LATEST NEWS AND DEVELOPMENTS

GUNNS' SHARE PRICE

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16/3/2010: GAY'S DAYS NUMBERED?
A group of institutional investors have visited Launceston to demand John Gay's resignation. Gay refused. However, if the the investors have the numbers then Gay will eventually be forced out. The question is 'Have they got the numbers?'. Gay has been given until 9th April to resign or an extraordinary general meeting will be called. If Gay is forced out, the mill project may well be over as Gay is the chief advocate. This may well be the reason for the 'administration' rumour as these interstate investors may have been mistaken for bank administrators. Who can tell? Interesting times.

Gunns'shareholder revolt

11/3/2010: GUNNS IN ADMINISTRATION??
An article published in today's Tasmanian Times claimed that an 'impeccable' source reported that Gunns has been placed in administration by its main bankers the ANZ Bank. An announcement would not be made until after the State election on March 20th to avoid damage to the Liberal or Labor party. The article was removed after a few hours so we will have to wait and see.

7/3/2010: FSC MAJOR PROBLEM FOR GUNNS
Gunns decision to ignore the growing power of the FSC label on wood products is starting to cost them dearly. Their latest ASX statement states that they will now apply for FSC (Forest Stewardship Certification). The problem is that, in spite of statements to the contrary by Forestry Tasmania, the State is light years away from the standards expected from FSC. Gunns have not yet applied for FSC and probably will not do so until their financial restructure has occurred. It could be that Gunns are hoping that part of their business could get FSC leaving the rest to carry on as before. This, according to a source close to FSC, is very unlikely. Meanwhile Gunns have lost their woodchip contracts because they do not have FSC and might well be operating at a loss. Gunns say they hope to announce a joint venture partner for the pulp mill by the end of June. They said the same thing last year. Potential JVP Sodra have said that unless Gunns get FSC there will be no deal. Another potential problem for Gunns is that, if they are going to import timber from Victoria to make the mill plantation only, the port of Portland will have to upgraded as at present it is too small for the volume required.

22/2/2010: AUSTRALIAN STORY IMPLICATES PLANTATION TREES
The ABC program 'Australian Story' tonight suggested that poisons from plantation trees, genetically modified E.Nitens, have reached the ground water in the area around St Helens in Tasmania. The implications for forestry are explosive and surely the Government will be forced to investigate this properly and ban these plantations if it is true.

22/2/2010: GUNNS' PROFIT DROPS 98%
Gunns' half yearly statement says that profits have dropped from $33m. to $0.4m. The company is having to be totally restructured because of the pulp mill proposal. Overseas investors will be encouraged to invest in Gunns' forestry assetts - that will not be popular with the public. No dividend is being paid and the shares have dropped 22% with eight times the normal trading volume. In other words investors are reading between the lines and do not like what they see.

11/2/2010: 800,000 TONNE WOODCHIP FIRESALE
A deal (without any details as usual) has been announced to sell woodchips which will keep the industry going another 3 months - after that who knows. The rumour is that Gunns owe Forestry Tasmania $20m. and that negotiations with bankers are in progress regarding Gunns financial position. A full audit of their assets might be on the cards - a sign that banks are starting to worry about their loans to the company.

10/2/2010: LIES, MORE LIES AND DECEPTION ON PIPELINE CORRIDOR
A freedom of information request has found out that the Goverment have been doing what they said they would not do - ie compulsorily purchase land for the Gunns' water pipeline. The letters show that the DIER have been secretely negotiating with Gunns to but extra land for the pipeline alongside the new Dilston bypass. This is almost certainly against the law and a legal challenge might eventuate. Both Mr. Bartlett and opposition leader Mr. Hodgeman have refused to rule out allowing Gunns to use the corridor. There are still sections of the pipeline route that Gunns have not acquired.

Mercury

29/1/2010: GUNNS DROPS COURT CASE
Gunns have decided to drop their court case against the remainder of the Gunns20. The bad press generated would be very damaging to their pulp mill proposal.

26/1/2010: MINISTER BACK FROM JAPAN WITH SOME UNPALATABLE TRUTHS
Resources Minister David Llewellyn has returned from Japan blaming opponents of the Tamar pulp mill for lost business and with a message for Gunns and Forestry Tasmania: switch to FSC. It's ten years too late Mr Llewellyn. The lost busines is entirely due to your, and FT and Gunns, total lack of foresight. There were no meetings with potential financiers.

22/1/2010: GAY RUSHES OFF TO JAPAN
Gunns' MD John Gay, together with Forestry boss Bob Gordon and Minister David Llewellyn, has gone to Japan. The forestry industry say it is to try and get back lost woodchip contracts but there is a suspicion that pulp mill finance might be on the agenda. Meanwhile it has been revealed in a 'freedom of information' request that the State Government have paid for a pipeline culvert to be built on the East Tamar Highway. Gunns, profits about $64m. last year, claimed they could not afford the $239,000 it cost to build. If the mill does not go ahead, it is unlikely the taxpayer will get back the cash. There is also a rumour that Gunns owes Forestry Tasmania $20m. Does any other company in Tasmania get this favoured treatment? Gunns' share price has gone down sharply in the last few days.

SO:

Gunns asks the DIER to pay a bill for them - by email.  The department agrees by email without further investigation. Gunns  
makes a $64m. yearly profit and can afford to blow $2m. suing environmentalists. They hope to raise $2.5bn to build the mill but they cannot
afford $239,000!!

The Government dispenses taxpayers' money by return email but keeps it secret. Meanwhile it resists spending more on safety measures for the
Dilston Bypass which could save lives, and, when asked by a local landowner if the culvert is for the pipeline, they reply no. A blatant lie!!


Mercury


7/1/2010: NORDEA POSSIBLE BACKER

Swedish bank Nordea have been touted as a possible loan source for the project but, in a statement today, they have
distanced themselves from Gunns.

