Yesterday, Tasmania's Upper House passed the "fast track" legislation for the mill. While the Upper House did call for some ammendments, the bill still stands with many of its worst aspects still intact. http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,21467754-5007221,00.html has the details
One of the clauses in the legislation stated that if the pulp mill did not meet Tasmania's environmental guidelines, it can still be passed if it meets other "best practice" guidelines elsewhere in the world.
After sustained questioning, the Government admitted that that the loophole was needed in order for the mill to pass, because the government already knew that the pulp mill could not meet Tasmania's Environmental Guidelines on air emissions. Yet last week the government assured us that the legislation didn't "water-down" existing environmental regulation. One more lie in a string of lies surrounding the mill. (see previous blogs) The Australian Medical Association has already made public its view that air-borne emisions from the mill are likely to lead to an increase in lung-disease.
So the question is, what are you going to do?
Firstly, the mill still has to be approved at the Federal Level, and the decision requires Malcolm Turnbull's signature. You can add your voice by:
- signing the petition
- writing personally to Malcolm Turnbull. His email is:
The Franklin Dam was stopped at the Federal Level (and now tourism generates far more wealth in the Franklin than the dam would have) and so was the last proposed pulp mill at Wesley Vale.
It can be done. Its up to all Australians to make sure it happens. Don't sit idly by.
Sim