “a pulp mill” in the Statement of Principles to elicit or create the appearance of support for Gunns Tamar mill proposal (though according to ENGO’s it does not).
The Labor Government and Liberal opposition have been singing loudly from the same song sheet as have the remnants of the Tasmanian logging industry
Prior to entering into a power sharing arrangement with Labor, Tasmanian Greens Leader Nick Mckim like preceding Greens party leader was a passionate and outspoken critic of Gunns, its planned Tamar pulp mill and its cosy and special relationship with the Labor Government. However since committing the Tasmanian Greens to a power sharing arrangement with Labor, the leader of the Tasmanian Greens, Mr Mckim has been conspicuously silent or at best restrained in his rare public utterances on the pulp mill.
The taming of the leader of the Tasmanian Greens leader appeared complete when Mr Mckim and former bitter foe Premier (at the time) David Bartlett buried the hatchet and Mckim took up a position in the Labor government cabinet. At the time of David Bartletts resignation as premier Mckim and Bartlett had reportedly become best mates. Mckim's numerous ministerial portfolios make for a heavy load and have kept the Greens leader busy and focussed with the business of government.
The reaction to all this from Greens voters has varied from murmurings to expressions of public outrage particularly in Northern Tasmania where people are scratching their heads wondering why the Tasmanian Greens leader is prepared to self censor on the pulp mill, whilst his Labor power sharing partners have taken the business as usual approach and continued to flout their enthusiasm for the unpopular project.
Sue Neales writing (here) in the Mercury described Mckims and fellow Green Cabinet Minister Cassy O,Connor's recent parliamentary performances as at times "trying to be more labor than labor" and "Labor's acquiescent attack dogs". Neales, the Mercury’s chief reporter said of the power sharing Greens, - "It must be galling for Kim Booth and Tim Morris in particular to sit there and not say a word while Labor ministers such as Bryan Green repeat government platitudes and positions that only six months ago the same Greens were branding as "corrupt , disgraceful, scandalous and shameful".
Indeed, yesterday Greens MP Cassy O'Connor, took the unprecedented step in the history of Tasmanian Greens parliamentarians when rather than condemning Premier Lara Giddings for her recent statements of support for Gunns pulp mill, instead leapt to the defence (see TPOS blog entry below) of the new Labor Premier. The Series of Statements by Premier Giddings were clearly anathema to Greens party policy and Green voter values.
I could well imagine former Greens leader and anti-pulp mill warrior Peg Putt spitting her coffee across the kitchen table as she read O' Connors comments. I can’t imagine Greens Senator and Wesley Vale veteran Christine Milne being overly impressed by O'Connor's comments either.
Of all issues, the pulp mill should be the last that a Greens parliamentarian should ever be seen defending Labor or Liberal. Indeed, 12 months ago I would have seemed implausible that O'Connor would leap to the defence of a Labor Premier in such circumstances and over such comments. A pre power sharing O'Connor and Mckim would have gone on the front foot, strong, clear and unequivocal in reflecting the views of Green voters leaving both Lara Giddings, Gunns and the people of the Tamar in no doubt as to where they stood including on how the Greens planned to stop the progress of the Labor Government/Gunns pulp mill plans.
Greens voters would justifiably expect O'Connor and Mckim to represent and push the views of Green voters, not to leap to the defence of Giddings Labor on the pulp mill. Let Labor defend Labor on the Pulp Mill and let the Greens defend the Greens, giving a strong and clear voice to Green voters feelings on what is a core Green issue. Particularly Greens supporters in the Tamar who are still hurting and still facing an uncertain future.
Yet Lara Giddings went much further than attempting to put Gunns Tamar Valley Mill at the centre of the Forests peace deal. The new Premier also told the Hobart Mercury that her Government would support Gunns flagging pulp mill proposal 'to the hilt'.
It is this aspect that the Tasmanian Greens leader must now address.
Using Language reminiscent of mentor and controversial former Premier Paul Lennon who once bizarrely told the Tasmanian parliament that he supported Gunns Pulp Mill "with every last bone in my body", Lara Giddings also made the astonishing claim, - "Before [the economic crisis] the pulp mill was the icing on the cake, the cream,” Now it is the cake."
