The future of the proposed Gunns pulp mill should be decided on whether it can meet the world’s toughest environmental guidelines and the demands of its financiers, rather than by lawyers arguing the case about the wording in the Act, Premier David Bartlett said today.
Mr Bartlett said he had taken to cabinet and the Parliamentary Labor Party the legislation to clarify the Pulp Mill Assessment Act because he wanted the mill assessed on its environmental and financial merits.
“That was the intent of the Parliament in the original legislation.
“I want to see the mill measured against the environmental guidelines that have been set in place.
“This legislation does not weaken the environmental rules set down for the mill instead it clarifies their application.
“I have said repeatedly that the mill will succeed or fail on whether it can meet the environmental guidelines and whether its proponents can finance it.
“I understand that with the global recession and its impact on world financial markets there have been delays, but my message today to Gunns is, get on with it.