6/1/2010: GUNNS SAY THAT MILL WILL BE PLANTATION ONLY

Gunns have announced that with the aquisition of assets from Gt. Southern, they have enough plantations to supply the mill
from day one. However, these assets are on the mainland and will need shipping so will it be economic? Premier Bartlett
has urged the Green to now back the mill but the Greens say it is in the wrong place.
 
Premier urges mill support


19/12/09: NO PULP MILL IN SIGHT

Gunn's share price (above) has been floundering and this would indicate that there is no good news in the pipeline at present.
The Forestry union is urging the Government to 'fast-track' the mill. Haven't they already done that? They say that paper making
jobs will be lost to Tasmania if the mill doesn't proceed soon. They ignore the simple fact that Gunns' proposed mill will produce
pulp - not paper - and that even if the go-ahead was given today, it would be well over 3 years (see below) before it was operating.
 It's a sign of desperation and an indication that talks with potential joint venture partner, Sodra, are not
going well  (there is a rumour they are going to pull out). And Japanese companies are now insisting that woodchips are 
FSC certified (Gunns are NOT and FSC chairman Michael
Spencer has indicated that Gunns may not qualify for FSC certification because they log native forests).

30/11/2009: LABOUR A PROBLEM FOR MILL CONSTRUCTION

An ABC report says that Gunns will not be able to find labour to build its pulp mill for at least two years as all
construction firms are booked up with Government infrastructure projects.

29/11/2009: WOODCHIP SALES SLACK

A source said that Gunns have only one more load of woodchips to load from Longreach this year.

25/11/2009: GUNNS TAKEOVER OPPOSED ON MONOPOLY GROUNDS

Gunns' takeover of Elders forestry assetts has torpedoed by the monopolies commission. Gunns have redrawn their contract with Elders and
re-submitted their proposal.

19/11/2009: PETER CUNDALL GETS ARRESTED

Gardening guru Peter Cundall and 50 others were arrested outside Parliament today protesting against the pulp mill approval process.
The bail conditions excluded visiting the Hobart waterfront over the holiday period - though by critics to be a political decision.
(This was subsequently revoked after it attracted publicity)

11/11/2009: GUNNS CONFIRMS MILL MAY BE YEARS AWAY

At the Gunns' AGM today, it was confirmed that Gunns have no partners or finance and that it could be years before construction is started.




11/11/2009: GUNNS' AGM CONFIRMS SODRA AS POSSIBLE PARTNER

A statement issued to the Stock Exchange today confirms Swedish group Sodra as the possible joint venture partner. The companies are 
continuing to talk. Sodra CEO Leif Broden said any agreement with Gunns was a long way off.

10/11/2009: MARINE MODELLING HAS STARTED

The Federal EPBC department has confirmed that hydro-dynamic modelling has been commenced and must be completed and on the Ministers'
desk by 3rd March 2011. Gunns has refused to name the companies doing the work. 

9/11/2009: JOHN GAY TALKS TO BOB BROWN

It was confirmed that the project was discussed by Gunns' chairman John Gay and Greens' leader Bob Brown over a coffee. Apparently,
Mr. Brown told Mr. Gay that the Tamar valley was not a suitable place for a pulp mill!

6/11/2009: PERMITS EXTENDED BY TWO YEARS

The State Government have passed a bill to extend the permits that might have expired in September by two years. The debate was guillotined again,
just like the original bill.

25/10/2009: DEMONSTRATION AT GEORGE TOWN

About 100 protesters greeted the State Cabinet at George Town today. There were about half a dozen pro-mill demonstrators -
rather a pathetic turn-out for the place which is supposed to want the project the most.

21/10/2009: STATE CABINET MEETS FEDERAL TREASURER

Ominous rumours suggest the Tasmanian State Government are trying to extract guarantees from the Federal Government for loans
for the pulp mill project. For the Federal Government to give such guarantees before they issue operating permits (awaiting
marine studies) would be highly questionable or even illegal.

18/10/2009: ARGENTINA TAKES BOTNIA TO WORLD COURT

Argentina has taken its case against the Botnia Pulp Mill in Uruguay to court claiming unacceptable smells and pollution.

 
Damage to ecosystem


12/10/2009: GUNNS SACK 22 LONGREACH WORKERS

Gunns gave notice to 20 workers at their Longreach site - a sign that times are bad indeed.

16/10/2009: MONOPOLIES BOARD INVESTIGATES TAKEOVER

The Monopolies Board is investigating Gunns' takeover of Elders' forestry assetts in response to farmers who think it
will give them a monopoly.

12/10/2009: ATTACK WAS DRUNKEN PRANK

The Police arrested a youth for vandalising Gay's house at the weekend. The arrest makes Paul Lennon, who said in an article in
the Examiner that anyone who thought it wasn't anti-pulp mill protestors was kidding themselves, look completely riduculous as
well as the paper for printing this rubbish.


12/10/2009: GUNNS' CHAIRMAN SUFFERS ATTACKS

Gunns' Chairman, John Gay, has suffered attacks on his home and is threatening to go and live in Victoria. Or could it be because he
know his pulp mill will smell?

07/10/2009: GUNNS APPLIES FOR FSC

After insisting for years that its own self-administered forest certification was the best, Gunns have now had to back down and apply
for FSC (Forest Stewardship Certification). This is without doubt a move to impress a potential partner but, as things stand, any
plantations established after 1998 will not qualify.

4/10/2009: ROWDY DEMONSTRATION AT COMMUNITY FORUM

Hundreds of West Tamar residents turned up to tell the State cabinet that they were unhappy about the pulp mill. The Police appeared to lose
control of the crowd for a while as demonstrators surged into the grounds. However, TAP chairman Rod Hutchins was able to persuade the crowd
to retreat.

2/10/2009: GUNNS BIDS FOR GT SOUTHERN

Having missed out on Timbercorp, Gunns have bid for assetts of another failed timber company. Gunns is desperate to build up its
plantation inventory to impress a joint venture partner. However, Gt Southern's assetts are widely dispersed which is a disadvantage.