This despite recently retired Treasurer Michael Aird saying only two years ago of Government support for the mill - "they (Gunns) don’t need it, we don’t want it". Aird also distanced himself from Paul Lennon's extreme position on the mill saying that the Tasmanian economy would be just fine without the mill.
In her interview with the Hobart Mercury Giddings flagged a return to the bad old days when the Tasmanian Government was derided as the "Gunnerment" by boasting that she was willing to help the pulp mill go ahead through the commitment of scarce Tasmanian taxpayer funds to public infrastructure including public roads, rail and ports. Giddings also promised she would not change any of the pulp mill permits or legislation or repeal the awful Section 11 of the Pulp Mill Assessment Act, which removes the common law right of appeal against the pulp mill, its construction or its environmental impact.
Even more concerning was Giddings suggestion that her federal counterparts might help reduce a potential Foreign pulp mill partners risk exposure through "assistance" from the Federal Government's Export Finance and Insurance Corporation.
Such a move would go against the following social and economic analysis contained in the Federal Environment Departments recommendation report used by the Federal Environment Minister in his 2007 decision on Gunns Pulp Mill...............
...................."Another area of general concern relates to the potential for direct and indirect levels of public funding associated with the project. Direct funding would involve allocations of funds on the basis of development goals etc while indirect public funding could include, for example, provision of infrastructure only used by the project through to training of labour to a certain skill level required to construct and operate the mill. The impact of such support can have an impact at two levels – impacts on wider economic activity and risk. Firstly, the provision of public funds to this particular project has the potential to result in an overall inefficient outcome for the State and national economies. This can occur when, as is currently the case, a state of low unemployment and high capital mobility and availability exists which means that should public funds be allocated to sub-optimal projects then a deadweight loss will occur in the Australian economy. A further clear example of how this may currently be the case in Tasmania is the fact that unemployment has fallen from 6.8% in April 2004 to 5.4% in April 2007. As a result it is likely that available skilled labour has already entered the labour market as and where required. The second area concerns risk. If the private rate of return on the project is currently marginal and only the addition of public funding will ensure its commencement there is a risk that should any one of a number of external parameters change significantly then the public funds will be put at risk. These parameters could include a change in the costs associated with inputs associated with the construction of the mill eg labour, construction materials or output factors such as the price and demand for pulp changing due, for example, to competing pulp mills being established in other countries"..........
The Tasmanian Greens and their federal counterparts including Adam Bandt must now put their electors before any perceived party interest and draw a line in the sand over further government support and the commitment of public money for Gunns pulp mill. The Gunns Pulp Mill is a project that has been rejected for nearly 7 years by the free market including Gunns own Bank the ANZ, as well as by Tasmania's independent planning commission and most importantly by the people of Tasmania. It is a frightening prospect that government would continue to ignore this and hitch Tasmania's small regional economy to such a high risk venture. Mckim must seriously consider giving Giddings Labor an ultimatum. Withdraw all government support now for Gunns proposes pulp mill, let the project stand on its own, or the Tasmanian Green will advise the Governor that it is withdrawing it support from the Government.
PILKO
Before the ink was even dry on the so called Tasmanian forests peace deal, L’Estrange moved quickly, cynically leveraging off the reference to “a pulp mill” in the Statement of Principles to elicit or create the appearance of support for Gunns Tamar mill proposal (though according to ENGO’s it does not).
The Labor Government and Liberal opposition have been singing loudly from the same song sheet as have the remnants of the Tasmanian logging industry
Prior to entering into a power sharing arrangement with Labor, Tasmanian Greens Leader Nick Mckim like preceding Greens party leader was a passionate and outspoken critic of Gunns, its planned Tamar pulp mill and its cosy and special relationship with the Labor Government. However since committing the Tasmanian Greens to a power sharing arrangement with Labor, the leader of the Tasmanian Greens, Mr Mckim has been conspicuously silent or at best restrained in his rare public utterances on the pulp mill.
The taming of the leader of the Tasmanian Greens leader appeared complete when Mr Mckim and former bitter foe Premier (at the time) David Bartlett buried the hatchet and Mckim took up a position in the Labor government cabinet. At the time of David Bartletts resignation as premier Mckim and Bartlett had reportedly become best mates. Mckim's numerous ministerial portfolios make for a heavy load and have kept the Greens leader busy and focussed with the business of government.
