Rainforest Action Network

By Michael Stedman

June 17, 2007 10:22am

Article from: The Sunday Tasmanian

Font size: + -

Send this article: Print Email

A HUGE crowd turned out in Launceston yesterday to rally against Gunns Ltd's proposed pulp mill in one of the biggest protests the state has seen since the Franklin dam debate.

More than 10,000 people gathered in City Park to oppose the controversial $1.5 billion proposal for the Tamar Valley. They then swarmed the streets in a march that stretched across five blocks - from City Park to Civic Square - and held up traffic for more than an hour. They waved banners and chanted "No pulp mill" as onlookers joined in. Small children dressed as trees skipped beside their parents wearing signs that said "Don't cut me down". ABC gardening identity and Tamar Valley resident Peter Cundall urged the huge gathering to "chuck out" politicians who supported the mill. "We will never stop fighting this dirty, stinking pulp mill and we are winning because the people are on our side," Mr Cundall said. One protester waved a placard reading "We won't vote for pulp mill politicians". Gunns pulled its proposal from the independent Resource Planning and Development Commission in April in favour of a fast-tracked parliamentary process, which will deliver a verdict on the mill as early as September. Wilderness Society campaigner Geoff Law and former Iraq war whistleblower and Greens Senate candidate Andrew Wilkie also slammed the separate federal assessment as inadequate. The massive crowd was made up of people from all walks of life and backgrounds. The stereotypical dreadlocked conservationists were far outnumbered by older women, young couples with their children, farmers in overalls and business people in suits, representing a wider cross-section of the community than supporters of the project would care to admit. Scallop fisherman John Hammond told the crowd he was "no greenie" but was concerned that the mill would destroy the reputation of his product by pumping effluent into Bass Strait. "I was described last week as a tree-hugger, whatever that is," Mr Hammond said. "I see a lot of people from businesses here and I don't think we are all tree-hugging, deranged greenies or environmental maniacs. "If a greenie means you want clean water and clean air and clean seas, then you can count me in," he concluded to massive applause. Actor Rebecca Gibney, who also lives in the Tamar Valley, was another high-profile face in the crowd. She was publicly labelled a "serial complainer" by local bottle-shop owner Sam McQuestin earlier this year because of her opposition to the project. Business owners gathered to watch at the doors of their shops as the rally snaked through the streets, outnumbering people doing their Saturday shopping. They were divided about the merit of the protesters' cause but all agreed the turn-out was substantial. But Launceston Mayor and Windermere MLC Ivan Dean, who has come under fire for his support of the project, was unmoved. He estimated there were 5000 people or "maybe a few more" with many coming from Hobart and even Victoria to boost the numbers. Police estimated a crowd of 10,000 people and the Wilderness Society said 11,000 attended the rally. Mr Dean said the protesters had been fed misinformation and outright lies. "This doesn't sway me at all. We have got to assess it against all the evidence," he said. Liberal MHR Michael Ferguson, facing re-election in the marginal seat of Bass, watched from the street but curtly declined a woman's offer of a T-shirt emblazoned with an anti-mill logo. Mr Law said the groundswell was building and politicians better take notice. "People at today's rally came from all corners of Tasmania and represented all generations and walks of life. This shows the depth of opposition to Gunns' pulp mill," he said. The State Government refused to comment on the protest numbers but in a statement Deputy Premier Steve Kons maintained the mill would be independently and properly assessed.