Media Release

Peter Gutwein MP
Shadow Minister for Forestry

Saturday 11th June, 2011

Gunns urged to rebuff attempt by Cameron and Wood to close our native forest industry

Gunns must not forsake Tasmania and Tasmanian forest industry jobs by selling out to the Greens, and I urge them to consider the interests of Tasmania first in negotiations over the future of the Triabunna chip mill site.

Gunns have sought a social licence for their pulp mill project and have made significant changes to their operations to achieve this however a social licence runs both ways and I hope that they do not forget the people that have supported them for so long.

Forestry Minister Bryan Green must also explain what he is doing to keep the site open - or is he captive to the Greens and unwilling to even express a view?

Let's not kid ourselves. The reason Ms Cameron and Mr Wood want to buy Triabunna is to end the 'dumb business of selling wood chips' as Mr wood was quoted as saying in the press today.

Without the Triabunna chip mill and port operating, not only will the community of Triabunna be decimated, our native forest industry will be shut down and thousands of jobs will be lost in regional communities.

Both Ms Cameron and Mr Wood are big financial supporters of the Greens and Labor- last year Mr Wood donated a massive $1.6 million to the Australian Greens, while Ms Cameron gave $50,000 to the Tasmanian Labor Party.

The sale of Triabunna to turn it into a "tourism" operation will be a disaster for Tasmania and I urge Gunns to rebuff it and the Government should do all they can to ensure the mill stays operational.