The reaction to all this from Greens voters has varied from murmurings to expressions of public outrage particularly in Northern Tasmania where people are scratching their heads wondering why the Tasmanian Greens leader is prepared to self censor on the pulp mill, whilst his Labor power sharing partners have taken the business as usual approach and continued to flout their enthusiasm for the unpopular project.
Sue Neales writing (here) in the Mercury described Mckims and fellow Green Cabinet Minister Cassy O,Connor's recent parliamentary performances as at times "trying to be more labor than labor" and "Labor's acquiescent attack dogs". Neales, the Mercury’s chief reporter said of the power sharing Greens, - "It must be galling for Kim Booth and Tim Morris in particular to sit there and not say a word while Labor ministers such as Bryan Green repeat government platitudes and positions that only six months ago the same Greens were branding as "corrupt , disgraceful, scandalous and shameful".
Indeed, yesterday Greens MP Cassy O'Connor, took the unprecedented step in the history of Tasmanian Greens parliamentarians when rather than condemning Premier Lara Giddings for her recent statements of support for Gunns pulp mill, instead leapt to the defence (see TPOS blog entry below) of the new Labor Premier. The Series of Statements by Premier Giddings were clearly anathema to Greens party policy and Green voter values.
I could well imagine former Greens leader and anti-pulp mill warrior Peg Putt spitting her coffee across the kitchen table as she read O' Connors comments. I can’t imagine Greens Senator and Wesley Vale veteran Christine Milne being overly impressed by O'Connor's comments either.
Of all issues, the pulp mill should be the last that a Greens parliamentarian should ever be seen defending Labor or Liberal. Indeed, 12 months ago I would have seemed implausible that O'Connor would leap to the defence of a Labor Premier in such circumstances and over such comments. A pre power sharing O'Connor and Mckim would have gone on the front foot, strong, clear and unequivocal in reflecting the views of Green voters leaving both Lara Giddings, Gunns and the people of the Tamar in no doubt as to where they stood including on how the Greens planned to stop the progress of the Labor Government/Gunns pulp mill plans.
Greens voters would justifiably expect O'Connor and Mckim to represent and push the views of Green voters, not to leap to the defence of Giddings Labor on the pulp mill. Let Labor defend Labor on the Pulp Mill and let the Greens defend the Greens, giving a strong and clear voice to Green voters feelings on what is a core Green issue. Particularly Greens supporters in the Tamar who are still hurting and still facing an uncertain future.
.............................
This is what Tasmanian Greens Leader Nick Mckim said yesterday in response to Tasmania's Premier Lara Giddings Hobart Mercury interview where she pledged her government's support Gunns pulp mill and told 'environmentalists', presumably including the Tasmanian Greens that might have to accept Gunns pulp mill as part of the forests peace deal..............."The Greens are opposed to the Gunns pulp mill proposal for the Tamar Valley. That is the position we took to the state election and we stand by it. Obviously both Labor and Liberal continue to support the mill," he said". "Those positions are established and well known, but the simple fact is that (the) Gunns Tamar Valley mill project is not specified in the Forest Principles, and it should be left outside this process."Yet Lara Giddings went much further than attempting to put Gunns Tamar Valley Mill at the centre of the Forests peace deal. The new Premier also told the Hobart Mercury that her Government would support Gunns flagging pulp mill proposal 'to the hilt'.
It is this aspect that the Tasmanian Greens leader must now address.
Using Language reminiscent of mentor and controversial former Premier Paul Lennon who once bizarrely told the Tasmanian parliament that he supported Gunns Pulp Mill "with every last bone in my body", Lara Giddings also made the astonishing claim, - "Before [the economic crisis] the pulp mill was the icing on the cake, the cream,” Now it is the cake."
This despite recently retired Treasurer Michael Aird saying only two years ago of Government support for the mill - "they (Gunns) don’t need it, we don’t want it". Aird also distanced himself from Paul Lennon's extreme position on the mill saying that the Tasmanian economy would be just fine without the mill.
In her interview with the Hobart Mercury Giddings flagged a return to the bad old days when the Tasmanian Government was derided as the "Gunnerment" by boasting that she was willing to help the pulp mill go ahead through the commitment of scarce Tasmanian taxpayer funds to public infrastructure including public roads, rail and ports. Giddings also promised she would not change any of the pulp mill permits or legislation or repeal the awful Section 11 of the Pulp Mill Assessment Act, which removes the common law right of appeal against the pulp mill, its construction or its environmental impact.