25/9/2009: GUNNS MISSES OUT ON TIMBERCORP ASSETTS

Gunns has not been selected as the preferred bidder for Timbercorp's assetts. The company therefore misses out on an opportunity
to acquire more plantation wood.

 
Gunns misses out


23/9/2009: VIDEO OF EFFLUENT POLLUTION AT BOTNIA MILL IN URUGUAY


 
Botnia mill pollution



23/9/2009: GUNNS LAYS OFF WORKERS

Gunns needs to lay off 35 workers because of low demand and because plantations are not growing as quickly as predicted.

ABC


22/9/2009: GUNNS INTERESTED IN TIMBERCORP


Gunns Ltd have made a bid for failed MIS company Timbercorp. Gunns are trying to build up their plantations so they can
say that the mill will be plantation fed. What they will do could be another matter unless they have someone breathing
down their necks as they have a supply agreement with Forestry Tasmania at $15 a tonne and plantation wood is $35 a tonne.

Timbercorp offer


16/9/2009: SODRA LAY DOWN CONDITIONS

Sodra say that it is 'possible' that Gunns' mill will satisfy two environmentalists' conditions according to project opponent
Geoffrey Cousins. The mill may be able to be fully plantation-fed and it could be made totally chlrorine-free. However, moving
the mill away from the wine and fruit growing area of the Tamar would be more difficult.

Sodra conditions


15/9/2009: ANOTHER PROMISE BROKEN

Treasurer Michael Aird will be promoting the project to European bankers this week in direct contravention to a State
Government promise that it would do no more to help the pulp mill project. As well as this, Mr. Aird trotted out the 
old lies about jobs (2000 created - it's actually 1250 during construction and 290 in operation). This is an indication that
Gunns are still having problems getting finance in spite of their announcements.

13/9/2009: TAP REPLANT PIPELINE CORRIDOR

Tasmanians against the pulp mill replanted the area trashed by Gunns in the Trevallyn Reserve in preparation for their pipeline!

8/9/2009: SODRA IN TASMANIA

A Sodra representative is checking out the situation in Tasmania this week according to sources.

8/9/2009: ARGENTINES CONTINUE TO PROTEST

Protests will continue against the Botnia pulp mill in Uruguay whatever the outcome of a case in the International Court.

Argentine Protests


7/9/2009: PROTEST PICNIC

Nearly 700 people attended a protest picnic on the Trevallyn Reserve near where Gunns have trashed a pipeline corridor.
TAP spokesman Bob McMahon promised TAP would fight the pipeline from the Trevallyn Dam to the sea - whatever it took.

ABC news


5/9/2009: LAWYERS FOR FOREST LOSE APPEAL

Anti-forest group Lawyers For Forests last their case against the Federal approval of the mill. They might appeal to the High Court.

ABC


5/9/2009: MILLIONARE BUSINESS WOMAN BACKS ENVIRONMENT

Tasmania's clean, green image was in danger of being tarnished or lost due to excessive logging and appalling animal welfare practices
according to Jan Cameron.

The Australian


1/9/2009: GUNNS' PROFIT DOWN

Gunns have announced a reduced profit due to low sales of woodchips and MIS. A takeover of ITC Timber, a division of Elders,
is going ahead provided Gunns can get the the required capital from additional share issues. The idea is to increase plantation
stocks for the proposed pulp mill. Gunns' possible equity partner Sodra are still considering their options but, according to
sources, have not yet even decided whether to fully investigate the current proposal.

28/8/2009: GUNNS' SHARES IN TRADING HALT

At the companies' request, Gunns' shares are in a trading halt pending news of an acquisition.

ABC news


27/8/2009: PROTESTERS ARRESTED IN HOBART

Protesters calling for a Royal Commission on the approval of Gunns' proposed pulp mill were arrested by Police.
It is unlikely either Labor or the Liberals would agree to a Royal Commission as it might turn out that quite a 
few of them were involved in shady dealings up to their necks!

Tasmanian Times


24/8/2009: FORESTRY TASMANIA SPRUIKS MILL

A report from Forestry Tasmania, released two months early, has said that profits would have been greater with a pulp mill
up and running - perhaps another $9m. more. Rather underwhelming! Could this be an attempt to make sure that the Bartlett
Government renews the building permits which expire after two years (at the beginning of September). This is thought by some
commentators to be the reason why Gunns have done some work on their site at Longreach and next to the East Tamar Highway at
Mt Direction. Legal opinions differ on whether Gunns need to make a substantial start to avoid losing their permits or not.

ABC


4/8/2009: SUPPORT FOR THE MILL PLUMMETS

An opinion poll conducted on behalf of the Greens has support for the pulp mill down to only 14% with 12% undecided.
Nearly three quarters of respondents Australia-wide said no to the pulp mill.

4/8/2009: GUNNS START CLEARING

Gunns have announced that some preparatory work is being undertaken at their pulp mill site at Longreach. Some pipeline
easement work may already have started. However CEO Greg L'Estrange admitted Gunns do not have a joint venture partner or
finance so the work may just be an attempt to prop up the venture in the eyes of potential partners or it may be an attempt
to flush out the tactics of the environmental groups. Another possible explanation is that the work at Longreach is for a
natural gas liquifying plant that Gunns intend to build to supply their log trucks - a project which is nothing to do with the
pulp mill. No statement has been made as yet to the ASX which probably means it is all a stunt.

Hobart Mercury


1/8/2009: PULP MILL PROTEST AT ALP CONFERENCE

Anti-pulp mill protestors made their presence known at the ALP conference in Sydney:

Tasmanian Times


28/7/2009: GUNNS HAVE NOT STARTED MARINE SURVEY

According to a reliable source, Gunns have yet to start their marine surveys that are necessary to get operational permits.
Apparently, there are no Australian companies that are qualified so Gunns will have to get in a foreign entity - that will make
it very expensive as it runs for 12 months.

