Media Release

Peter Gutwein MP
Shadow Minister for Forestry

Friday 15th April, 2011

Kim Booth – the boy who cried wolf

Kim Booth is becoming the boy who cried wolf when it comes to the pulp mill and support for the Government.

Over the past few months Mr Booth has repeatedly threatened that he will move no confidence in the government if they provide any support for the pulp mill.

But every time they do, like proposing to help build infrastructure, or spendnig money on pro-mill ads, like a typical Green he moves the goalposts.

Mr Booth now says that it’s OK for GBEs to spend money on pro pulp mill ads because it was only $600.

Well Kim, how much exactly does the government have to spend on supporting the mill before you act? $6,000? $6 million?

It’s becoming increasingly clear that despite all his posturing, like his leader Mr McKim, Kim Booth simply won’t move no confidence in the this government, not matter what.

Mr Booth is happy to be part of a Labor-Green Government who supports the mill.

*A list of Kim Booth’s threats about pulp mill support is below.

04/03/11 – The Mercury

Rebel Bass Green Kim Booth says he will campaign to bring down the Giddings Government if further support is given to the $2.3 billion pup mill

“It means that were my party colleagues of the same view, and the Liberals were of the same view then the Government would fall.

The minute there is any support given to the Gunns project, then my pledge last year to the Governor of stability and confidence will be acted on. The gloves will be off.” - Booth

04/03/11 – ABC radio

"If this Government spends public money on this corrupt project instead of on health and education priorities, my pledge of support for this minority government would be revoked," Mr Booth said.

"I'd regard spending public money, either directly or indirectly, as malfeasance; would have no confidence in this government and therefore could no longer provide that confidence to the Governor [Peter Underwood]."

07/03/11 – Examiner

McKim announced on Saturday the party would not move against Labor but Mr Booth said if Labor moved to financially or legislatively support the Tamar Valley pulp mill then he would move a motion of no confidence. Booth said the motion was only hypothetical as Labor has not made any moved to help Gunns build the pulp mill either with infrastructure or financial support. This came after Booth announced that he would move to bring down the Government if Labor moved to support the pulp mill.

17/03/11 Kim Booth media release

The Tasmanian Greens today responded to the statement by the Forestry Minister, Bryan Green that Government Business Enterprises, such as Aurora and Ben Lomond Water, would be negotiating commercial contacts with Gunns Ltd on the presumption that they manage to proceed with constructing the controversial Tamar Valley pulp mill, by reiterating that any commercial contract talks must be on a full commercial basis.

Greens Forestry spokesperson Kim Booth MP said the Greens have always been clear that they oppose the Gunns’ pulp mill and that additional taxpayer-funded support should not be provided, but recognise that these commercial arrangements flagged by the Minister are standard processes applied to private developments.

“The Greens absolutely oppose the construction of the Longreach pulp mill, and I have been very clear with regard to any additional support specifically for the mill by Labor as being unacceptable,” Mr Booth said.

“Were Labor to provide public funding or underwriting of loans, or the provision of mill-specific infrastructure or legislative support then that would be totally unacceptable.”

“Our understanding of Bryan Green’s statements regarding the possible provision of certain facilities via GBE's only at full commercial rates, in itself does not constitute abuse of public resources. Nor does it equate as a sweetheart deal for a special mate.”

“Were a Minister however to direct any GBE or government agency to provide special ‘sweetheart’ deals for Gunns or dress up the pipeline as a public project for example, and therefore use the acquisition powers to seize private land, then that would not be acceptable to the Greens.”

“We will be watching closely to hold Minister Green to his statement that these contract negotiations are on a full commercial basis only, and our recognition that standard commercial processes may commence should not be interpreted as any form of acceptance by the Greens that the actual mill should or will get built,” Mr Booth said.