Even more concerning was Giddings suggestion that her federal counterparts might help reduce a potential Foreign pulp mill partners risk exposure through "assistance" from the Federal Government's Export Finance and Insurance Corporation.
Such a move would go against the following social and economic analysis contained in the Federal Environment Departments recommendation report used by the Federal Environment Minister in his 2007 decision on Gunns Pulp Mill...............
...................."Another area of general concern relates to the potential for direct and indirect levels of public funding associated with the project. Direct funding would involve allocations of funds on the basis of development goals etc while indirect public funding could include, for example, provision of infrastructure only used by the project through to training of labour to a certain skill level required to construct and operate the mill. The impact of such support can have an impact at two levels – impacts on wider economic activity and risk. Firstly, the provision of public funds to this particular project has the potential to result in an overall inefficient outcome for the State and national economies. This can occur when, as is currently the case, a state of low unemployment and high capital mobility and availability exists which means that should public funds be allocated to sub-optimal projects then a deadweight loss will occur in the Australian economy. A further clear example of how this may currently be the case in Tasmania is the fact that unemployment has fallen from 6.8% in April 2004 to 5.4% in April 2007. As a result it is likely that available skilled labour has already entered the labour market as and where required. The second area concerns risk. If the private rate of return on the project is currently marginal and only the addition of public funding will ensure its commencement there is a risk that should any one of a number of external parameters change significantly then the public funds will be put at risk. These parameters could include a change in the costs associated with inputs associated with the construction of the mill eg labour, construction materials or output factors such as the price and demand for pulp changing due, for example, to competing pulp mills being established in other countries"..........
The Tasmanian Greens and their federal counterparts including Adam Bandt must now put their electors before any perceived party interest and draw a line in the sand over further government support and the commitment of public money for Gunns pulp mill. The Gunns Pulp Mill is a project that has been rejected for nearly 7 years by the free market including Gunns own Bank the ANZ, as well as by Tasmania's independent planning commission and most importantly by the people of Tasmania. It is a frightening prospect that government would continue to ignore this and hitch Tasmania's small regional economy to such a high risk venture. Mckim must seriously consider giving Giddings Labor an ultimatum. Withdraw all government support now for Gunns proposes pulp mill, let the project stand on its own, or the Tasmanian Green will advise the Governor that it is withdrawing it support from the Government.
PILKO
Monday, February 21, 2011
Now I've heard it all. Greens MP defends "Lara" over Labor's Pulp Mill support
Could you ever imagine Peg Putt making these comments?
Green support
"The Tasmanian Greens reject the Liberals' claims that former premier Paul Lennon is behind the scenes telling Premier Lara Giddings what to do. The Greens' Cassy O'Connor says Ms Giddings has her own strongly held views. "Lara understands that we have an historic opportunity here in Tasmania to end the divisions over forestry that have blighted our communities for decades," he said. "I think Lara will chart her own course through this forest process." Read More Here and Here
Green support
"The Tasmanian Greens reject the Liberals' claims that former premier Paul Lennon is behind the scenes telling Premier Lara Giddings what to do. The Greens' Cassy O'Connor says Ms Giddings has her own strongly held views. "Lara understands that we have an historic opportunity here in Tasmania to end the divisions over forestry that have blighted our communities for decades," he said. "I think Lara will chart her own course through this forest process." Read More Here and Here
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Premier Giddings set to give more public money to Gunns
....."The Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources acknowledged last week, as part of a Right to Information request, that it was in discussions with Gunns about "commercial-in-confidence matters" associated with the pulp mill. The confirmation coincides with comments by Premier Lara Giddings on Friday that the Government would be happy to help the $2.5 billion pulp mill go ahead, by providing ancillary public infrastructure"........
Read More Here
McMahon, Mckim slam Giddings
Read More Here
McMahon, Mckim slam Giddings
Friday, February 18, 2011
UPM not in negotiations with Gunns
In response to a letter from Tamar Valley businesswomen Lucy Landon Lane.......
Dear Ms Landon-Lane,
UPM is studying opportunities and getting to know local circumstances in different parts of the world on a regular basis. Among many others, UPM has studied the Gunns project. As the company has no specific plans in Tasmania nor is engaged in negotiations with Gunns there is no point in commenting speculative questions.