28/7/2009: CHILE PULP MILL GUILTY OF POLLUTION

Celco, who run the Valdivia pulp mill responsible for the deaths of thousands of swans, has had its appeal turned down and is now
faced with large fines from the Chilean Government. TAP's Bob McMahon tells us why the outcome would be very different here:


Tasmanian Times


27/7/2009: JOURNO' TELLS HOW HE WAS MUZZLED

Ex-Examiner journalist, Tom Ellison, says that his reporting on the pulp mill was censored by the Examiner.

Tasmanian Times



24/7/2009: L'ESTRANGE THREATENS SPONSORSHIPS

New Gunns' CEO, Greg L'Estrange,  in an article in the Examiner, said that Gunns was reviewing its financial support for local clubs and events.
The implication was that this was because of lack of support in the community for Gunns and its pulp mill!



17/7/2009: GUNNS ON THE MOVE?

A Gunns' representative has been informing locals that Gunns will be starting work on their pipeline in the Trevallyn Reserve
and clearing bush from their Longreach pulp mill site soon. As far as this website knows, no permission has been received from
the West Tamar Council for this work to proceed. Perhaps Gunns thinks it doesn't need permission.

17/7/2009: JUDGE KNOCKS BACK PERMIT QUERIES

Justice Peter Evans in a judgement this afternoon confirmed mill opponents worst fears - that section 11 of the pulp mill
approval act effectively kills all democratic rights to query the project or its effects.

ABC



29/6/2009: GUNNS LIES TO THE AUSTRALIAN

Gunns were asked by the Australian on Monday if they had FSC certification. They replied that they had. This was printed
in Tuesday's edition and, of course, complaints followed and a retraction had to be printed. Have they told Sodra the same lie?

Australian - Gunns' story at the bottom


29/6/2009: COMMENT

Gunns has promised the ASX a statement on progress on the project would be forthcoming by the end of June. Reading between
the lines, it appears that Gunns are down to one possible suitor and that there are vital sticking points one of which
could very well be control of the project. An experienced Pulp and Paper company would not be happy allowing novices to
control the project. The company may also be wary of lobbying by opponents. What has changed is that Gunns have not set
themselves any more deadlines - although building must start before the end of August or construction permits will lapse
unless the State Government (which has promised not the help the project any more) extends them.

Mercury


29/6/2009: NEW POLL SHOWS MILL OPPOSITION:

A new statewide opinion poll conducted by ERMS on behalf of TAP shows opposition to the mill is as strong as ever and that
 support is still at only 25% - a figure that hasn't changed much in 4 years. Meanwhile Gunns have announced that they have
 a 'potential' joint venture partner and are negotiating finance.  In other words nothing has changed.

Mercury


26/6/2009: FORESTRY MINISTER SUPPORTS PULP MILL

Federal Forestry minister Tony Burke issued a statement that he supported the pulp mill. This is likely to be as a result
of Union pressure on the Government with Gunns coming up to a yet another self-imposed deadline.

23/6/2009: FROM THE FSC NEWSLETTER:



One of the world's largest market pulp manufacturers, Swedish company Södra, has made clear
 its expectations should it decide to become involved in the proposed Tasmanian pulp mill.
   Following press reports last week that it was a potential partner for Gunns in that
    company's pulp mill project, Södra issued a news release saying: "If Södra is to engage
	 in any pulp mill project our high environmental standards have to be met.  These standards
	  include among other things FSC certification and environmentally friendly bleaching technology
(TCF preferred).  TCF means totally chlorine free.  Involvement in any project in the
southern hemisphere would require 100 percent plantation forests to be used." 

Should Gunns seek FSC certification for its plantations this could be expected to involve
 significant change.  An analysis of 16 forest management certificates issued under the FSC
 system in Australia and New Zealand up to 2007 showed that some 500 changes were required 
 prior to certification with the largest area of change required being protection of 
 biodiversity.  Other areas requiring change included community relationships and chemical use.
  

22/6/2009:GUNNS DUMPS MORE JOBS

Another indication that all is not well with the company. Notice how sympathetic the Unions
are to Gunns as opposed to other companies with redundancies. Why?

Mercury


12/6/2009: SODRA EFFECTIVELY SAY NO

Giant pulp and paper company Sodra have put a section in their website that says that
Sodra would only invest if:
* The wood used is FSC certified (it isn't)
* The wood is 100% plantation (it isn't)
* The plant is the latest technology ie Totally Chlorine Free (it isn't).

So it looks as though Gunns will have to find their partner elsewhere.

ABC


12/6/2009: GUNNS PLANS GO IN TO EPA FOR APPROVAL

Gunns have sent their plans for checking with the State Government. A decision is expected
fairly soon.

The Mercury



11/6/2009: GUNNS MAY BE PINNING HOPES ON SODRA

According to the Australian newspaper, Gunns are hoping to sign a joint venture deal with
Swedish pulp and paper company Sodra. Sodra would put in $3/400m with Gunns putting in
more than that to make them the majority partner. The rest of the money would come from
a banking consortium led by the Maquarie Bank. It does not explain where Gunns will find
the $500m. or so that they will require. Gunns recently sold assetts to reduce debt to the ANZ
Bank.

Gunns about to get JVP?



4/6/2009:FUTURE OF TAS. PAPER MILL IN THE BALANCE

From FSC News:

Announcing completion of the sale of Australian Paper to Nippon Paper, Paperlinx said the sale would exclude two mills in Tasmania at Burnie and Wesley Vale.  A statement said a detailed review of the mills was underway and was expected to be completed by the end of June 2009.  It said potential outcomes of the review include retention of the existing business, partial closure, closure or sale.  The mills were unable to obtain FSC Chain of Custody Certification several years ago because their Tasmanian wood suppliers did not hold FSC Forest Management certification and did not meet requirements for FSC controlled wood.  As a result the mills that produce, amongst other products, book paper were not able to pursue opportunities in the rapidly growing market for FSC certified book paper. It was a disappointing result.  If State and Federal political leaders had been as committed to saving 600 jobs at these mills as they have been to building a new mill with half the workforce at Bell Bay the mills may have had a better chance to survive.

