Tasmanian forestry giant Gunns is working flat stick on its $2.3 billion pulp mill project. While the mainstream media has left the impression the project will fall over, there is a sense of inevitability on site that it will ultimately be delivered.
Pulp mill
Tasmania’s political alliance won’t be pulped — but the people smell a con
Before Tasmania’s highly contentious pull mill is built, friendships will be tested, political alliances between Labor and the Greens at state and federal level will be stretched to the limit (though not ruptured). And the people will revolt, writes Bruce Montgomery in Hobart.
Bloomin’ heck: Peter Cundall arrested
Former Gardening Australia presenter Peter Cundall was was arrested at an anti-pulp mill protest yesterday after he and 50 other activists refused to vacate the front steps of Tasmania’s Parliament House.
Gunns in crisis as investor confidence evaporates
How on earth can a company now capitalised at just $681 million and already saddled with more than $1 billion in debt, finance a $2 billion pulp mill? Writes Stephen Mayne.
Endorsements for hire in Tassie pulp mill debate
In the lobbying business, titles are a wonderful thing and the Wilderness Society well knows it, writes Richard Farmer.
Sledging Greenpeace: It ain’t about the whales
Steve Shallhorn, my former boss at Greenpeace Australia Pacific and a man whom I admire, has, I fear, looked straight through a forest to focus on one particular tree, writes Tim Hollo.
When is a fish not a fish but a bird? Ask Peter Garrett
The decision to proceed with the Victorian channel deepening project may come to be seen as very “brave”, writes Lionel Elmore.
Tips and rumours
Inside tip from staff at the ANZ is that Big Mike has said “NO” to funding the pulp mill. Another possible buyer for the Toll Holdings controlling stake in Virgin Blue has sprung into view. Lufthansa stunned the US industry overnight by saying it will buy 19% of JetBlue for $US300 million. JetBlue bears some […]
Barns: Turnbull 1, Cousins 0
Geoff Cousins, the ad man and former Howard government adviser promised that he would make life hell for Malcolm Turnbull in Wentworth, after Turnbull as Environment Minister gave the green light to a proposed pulp mill in the Tamar Valley in Northern Tasmania, writes Greg Barns.
How will the various independents go?
Anti pulp mill candidate Dani Ecuyer has made a bigger media impact in Wentworth that most of the rest of us independents put together, moans Higgins independety Stephen Mayne.
Richard Flanagan: why we must stop this dark, satanic, mill
If you care about the heart of this great country on election day do not vote for any candidate of any party that supports the pulp mill, says Richard Flanagan.
Kevin Rudd’s $110 million gift to Gunns pulp mill
Richard Flanagan in his Stop the Pulp Mill rally speech last Saturday in Hobart, here on Tasmanian Times, seems to have been the first to notice the extraordinary subsidy Kevin Rudd’s ALP has given to Gunns pulp mill.
Meanwhile, 1000 metres up the Tamar from Gunns …
Sometimes the only way to uncover the truth about something is to check it out for yourself. With all the hot air surrounding Gunns’ proposed pulp mill, these locals dropped by on Monday to see for themselves how the mill will affect their home.
The Perpetual redemptions start to flow over Gunns
Perpetual chairman Bob Savage has defended his company’s status as the biggest shareholder in Gunns by claiming that his customers weren’t at all worried about the controversial investment. But that was before the wide public recognition of the fact resulting from this week’s AGM, writes Stephen Mayne.
Tips and rumours
Ivan Dean the pro-pulp mill mayor of Launceston lost his chains last night in the municipal elections to Albert van Zetten. It’s highly significant—Van Zetten had been an alderman who voted against the pulp mill. He also knows it’s a hot issue. As head of the Launceston City Mission, Van Zetten copped threats from one promiment […]
Gunns pulp mill: your questions answered
Believe it or not, the politics of Gunns’ newly approved pulp mill is only one aspect of the project. Here are some answers to reader questions about forestry in Tasmania, the Greens policies, and the best way to use the island state’s natural resources.
Gunns backflip a lesson in managing Malcolm
The federal environment minister’s “tough” new conditions haven’t scuttled Gunns’ pulp mill. Indeed, according to Gunns, they make little difference at all, despite what Gunns’ CEO has been saying all year. Thomas Hunter investigates.
The Greens simply don’t want any forestry in Tasmania
The Greens are entitled to their view, but with no more than 20 percent of the vote in Tasmania and 9 percent nationally, they are not entitled to force it on the rest of the community, writes senior consultant at ITS Global Khalil Hegarty.
A tall tree tumbles in Wentworth
Poor old Malcolm Turnbull. He fought like hell to win a seat in parliament. Now it seems as if he’ll end up a oncer. That’s not much of a return on his investment, writes Christian Kerr.
After lunch in Wentworth, Turnbull calls for the cheques
As you read this, Malcolm Turnbull is winding up an interesting lunch with some leading members of his Wentworth electorate: top of the list of topics was the Pulp mill decision and, of course, financial support, writes Glenn Dyer
Turnbull is trying to have it both ways over pulp mill
In claiming to have ensured that Gunns’ pulp mill is world’s best practice, Federal Environment Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, is trying to have it both ways, writes Tasmanian forestry campaigner Geoff Law.
Gunns: What the Chief Scientist said to the Minister
Malcolm Turnbull has made his decision, and here is the advice he was acting on. Compiled by Thomas Hunter.
Pulp politics: over to you Gunns
The voices in the pulp mill debate are many. Here’s what they are saying following the Minister announcement.
Did Gunns get what it wanted, or deserved?
Now that the Federal Environment Minister has given the pulp mill conditional approval, Gunns must decide if it is going to proceed with the project knowing it will cost them time and money to comply with another 24 guidelines. Is it a deal-breaker, as Gunns has promised?
Say no to the pulp mill, Malcolm
Gunns and the Tasmanian government are lazy, complacent and arrogant. Why should Malcolm Turnbull take a bullet for these people?
