Vote

Postal voting in Tasmanian local government elections begins from between 13 to 16 October and closes 10am, Tuesday 27 October.

TAP Into A Better Tasmania (TAP) is a non-party political movement. Voters who have added their names to TAP's Voters Block have pledged not to vote for candidates who support Gunns' proposed pulp mill in the Tamar valley. The Voters Block has over 23 700 registrations and has surpassed the original target of 22 000. The number is growing steadily and the new target is 28 000. 

TAP has been contacting candidates in local council elections to ask the question "Do you support or oppose Gunns' planned pulp mill in the Tamar Valley?". Candidates who oppose the pulp mill and have given permission to publish their names are listed below.

Twenty five anti pulp mill candiates are in the local government elections for positions as councillors, deputy mayor and mayor across five northern councils.

We have made every attempt to ensure that the list is accurate but there may be one or two latecomers. Their names will be posted here as soon as possible. If there are any errors, or you would like to make a suggestion, please email tapcontact@gmail.com. Read more to see the list.

Candidates supported by the Voters Block as at 10.30pm Friday 16 October, 2009

Introduction - Why jobs?

Creation of new jobs is the central pillar in the case for winning the hearts and minds of Tasmanians for Gunns’ proposed pulp mill. Gunns’ CEO John Gay said the “mill would create jobs and long-term job security for a significant part of Tasmania's workforce” [1]. This position is echoed by the Forest Industry Association of Tasmania chairman, CFMEU forestry division, Timber Communities Australia, the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and both Liberal and Labor parties, as well as some northern council mayors.

The promise of thousands of new jobs helped ex-Premier Paul Lennon justify rescuing the ‘critically non compliant’ Gunns pulp mill in 2007 with a special act of Parliament, the Pulp Mill Assessment Act (PMAA). The other main pillar of support for quickly passing the PMAA, the urgency of Gunns’ commercial needs, has now been discredited. However, the creation of new jobs remains as the central justification for the project by Liberal and Labor. Labor is positioning itself for the 2010 March election as the pro-jobs party and the Greens as anti-jobs.

What we are asked to believe

There are several competing stories around the pulp mill proposal that we are asked to believe. We can choose to believe Gunns’ PR man Matt Horan, who says it will create 2000 construction jobs [2], or we can believe Gunns’ secret advice to the George Town Council engineer that only 1250 building workers are needed [3]. We can choose to believe Horan that the pulp mill will create “about 16,000 jobs in the future," [4] or we can believe consultant ITS Global that it will create only 292 direct long term jobs [5].

We can believe Gunns’ stated wishes that underskilled Tasmanians with no experience in pulp mills will get preference over skilled outsiders from interstate or the thousands of overseas experienced pulp workers who have been made redundant in the global downturn. Further, we can believe that the fourth largest kraft chemical pulp mill in the world will happily co-exist with fishing, tourism and nature-based activities, boutique wineries, organic food producers and farming [6].

We are also asked to believe the Liberal and Labor story that Tasmania as a provider of undifferentiated bulk commodities is better than one based on the State’s distinctive and unique attributes that give businesses in tourism, fishing, wineries, organic foods, and others a competitive edge.

The consequences of choosing to believe the wrong story are serious. So what are the job facts and which story stands up?

Open letter by Buck and Joan Emberg, Co-Chairs of the Voters’ Block, Tasmanians Against the Pulpmill (TAP) to all candidates in forthcoming elections (Legislative Council, - May 09, local councils - October 09, state - March 2010, federal - 2010).

January 2009
TO: Charles/Charlotte Blog MHA (all federal, state and/or local politicians and possible candidates).
FROM:  Buck and Joan Emberg, Co-Chairs of the Voters’ Block, Tasmanians Against the Pulpmill (TAP)

Dear Ms/Mr Blog,

Do not take this letter personally, although it will probably have an effect upon you in some way, large or small.

Read more at Rally and March.

Download your copy of the rally promotion image. Print and post copies in the tea room at work, on notice boards and letter boxes of the neighbourhood. Choose from a horizontal (RallyNew3) or vertical (Rally promotion image - vertical) image below.

When:6pm Tuesday 11th December. Perhaps get there by 5:45PM to be sure of getting in the door.
Where : George Town Council offices 16 Anne St George Town (i.e. same place as the ordinary monthly council meetings).

If you are a George Town Municipality elector, we think it would be very advantageous for you to attend the George Town Council annual general meeting where you will be able to voice your opinion and if you want, hand in a submission on the day.

We realise the meeting hasn't been advertised as widely as many electors would expect (i.e. in fact not very much at all).

At the time of the Nov 07 federal election the Voters Block listed 15000 voters who pledged not to support any political candidate who favoured the pulp mill. Both Labor and Liberal parties supported the pulp mill whilst the Greens and several independents were strongly opposed.

Federal election results for Tasmania

In the Senate, the Greens vote reached the Senate quota barrier of 14.2% for the first time and may reach 18% or more than 50,000 as counting continues.

You can download the file 'How to vote against the pulp mill in federal elections.pdf' and take with you to the polling booth.

House of Representatives
Lyons
3 C. E. C.
2 Cassidy
1 Quin
4 Family First
6 Labor
5 Liberal

Bass
2 Wiener
4 C. E. C.
6 Labor
1 Millen
5 Family First
3 Bennett
7 Liberal

Braddon
4 Family First
6 Liberal
1 O’Halloran
5 Labor
2 Dick
3 L. D. P.

Franklin

TAP succeeded in increasing the number of anti mill councilors on three councils at the expense of pro mill candidates in October 2007 elections.

Launceston City Council

Of the 7 Aldermen elected to the LCC, Norton, Shipp, Ball and Nott were endorsed by the Voter's Block for being anti-mill. Jeremy Ball tripled his primary vote from last time. The others elected were Waddle, Peck and Dean. Waddle and Peck had reduced no 1 votes and only got in with preferences.

TAP Voter's Block endorsed Mayoral candidate (van Zetten) got up, as did the TAP endorsed Deputy Mayoral candidate (Armitage). There were two anti-mill mayoral candidates and their combined vote completely trounced pro-mill Ivan Dean 61% to 39%. The balance in the LCC has definitely shifted with a majority against the mill.

What: Rally and march at Franklin Square, Hobart.

When: 12.30pm Saturday 17th November.

Why: To call on the elected government to stop the pulp mill. Geoff Cousins and Richard Flanagan to speak.

Organisers: The Wilderness Society

Contact Sarah by email sarah.truscott@wilderness.org.au or in the campaign centre on 03 6331 7488.

YouTube video advertising the rally. Click

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Impacts of plantations for the proposed pulp mill

The expanding area of plantations intended to feed the proposed pulp mill, is already having a major impact on the state.

Water