2/6/2009: COMMENT - IS IT NEARLY OVER?

June is the month that John Gay said that a joint venture partner (JVP) and/or finance
would be announced. It seems unlikely that Gunns have either. Would the Unions be badgering the banks if Gunns had the money? Would they be asking the Federal Government
for a loan (that story came from several sources)? It seems that JVPs are cagey too about
the political situation in Tasmania with an election next year. Gunns' director Robin Gray
suggested a Labor/Liberal coalition to 'fight the recession'. The real reason is likely
to be to provide political certainty for the pulp mill. The parties rejected the idea.


On the other side of the coin, there is no indication that Gunns is gearing up to build
the mill. No marine studies have been announced and apart from  ship-load of equipment that Gunns ordered 2 years ago arriving, no other activity is apparent. Gunns have also 
stopped negotiating with landowners for the pipeline.


Another analysis says that Gunns will have to pay $50m. tax on plantation sales unless
the project is abandonned by 30th June and the expenses set against profits. There must
be pressure to do this as any pulp mill looks a long, long way off - if it happens at all.

1/6/2009: GUNNS HAS NEW CEO

As expected, John Gay has handed over the day to day running of Gunns from 1st July to a new CEO,
Greg L'Estrange, who joined the board last year. Gay will retain responsibility
for the pulp mill development.

11/5/2009:SWECO-PIC APPROVAL COULD BE INVALID

Law lecturer Michael Stokes has found that the Sweco-Pic assessment fails to comply with Paul Lennon's fast-track bill.


 
Approval could be invalid

 
 
9/5/2009: GUNNS ASK FEDS FOR MONEY

 There is a unconfirmed report that Gunns asked the Federal Government for finance but were knocked back. Meanwhile,
 the Forestry Union is going to lobby banks the 'help' get the money. Could be counter-productive chaps!


2/5/2009: LAWYERS FOR FORESTS APPEAL AGAINST MILL APPROVAL DECISION

The appeal will lead to more uncertainty for the proponent and may affect their ability to find a joint venture partner
and/or finance.

1/5/2009: COMMENT

April has passed and still no announcement on the marine survey. You would think that a company that is confident on the
project proceeding would want to clear this hurdle as fast as possible.  The joint venture partner announcement
 has been put off until June. Gunns' CEO John Gay said he would retire by the end of June (although he would still be Chairman
 and it is suspected the main power behind Gunns). No negotiations have taken place on the pipeline for a couple of months.
 The pulp mill engineers seem to have gone home.
 One court case was decided in favour of the project (but LFF will appeal) but there is still one to go. Gunns are installing a cafe in their main
 hardware store in order to attract customers - their competitors already have one and their stores are busier than Gunns.
 It is doubtful it will help much as there is likely to be a consumer boycott of Gunns with their determination to push
 through this unpopular project against public opinion having sidestepped the usual planning procedures.

29/4/2009: GETUP PLACES ANTI-MILL ADVERT

The on-line action group GetUp have, in conjunction with the Wilderness Society, placed ads in financial papers
around the World to discourage investment in Gunns' pulp mill. This obviously rattled Gunns' cage as a counter
press statement was issued by Gunns' CEO John Gay.

27/4/2009: SHIP ARRIVES WITH 'PULP MILL EQUIPMENT'

A ship arrived today at Bell Bay with what was described as equipment for the pulp mill. In fact it was bits and pieces
left over from other projects that Gunns must have ordered two years ago - before they knew that they had the permits or the finance.
It will now have to be put in storage. What shareholders will think of this is anyone's guess.

21/4/2009: COMMENT

Gunns obviously do not have a joint venture partner (JVP) yet. The JVP is likely to demand at least partial control
of the project, control of the resource and a get-out if things go pear-shaped. A failed project could bankrupt
Gunns. No marine survey has been announced yet nor is there any recent progress on access for the water pipeline.
 Premier David Bartlett has said that proposed new planning laws will definitely not be used to get the pipeline
 through. Crucial State permits expire in August. And yet the Gunns' share price (see above) has gone up.
 
 
Coy on partner


21/4/2009: GUNNS TELLS ASX THAT PARTNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN JUNE

A very short pulpmill project update to the ASX said that the joint venture announcement has been postponed until June.



19/4/2009: PROTEST ON MILL SITE

A group of anti-pulpmill protesters landed on the shore of the pulpmill site and displayed a large banner which was
photographed from the air. The resulting photo made the local front pages and was sent to prospective joint venture partners.

16/4/2009: GUNNS CLAIMS IT IS CLOSE TO DEAL

Gunns, in an interview in the Australian, has said that the deal with a joint venture partner will now be announced by the end of June (In January it was
the end of April). So the date has been moved back again by another 2 months - a recurring theme. Gunns will still have
to find finance for their share of the project. The pipeline was not mentioned.

Close to deal


9/4/2009: LFF LOSES COURT CASE

Lawyers for Forests are considering whether to appeal after losing their case today in the Federal Court. The judgement took over
9 months to be delivered.

7/4/2009: INFORMATION SENT TO ASIC ABOUT MILL APPROVAL

An MLC parliamentary investigation into public appointments at the time of the pulp mill approval process has information
suggesting that Premier Paul Lennon knew Gunns were going to withdraw from the RPDC process. The evidence gathered by the
committee has been sent to ASIC, the Federal body that keeps an eye on shonky business practices and takes action if it thinks
fraud has been committed. The sanctions can include fines and disbarring offenders from running companies. If Lennon knew
in advance about the withdrawal then the implication might be that there was a conspiracy to bypass the lawful planning
process and that, at the time, the public, shareholders and the ASX were misled.