With best regards,
UPM. Corporate Communications
Dear Ms Landon-Lane,
UPM is studying opportunities and getting to know local circumstances in different parts of the world on a regular basis. Among many others, UPM has studied the Gunns project. As the company has no specific plans in Tasmania nor is engaged in negotiations with Gunns there is no point in commenting speculative questions.
With best regards,
UPM. Corporate Communications
Gunns in a "terminal decline" says analyst....and......Deputy Launceston Mayor Rosemary Armitage slams Tamar Valley Pulp Mill whilst rumours abound that Mayor Van Zetten is set for a pulp mill backflip
Interesting to hear financial analyst from RBS Will Richardson today on ABC radio describe Gunns as being in "terminal decline". Richardson was also very bearish about the Tasmanian woodchippers prospects of attracting a finacncier for its proposed Tamar Pulp Mill.
Click on Friday Forum Link for Armitage and Pulp Mill talk
Click on Friday Forum Link for Armitage and Pulp Mill talk
What Backflip? Tasmanian Times attacks the Mercury and gets it wrong.....again.
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Tas Times misfire Here (Note former independent federal candidate Ben Quin calls for a retraction)....."Perhaps in the next few days the Mercury will pen another editorial on the topic. One can only suspect that any suggestion that the last 12 years experiment has been “disastrous” and produced “almost dysfunctional government” and “tiny and weak” oppositions will be consigned to the rubbish bin. Instead, if there is anything at all, we are likely to be informed that a quality democracy is a luxury we just can’t afford"..........(Bob Burton writing on the Tasmanian Times today).
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Now read the editorial in the todays Mock. Oh dear Tas Times. Oh well at least the attack wasnt anonynmous this time.Todays Mercury Editorial
A Royal Commission into the Tasmanian Logging industry and its relationship with successive state and federal governments is needed.
Forestry payout fraud probem- here The Mercury
More Discussion Here
Richard Flanagan wrote recently here ......"Unlike the mining industry, woodchipping doesn't create jobs. It sheds jobs. Unlike the mining industry, the woodchipping industry doesn't create wealth for government. It takes wealth from taxpayers. Dr Graeme Wells, an economist from the University of Tasmania, has calculated that the Tasmanian forest industry received $767 million in taxpayer subsidies in the last 10 years alone. Little of this made its way down to those workers Gay claims he now loses sleep over. But then the woodchipping industry in Tasmania was never a real industry. It was a racket in which Gunns ran the island as its fiefdom, rorting the state for all it was worth, maintaining its power through cronyism, bullying and intimidation, through cultivating cosy relationships with the likes of Lennon, and through the use of its flunkeys in the media to run soft stories about the woodchipping industry, and attack stories on those who questioned that industry......"
A Royal Commission into the Tasmanian Logging industry and its relationsbhip with successive state and federal government would be very very revealing.
More Discussion Here
.................................
Richard Flanagan wrote recently here ......"Unlike the mining industry, woodchipping doesn't create jobs. It sheds jobs. Unlike the mining industry, the woodchipping industry doesn't create wealth for government. It takes wealth from taxpayers. Dr Graeme Wells, an economist from the University of Tasmania, has calculated that the Tasmanian forest industry received $767 million in taxpayer subsidies in the last 10 years alone. Little of this made its way down to those workers Gay claims he now loses sleep over. But then the woodchipping industry in Tasmania was never a real industry. It was a racket in which Gunns ran the island as its fiefdom, rorting the state for all it was worth, maintaining its power through cronyism, bullying and intimidation, through cultivating cosy relationships with the likes of Lennon, and through the use of its flunkeys in the media to run soft stories about the woodchipping industry, and attack stories on those who questioned that industry......"
..........................
A Royal Commission into the Tasmanian Logging industry and its relationsbhip with successive state and federal government would be very very revealing.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
What Gunns told the ASX the Forest Statement of Principles says and what the Forest Statement of Principles actually says
What Gunns told the ASX the Forest statement of Principles says - “The signing of the Tasmanian Forests Statement of Principles between industry and environmental groups last year recognises that a pulp mill is critical to the forest industry.”
'Critical' you say Mr Gunns?
What the Forest Statement of Principles actually says - "Create a strong sustainable timber industry including the development of a range of plantation based timber processing facilities including a pulp mill".
This is the only reference to 'a pulp mill' in the forest statement of principles.
