After two days of hellish headwinds, the last two days have been like paddling in heaven.
The water is still, but a political storm is brewing
Leaving Spring Beach I did about 40k through to Marion's Bay, stopping just short of the Dunally Canal and making camp. Today I paddled through Norfolk Harbour around to South Arm in the stillest possible conditions, the water mesmerising in the morning sun.
Meanwhile, a political storm is brewing over the Pulp Mill. As you know, i've taken a very conservative approach to this issue. My view has always been that jobs and wealth creation are positive, but that resources must be utilised for the optimal economic, environmental and social result.
With that in mind I've been calling for some key analysis on the mill that simply hasn't been done. At no stage has Gunns or the government attempted to analyse economic costs arising from the pulp mill (in fact it was outside the scope of Monash's "economic study" for Gunns' IIS). While Gunns and the government have cited all the positive effects of the mill, the negative effects on everything from fisheries (at risk from dioxin poisoning) to tourism (logging trucks and air pollution) to property values (which have already begun to decline near the proposed site) have simply been ignored. I've also been raising funds to explore more sustainable alternatives to the mill, another thing the government has simply failed to do.
By helping to provide real information and true choices I hoped that Tasmanians could make an informed decision
All this took place in the context of an Independent Commission (The RPDC) which was assessing the Pulp Mill, and which was to accept public submissions and conduct public hearings. Premier Lennon vowed to be bound by the decision of the RPDC, and as recently as 1 month ago (the day before I arrived at Bridport) so did Gunns.
I was convinced that once the RPDC looked at all the facts, and heard from all the people who would suffer if the pulp mill proceeds, they would rule against it. Indeed the RPDC found that Gunn's "expert" reports were severely lacking and asked for more, and better science.
It has became increasingly clear that Gunns would not be able to meet the guidelines, and the pulp mill could not stand up to an objective evaluation by an independent commission.
Last week Gunns withdrew the mill from the RPDC. The next day, Premier Lennon announced that he would recall parliament early to fast track the pulp mill. As I write, legislation is being tabled which will circumvent the RPDC and allow the mill to be approved by an alternative process. We're still waiting to hear what that process is, but by the sounds of it one consultant and the Department of Economic Development (the same department which caused the previous head of the RPDC to resign by "undermining the objectivity" of the RPDC process) will do the assessment. In other words, its a rubber stamp See http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21387677-2702,00.html for more.
The consequences:
If Lennon is successful in circumventing the RPDC, it means:
- There may be no further opportuity for public comment on Gunns newly submitted information, even though previously submitted information was sorely lacking.
- There will be no public hearings
- Parliament might only be given the choice to say yes or no to the mill, without the power to impose conditions as the RPDC could
- A precendent would have been set which would allow any developer with money to obtain rapid approval, no matter what the consequences for the wider community
- Tasmania will become the place of choice for all projects which are too dirty to go ahead anywhere else.
- Democracy in Tasmania would have been reduced to the ability to vote once every 4 years, with no sense of accountability in the interim
So there you go Tasmania. If you don't do anything about now, there'll be no use complaining later.
There will be a protest held on Parliament Lawn at 12:30 this Thursday.
Through the Dunally Canal, less than 60k to go to Hobart