Lennon lied


4/4/2009: CRITICAL PERIOD FOR MILL

After a quiet month, the pulpmill project is heading in to a critical period. There was a high court challenge last week
in Hobart questioning the State Government's right to withhold information regarding the granting of permits to run the mill.
The case draws attention to Section 11 of the Pulpmill Approval Act (PMAA) which many think removes the right of any citizen
to object to or challenge any aspect of the approval, building, or operation of the pulpmill. Such a law is unprecedented in 
western countries and many think it unconstitutional. The people bringing the case were even threatened with jail for contempt
of the Tasmanian Parliament! This section 11 was not even debated just guillotined through Parliament by former discredited
Premier Paul (Mr.17%) Lennon. It is to the eternal shame to any MP who voted for this Stalinist-type law and they deserve
 contempt.


Also approaching is the decision in the Lawyers for Forests court case. If LFF lose they will appeal but if they win the
pulpmill will have no approval status at all and this will severely impact on investors (if there are any).


Also reaching a critical point is the marine studies which will take 18 months to carry out and assess. Peter Garratt gave Gunns
26 months to do this 3 months ago. They will have to announce the arrangements soon or risk not having the studies done in time.
Gunns are struggling financially at present and they may not be able to afford the few millions that it will cost and they
may be waiting to see if finance is forthcoming. 
Peter Garratt will not be able to grant them an extension.


Finally, Gunns have gone on record (see ASX release below) as saying they will announce a joint venture partner soon (by the end of April). If they
 don't, they will lose credibility and it is even more unlikely 
they will attract financial support.


There have been rumours (perhaps from Gunns themselves) that Gunns have obtained a joint venture partner and even some
 finance (but they still do not
have an agreed pipeline route) but if progress is not made
by the end of April, the project could be doomed.


4/3/2009: MILL FUNDS IN DOUBT

Even Gunns' auditor, KPMG, have expressed doubts that they will be able to raise funding in the current financial environment:

Mill funds in doubt


20/2/2009: GUNNS HAVE NOW SPENT $125m. ON PULP MILL

Gunns half-yearly results show an increased profit due to its take-over of Auspine but a poor cash-flow situation.
$125m. has now been spent on the pulp mill (why has it suddenly increased $27m. - could it be the cost of the equipment in storage
at Bell Bay that Gunns ordered before they secured finance?) and John Gay says that an agreement with a venture partner will be signed off
in a couple of months. We've heard that before and the market was not impressed with Gunns' shares (see above) hitting a
new low. The interim dividend at 2 cents is only a third of last years'.

ASX statement


20/2/2009: LEAKAGE OF CHLORINE DIOXIDE AT CANADIAN PLANT

Evacuations became necessary as a leak of Chlorine Dioxide dissolved in water was detected at a moth-balled pulpmill in Canada.

Chlorine Dioxide


20/2/2009: TOUGH TIME FOR GUNNS

Gunns' CEO John Gay is quoted in today's Launceston Examiner as saying that Gunns is experiencing difficult times. Their
forestry operations have been suspended. Mr. Gay says that the slowdown has occured faster than ever before. If Gunns are in
trouble financially, how will they be able to afford the expensive hydrodynamic marine studies demanded by Environment Minister
Peter Garrett?

9/2/2009: GUNNS INVITES TENDERS FOR STUDIES

Gunns has invited tenders to do the marine studies necessary to get the operating licence. The firm will have to be approved
by the federal government. The studies will take 18 months (and will probably show what all the other studies have shown - 
that the mill will pollute Bass Strait). 

4/2/2009: WOODCHIP MARKET COLLAPSES

This has now been confirmed by a statement from Gunns. The share price has lost 20% over the last few days (see above).

Mercury


3/2/2009: GUNNS TRYING TO RAISE MONEY

Gunns are apparently so short of cash that they are trying to raise capital through the unsecured securities market.

ASX announcement
 

1/2/2009: WOODCHIP MARKET COLLAPSES?

There are rumours that the woodchip market has collapsed and that workers may soon be laid off.

31/1/2009: GUNNS' STATEMENT TO THE ASX LABELLED MISLEADING

The report to the ASX which Gunns sent after their Board meeting last week has been labelled misleading by the Greens
and Environment Minister Peter Garrett has challenged what it says. The ASX is investigating. The whole affair looks
like an effort at damage-control by Gunns knowing that the Herzfeld report would be released soon and the effect it would have
on potential investors. In fact their damage control has caused even more damage with the Minister repudiating their claims
over the media!

29/1/2009: HERZFELD REPORT RELEASED

Gunns have finally released the Herzfeld report on effluent dispersion which indicates that permit conditions would be
broken almost every day and plumes of effluent would spread in to Bass Strait and along the Tasmanian coastline. The
release of this data by Gunns after months of trying to supress it comes as the department reviews the decision not to
release it. Were Gunns told it was going to be released?
But Gunns claim that their latest work shows that it is
out of date. What this report does indicate is that Gunns' previous work was totally inadequate.
TAP's website gives a quick summary of the report:

Herzfeld report


23/1/2009: RUDD WAITS FOR FINAL APPROVAL

According to the Examiner, PM Kevin Rudd refused to rule out the Federal Government helping out with the costs of tertiary
treatment of effluent but indicated any further decisions would have to wait until the results of the marine survey were
received and evaluated. This would indicate that Gunns can expect no more help from the Federal Government until that time. 

19/1/2009: NEW STUDY OF PULP MILL EFFECTS

There is a new study looking at why pulp mill effluent has a disastrous effect on fish populations.

New pulp fact


17/1/2009: SHAREHOLDERS EXPRESS DOUBT ABOUT GUNNS' MANAGEMENT

The linked articles indicate that some shareholders are not happy with the way Gunns is being run and think that John Gay
and Robin Gray have too much influence.

Envirowire
 

11/1/2009: GARRETT'S DECISION COULD SINK MILL - AUSTRALIAN

Matthew Denholm explains in the 'Weekend Australian' why Peter Garrett's decision is likely to do more than just delay the project.