And what exactly does this mean Mr L'Estrange?? - "Stakeholder engagement in respect of the mill project, and the company’s broader business activities, has been significantly extended, with permanent processes established to maintain and develop our community engagement".
'Critical' you say Mr Gunns?
What the Forest Statement of Principles actually says - "Create a strong sustainable timber industry including the development of a range of plantation based timber processing facilities including a pulp mill".
This is the only reference to 'a pulp mill' in the forest statement of principles.
And what exactly does this mean Mr L'Estrange?? - "Stakeholder engagement in respect of the mill project, and the company’s broader business activities, has been significantly extended, with permanent processes established to maintain and develop our community engagement".
Thursday, February 10, 2011
My Tomato Salad Recipe
- 4-6 ripe tomatoes. Chop into small wedges
- 1 small cucumber (slice and cut circles into quarters)
- 1 spanish (red) onion chopped semi fine.
- 1 handful of fresh italian parsely chopped small rough
- 1 handful of fresh Basil chopped small rough.
- Plenty of ground rock or sea salt (dont be stingy. imagine u are an italian)
- Dress with mix of lemon juice and olive oil.
- I like a fresh chilli on the side for nibbling
- This salad can be enjoyed alone with fresh bread
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Geez Laurie Oakes, tell us what you really think.
I'm no Tony Abbott fan, but was this really neccessary Channel Nine?
Laurie Oakes seems to have a licence to let rip whenever he sees fit these days.
Watch Laurie and the Nine Network engage in a bit of gratuitous polly bashing.
I'd like to see how some of these holier than thou media wankers would cope on the other side of the camera. Watch Here
Laurie Oakes seems to have a licence to let rip whenever he sees fit these days.
Watch Laurie and the Nine Network engage in a bit of gratuitous polly bashing.
I'd like to see how some of these holier than thou media wankers would cope on the other side of the camera. Watch Here
Monday, February 7, 2011
Gunns extends an "Olive Branch" reports undiscerning ABC.
I dont often do dummy spits at Aunty. But really, reporting Gunns Letter to TAP...as an olive branch".
The dictionary defines an Olive Branch as a symbol of peace or goodwill.
I know enough ABC reporters to know that none of them would really regard Gunns letter as anything more than a stunt. Not an olive branch. Have another read of the letter Aunty.
Why not just report the facts and let the viewers make up their own minds about the nature of Gunns advances toward pulp mill opponents. Why report the news just as the big logger would have liked?
Get some spine Tassy Aunty.
........................
I reccomend the folk in the ABC news room read My recent report on Gunns mobilisation of PR firm Pax Populus........... and this advice from a corporate spin doctor below
Goals for Dealing with Activist Groups
Copyright © 1998 by Peter M. Sandman
The first two goals rarely make sense; the other five are contenders.
1. To beat them. This is unlikely to work. Polarization is the activists’ game; they gain almost as much from losing as from winning.
2. To convince them. Another nonstarter. Activists have sound reasons (psychological, ideological, organizational, financial) not to let themselves be won over to your side.
3. To show that you’re listening. In the theater of risk controversy, your role requires you to make significant concessions to the activists in Act One. In Act Two the audience decides you’ve given enough and suffered enough (though the activists may disagree), and lets you get on with the job.
4. To make them exclude themselves. Most activists hope you will exclude them, giving them an easy issue on which to polarize. If you keep offering them opportunities to collaborate, they may decide to exclude themselves rather than risk looking co-opted.
5. To lure them into collaboration. Offered the chance to collaborate, activists sometimes judge that the risk of looking co-opted is lower than the risk of looking unreasonable and being marginalized.
6. To get them to abandon the issue. Faced with the choice between marginalization (offending their moderate wing) and co-optation (offending their extremist wing), activists sometimes opt for a different issue and a less canny opponent.
7. To help them beat you. A risk controversy stabilizes only when the community decides you can be trusted or decides you don’t have to be trusted because the activists have you under control. The second is a lot easier than the first. Letting them take credit for your good behavior is less harmful than watching them attack your good behavior.....................
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If Gunns have as they claim, made significant alterations which improve their pulp mill project design, then i would have thought the correct process would have been for Gunns to submit that information to the relevant state or federal depts. and for those Govt. depts. to then make that new information available for public perusal. Nothing more, nothing less.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
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