It was the perfect day to finish. My destination was Constitution Dock, the final stop of all good Sydney to Hobart voyages, and as I addled the final leg I thought about all the afdverntures, all that had been achieved, and especially, everything that’s going on right now.
I mentioned yesterday that a political storm was brewing. The day that I arrrived, it erupted.
This morning’s papers featured Judge Wright, the newly appointed Chair of the RPDC, going public on a meeting he had with Premier Paul Lennon in February. According to the Judge, Premier Lennon had attempted to pressure him into fast-tracking the assessment process, including dispensing with public hearings. Lennon threatened Wright that if he didn’t comply, Lennon would legislate around the RPDC. The next thing that happened was that Lennon publicly denied threatening legislation, which means that finally we have a direct conflict on the facts. There’s no weaseling out of this one with “I said this but I meant that.” This is a direct credibility contest, and if the Premier did attempt to pressurize the RPDC , its not only improper, but most probably illegal.
Given that the last Chair of the RPDC Julian Green recently resigned because the government had “undermined the objectivity” of the RPDC process, who would you believe, ex-Supreme Court Judge Wright, or Premier Paul Lennon?* And of course what is happening right now is that Lennon is moving to legislate to circumvent to RPDC in exactly the manner I wrote about in yesterday’s blog, proposing fast track legislation which will dispense with public hearings and appoint a private consultant instead. This has now gone far beyond just the pulp mill. Now its about public’s right to have a say in their future.
In the midst of this I pulled into Constitution Dock. Apparently a huge sea lion had come into the dock just before me, entertaining the welcoming party, and what a welcome it was. With so much going on I didn’t expect much media coverage, and was happy to slip in quietly, but it certainly didn’t turn out that way.
Media on arrival, featured on all channels that night
After 79 days at sea, the trip is finally over. I’m not sure how its going to be getting back to normal life, but doing the trip and speaking to hundreds of Tasmanians about the future of their state has made me absolutely certain of the following:
Tasmania is an incredible place, with incredible natural resources. It deserves a government and a vision which will make the most of those resources in the long term.
The proposed pulp mill could never stand up to an independent and public assessment process, and would be an economic and environmental disaster for Tasmania if it proceeds.
The current Government has shown that it is willing to do anything, including breaking promises, lying, bullying and ignoring basic democratic principles to push this project through no matter what the consequences.
I don’t think the Tasmanian people are going to stand for it.
And if they do, the mill still has to be approved by the Federal Government in an election year, and I hope the Australian people won't stand for it.
With all that I mind, after nearly 2000kms of paddling, the thing I’m happiest about (besides being alive and well) is that the trip has raised funds for the Round Table to develop a truly sustainable vision for Tasmania.
Now more than ever, that vision is needed. Click here to go to the donations page, and support the future that Tasmania deserves
The trip is over, but as i write Lennon is tabling legislation to push through the pulp mill. I will keep this site updated with all the latest news.
The next big protest will be held on 1st April in Launceston.
*Incidentally, when Julian Green resigned, Lennon announced that Green was simply taking an early retirement. It was only his leaked resignation letter which informed us that his true reason was government interference. Since then, the government negotiated a $140,000 ex gratia (meaning “out of the ordinary”) payment to Green, the terms of which have not to my knowledge ever been revealed. Mr Green has not said a word since .