Australian
 

9/1/2009: LEGAL THREATS STYMIE MILL

Financiers are unlikely to  finance the mill whilst the currect legal threats are valid: 
* The Greens have legal advice that work cannot proceed until all studies are completed. This means that should Gunns attempt
  to build the mill, work could be stopped by a legal injunction whilst the case is decided in court. The financial losses
  could run into tens of millions.
* Lawyers for Forests still have their case outstanding. If they win then the whole process will be null and void and again,
  Gunns will be forced to stop losing them millions. If LFF lose they will appeal so prolonging the process.
* Another angle is that the extra time that Garrett has given Gunns is not legal as only one extension is allowed.
* The changing of the pipeline route could mean that the State Government has to pass an amendment to the Pulp Mill
  Approval Act. Premier Bartlett has promised not to help the project any more.
   

9/1/2009: PULP SURPLUS - PRICE CRASHES

There is a surplus of paper pulp in the World and the price has crashed to very low levels. Workers are being laid off.
Hardly the news to get financiers excited about investing in a new pulp mill.

Pulp over-supply



8/1/2009: REBECCA COMES OUT SWINGING (AGAIN)

Prominent actress Rebecca Gibney, who lives in the Tamar Valley, has an interview in this weeks' 'Woman's Day' on
how she and her family have been opposing the mill and how this has lead to her being abused and her car being
vandalised. However, she says that most residents support her and encourage her. The article mentions this site.

Woman's Day


8/1/2009: BOB MCMAHON WRITES IN 'THE AGE'

TAP (Tasmanians against the pulpmill) spokesman Bob McMahon lashes the Government in an article in 'The Age'.

Get off the Gunns merry go round


5/1/2009: GARRETT REFUSES TO PASS MARINE MODULES

Peter Garratt today announced that the marine modules must be completed before final approval to operate the mill is given.
Although Gunns in theory can construct the project, the final approvals are still perhaps two years away. In fact, Gunns
will find it impossible to get finance until final approvals have been given and then they might have to add another stage of
effluent treatment costing $300m. or more. Gunns will have lost credibility with possible partners because of their assurance
that all environmental permits would be gained this January. Instead it will be two years or more. Gunns are putting a brave face
on the situation but they must be despairing. Marine surveys are expensive and it is likely they will show exactly the same
as the CSIRO and Flinders surveys (see Effluent section), that is that Bass Strait only flushes 1% a day and is unsuitable
for large amounts of effluent. Every month adds another $20m. to the cost. They are now looking at $3bn.

2/1/09: GARRETT CONFIRMS ALL MODULES IN

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has confirmed that all the modules have now been submitted by Gunns and a decision
will be made by close of business on January 5th. Even if Garrett says yes it is unlikely the project will go ahead before
the next State election in May 2010 as Gunns will not be able to gain water easements (and hence finance) and the present
State Government have said they will not help with compulsory purchase. Several landowners are refusing to let Gunns through
and the West Tamar Council have voted not to consider the matter again unless a change of circumstances arise.

 30/12/2008: COMMENT

As the year ends the pulp mill is no nearer construction than a year ago and even two years ago. The share price has recovered from
its catastrophic lows of a few weeks ago. The next hurdle is the decision that has to be made by Peter Garratt by January 5th.
It is believed that Gunns have got all their permits in for a decision but there has been no official confirmation. The
Minister Peter Garratt has several options:
* He can stop the project by announcing that the permits will not be granted because of deficiencies and further extensions will not be granted.
* He can announce all permits are granted and Gunns can go ahead.
* He can announce an extension of another 3 months for Gunns to get their submissions right.
* He could announce that Gunns have to do further work to prove their case.
By January 5th Midnight we should know whether the fight will continue or if it is all over. 

 24/11/2008: COMMENT

The pulp mill is in hibernation. It looks increasingly unlikely that the permits from the Federal Government will be granted
before the deadline in a month. The other deadline for State Government support has passed. Gunns issued a statement 
lambasting State Government ministers for talking down the project - an indication of just how touchy Gunns are. Things are
not going their way. Forestry Tasmania extended their wood supply agreement (without any tenders for higher offers which in
itself is outrageous) another 2 years but it's all meaningless without a pulp mill. The current situation is:
* Permits will almost certainly not be forthcoming by the 5th January deadline. Gunns will need yet another extension.
* A marine report from the CSIRO which shows possible pollution problems will eventually be released next year.
* Landowners have not accepted pipeline easement offers and are not likely to.
* The legal position of public land belonging to the West Tamar Council is far from clear.
* There is virtually no chance of Gunns financing the whole project alone.
* An equity partner would demand a majority share AND control of the wood supply.
* The price of wood pulp is falling.

Meanwhile the project is getting more and more unpopular with the public and Gunns are
suffering a consumer boycott as a result. Is it all worth it?

 24/11/2008: GUNNS UP THE CREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE

Nothing is going right for Gunns. Deputy Premier Lara Giddings has said that the mill looks increasingly unlikely to proceed and Gunns'
 share price has collapsed again to 65 cents. This values the company far below asset
value and so makes it vulnerable to a hostile takeover. Such a takeover might result in the company being broken up and sold.
And land owners on the East Tamar are rejecting Gunns' offer for pipeline easements meaning that they are going to find it
impossible to get finance. Add to that the rumour that Gunns have $30m. worth of plant sitting in storage at Bell Bay that
cannot be utilised at present yet has to be paid for.

 21/11/2008: GUNNS WITHDRAW FROM AGREEMENT

Gunns Ltd have told the ASX they will not seek to extend the sovereign risk agreement with the State Government.
This is probably to limit the damage when it expires anyway on 30th November. Although the $15m. compensation is small
beer compared with pulp mill expenses it would be quite a deterrent for a future Government to have to come up with that sum.
 The share price has fallen to 
75 cents (see above link) which values the company at $500m. The mill will cost $2.2bn. (at least - probably a lot more).

 21/11/2008: PIPELINE PROBLEM FOR GUNNS

Legal advice received by the Government indicates that Gunns WILL need permission from the West Tamar Council to access
their land for the water pipeline. WTC Mayor Barry Easther says the Council will not be re-visiting the earlier decision.
Gunns made a great effort to get the Council to sign an easement agreement last month but effectively lost the vote 8-0.

