Government

This summary was released on 16 June 2008 by Lawyers for Forests as general information for the public. It does not constitute legal opinion or a view as to the merits of the case. The trial started on 18 June before Justice Tracey in the Federal Court in Melbourne. For further information, go to www.lawyersforforest.asn.au

Section 11 of the Pulp Mill Assessment Act (PMAA) 2007
Section 11 says no one is entitled to appeal for compensation from damages to their business, property values or health caused by Gunns’ planned pulp mill. The legislation deliberately and thoroughly attempts to remove any opportunity for people to seek redress if they are adversely affected in any way. Section 11 is deliberately designed to prevent access to the court system by the people. Parliament has used its power to weaken the democratic rights of Tasmanians.

An analysis of the strategic planning environment for the planned pulp mill was presented to TAP members in early May 2008. Presenter was Mike Bolan.

Its purpose was to inform planning and decisions about where to focus efforts.

Some slides from that presentation are shown below to give a whole of system perspective . It follows on from a workshop that identified the needs of community members of TAP who live in the affected area of the Tamar Valley and northern Tasmania.

20-28 March 2008 EMRS poll

1000 Tasmanian adults were interviewed by telephone. Of these, 500 were from the South, 280 from the North and North East and 220 from the North West and West Coast regions. (Please note that the original data for question 1 was incorrectly transcribed. The correct data showing the results  for question 1 are shown below. Our apologies for any confusion - an embarrassed Admin)

The State Parliament will be moving from Hobart and sitting in the Albert Hall, Launceston 19-28 August.

A Better Australia and TAP conducted two workshops with approximately 120 members to plan strategies to stop the pulp mill.

Sorted outputs from TAP/ A Better Australia presentations on 21 Jan 2008

What concerns does audience have for the future?

Social issues

• Ignorance & apathy of public
• Disempowerment of the young
• Lack of education & political education for our young
• Fragmentation of community into dysfunctional nuclear families
• Dysfunctional entrenched political thinking
• Insanity
• Loss of jobs to overseas call centres
• Lack of engagement in political process
• Lack of engagement in local government process
• Inability to distinguish between needs and wants
• Poor understanding of power of vote (not enough Green votes??)

Unrealisable expectation

George Town municipality rate payers can now vote on four questions on the pulp mill elector poll. TAP recommends the following guide to voting. 

Question 1 A - the approval process - Vote NO
We were told that the mill had to be fast tracked through Parliament for commercial reasons. But project finance has not been secured, the required studies are not complete, final federal approvals have not been given and construction is at least 6 months away.

As part of the Federal conditions, Gunns have had to do road surveys for 3 months for roadkill to get their permit. We saw very little sign of this happening so we have conducted our own survey with the valuable help of many volunteers over a number of months. We are asking the federal department to compare ours with Gunns to make sure the work has been done.

We are awaiting further information.

'Peter Garrett needs a hair comb like the Tamar Valley and Tasmania needs a pulp mill'.

So Peter sidestepped the biggest environmental issue in Australia while answering the majority opinion with a deafening silence did he?

Australians are now asked to send a plastic hair comb or even a picture of a hair comb, with or without an anti-pulp mill message to Environment Minister Garrett. Nothing abusive or insulting please.

The aim of this campaign is to draw attention to Garrett's refusal to acknowledge the proposed pulp mill and the clearing of native forest in Tasmania as a critical environmental issue.