News Article

Lennon may override pulp mill process

January 13, 2007

TASMANIA may turn its back on an independent process set up to assess a $1.4billion pulp mill proposal, backed by giant timber company Gunns.

By Matthew Denholm

Premier Paul Lennon did not rule out yesterday scrapping the independent Resource Planning and Development Commission process and assessing the mill inside government.

This is despite promising Tasmanians he would "abide by the umpire's decision" whatever the planning body's verdict on whether the project met guidelines. Any such move would risk a showdown with Canberra, which must approve the project.Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell, who agreed to a joint federal-state assessment by the RPDC, told The Weekend Australian he would not support a fast-track process."It's in everybody's interests to ensure the assessment process is robust," Senator Campbell said.Mr Lennon, under pressure from Gunns to have the mill approved within six months, justified his backflip by saying the process might have been "contaminated" because a former key member of the RPDC panel, CSIRO scientist Warwick Raverty, had been critical of the Gunns' proposal since resigning last week.

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