Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC News), October 9, 2007

GUNNS PREPARED TO MEET OPERATING CONDITIONS

[Rachel's introduction: The Australian government will allow a paper mill to be built before tests are completed to learn whether it can meet environmental standards: "It's totally illogical. It doesn't abide by the precautionary principle. It means we could end up with a mill that doesn't meet the conditions."]

Timber company Gunns hopes to start building a pulp mill in northern Tasmania by the end of the year, after the Federal Government doubled the number of environmental conditions it must meet.

Federal Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull has given the $1.7 billion project the go ahead, after following recommendations by Commonwealth chief scientist Dr Jim Peacock -- imposing an extra 24 environmental conditions the mill must meet to be allowed to operate.

Gunns will now be required to meet 48 Commonwealth conditions covering effluent discharge, environmental monitoring and the protection of threatened species.

Dr Peacock says there will be extensive monitoring of the mill to ensure it operates according to the environmental restrictions.

"There's a very strong prospect that the mill will operate with an environmentally neutral footprint," he said.

Company executive chairman John Gay says the guidelines are tough, but he is prepared to meet them. He says the restrictions will not change the overall cost to build the mill.

Federal support

Both Federal Coalition and Federal Labor are backing the mill and the conditions imposed by Mr Turnbull and Dr Peacock.

Opposition environment spokesman Peter Garrett says Labor was always prepared to back the mill if it was world's best practice.

He says the new rules mean it meets that condition, but he is critical of the procedure.

Prime Minister John Howard says Labor is trying to have it both ways by being so critical of the process.

"Are they for it or against it? Do they want jobs for northern Tasmanians or don't they?" he said.

Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon says the Government will work to heal the divisions that have been created over the project.

Election issue

But the Greens and Democrats have vowed to make the pulp mill a federal election issue and Tasmanian Greens Leader Peg Putt says the battle is not over.

Ms Putt says construction on the mill should not start until all key testing has been completed.

"Minister Turnbull has said build the mill and do those studies as the mill is being built," she said.

"It's totally illogical. It doesn't abide by the precautionary principle. It means we could end up with a mill that doesn't meet the conditions."

Federal Greens leader Bob Brown says Mr Garrett was wrong to say the mill would be world's best practice.

"I will join thousands of other citizens in campaigning against this pulp mill and the two big parties supporting it," he said.

Businessman Geoffrey Cousins rejects Mr Turnbull's handling of the issue and will keep campaigning against him.

"Whether the people of Wentworth think he is a lost cause, we'll wait and see," he said.

Conservationists say they too will continue to campaign against the project.

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