Nick Clark


 19/11/2008: EVIDENCE THAT IT WAS ALL A CON

Damning evidence has been presented at a Parliamentary committee that appears to indicate that Parliament and public was totally
misled about the approval process.  We all knew that anyway but the politicians involved seemed to think if they said it enough,
it would become true. Now it is all falling apart.

We were all conned

They weren't fooling anyone but themselves


 18/11/2008: GUNNS FORCED TO DENY MILL IS DEAD

Gunns has been forced to issue a statement about their plans to build the mill next year after their share price suffered
a (another) dramatic collapse. The reason is not clear. It could be short-selling or else because Paul Lennon, appearing before a 
Parliamentary committee gave the impression the project was dead.

The mill is dead

Oh no it isn't!



 17/11/2008: ERMS POLL SAYS 73% OF TASMANIANS DO NOT WANT ANY MORE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR MILL

An opinion poll commisioned by the Wilderness Society has found that nearly three-quarters of Tasmanians want Premier Bartlett
to stand by his promise and provide no more support for the project if it has not been started by the end of November. Only 20%
of Tasmanians actually support the mill.

 9/11/2008: LENNON ADMITS MISTAKES BUT DENIES PLOT

Former Premier Paul Lennon, in an interview with the Examiner, admits that mistakes were made including the choice of
Longreach (which this site has always said was a huge mistake) and also the way the pulp mill task force was run. He
however denied that there was a plot to sideline the RPDC. Well, he would say that as it would otherwise be admitting to
an illegal act.

 9/11/2008: WE HAVE GOT THE MESSAGE - RUDD

PM Kevin Rudd told a community forum in Launceston on Wednesday that the Federal Government had 'got the message' about
the pulp mill. Whether this transalates in to action we will have to wait and see.

 8/11/2008: GARRETT EXPECTING DECISION IN JANUARY

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett said that he expected a decision would be taken regarding the mill by January
but that he also expected further studies would have to be taken in Bass Strait before a final approval is given.

 7/11/2008: ARE GUNNS SERIOUS ABOUT THE MILL?

Gunns are not spending any money on the mill according to their own figures. The amount spent announced at the AGM was $90m. -
this does not seem to have changed for some time. Yet work on a large project costs money. Locals say that surveys have been
cancelled so how are Gunns going to get their permits? Another offer has been made to landowners for pipeline easement
rights (the landowners say that there will be no decision until finance is obtained) but this costs nothing unless the mill
 goes ahead. What's going on?  Could it be that Gunns don't want to admit that the $90m. will be added to their already
 substantial debts just as the World economy looks set for a recession?

 30/10/2008: MILL SHELVED FOR TIME BEING

At Gunns' AGM today, John Gay admitted that funds were not available and that the project would be put on the back-burner
for the present.

Mercury



 27/10/2008: ANOTHER SMOKING GUN

Steve Kons' previous driver told a Parliamentary committee that Mr Kons told him the pulp mill would be fast-tracked
a month before Gunns withdrew from the RPDC process. It is illegal to interfere with an approval process so everyone
who knew about this, if it is true, was theoretically breaking the law.

Mercury



23/10/2008: MILL IS A GONER

An Access Economics report says the mill is a 'goner'. Meanwhile Gunns, in the finest traditions of freedom
of information, plan to try and stop the CSIRO report on the effects of the effluent on Bass Strait.

22/10/2008: PIPELINE CANNOT BE BUILT ON COUNCIL LAND - STOKES

Senior lecturer at law at the University of Tasmania, Michael Stokes, says the pipeline cannot be built across
Council land now the West Tamar Council has refused to sign an easement agreement.

Legal opinion





21/10/2008: WEST TAMAR COUNCIL VOTE NO

In a stinging rebuff to Gunns, the West Tamar Council voted unanimously not to sign the agreement presented to them
(the day before the vote) to grant a pipeline easement. Gunns put a brave face on it but the fact is they made a great
effort to get the agreement but now they will
have to prove that the Pulp Mill Assessment Act gives them automatic access. Legal opinion is divided.

18/10/2008: COUNCIL TO VOTE ON PIPELINE ON TUESDAY

After promising that the public would be consulted before any vote on the pipeline, the West Tamar Council have now
announced that they intend to vote on it on Tuesday. Remember, last year they voted not to support the project but
now it is suspected that they have bowed to Gunns' pressure to resolve the issue before the Gunns' AGM on 30th October.

12/10/2008: PULP MILL NOW ON VERY STICKY WICKET

The last six weeks have seen a deterioration in Gunns' prospects of getting this project up. Gunns' latest statement
to the ASX admits that funding has not been found and, as yet, no venture partners have been discovered. There are three
problems that still have to be resolved before Gunns can proceed with the project. Even when if these are resolved it
may encounter problems with delays in delivery and shortage of skilled labour.


1/. FINANCE
In the current credit crisis it is difficult to see Gunns getting the money. They may have to wait until it resolves.
Even then it may take years before finance houses are willing to lend to a project that is at all risky. By then the
cost may have escalated to a point where Gunns' Board are not prepared to take the risk. If there is a depression
and the price of wood pulp slumps, the mill may become uneconomic.

2/. PERMITS
Gunns already have an extension of time until January 5th - which is Christmas as noone works between then and New
Year. Gunns only have four permits approved and have another twelve to go. It seems unlikely that these will go
through in the next 11 weeks. The ones that cover effluent discharge could be a problem as a CSIRO report is
thought to state that the effluent will not be properly dispersed and a tertiary treatment plant may be necessary.
This could also cause problems in local waters as Aluminium is used in tertiary treatment and local waters already
have aluminium content above recommended guidelines.

3/. PIPELINE
Gunns have not yet negotiated with local landowners to allow the water pipeline to cross their property. Some are
against the mill and Gunns may have to offer big money to change their minds. Also, there is a legal opinion that
says the West Tamar Council can not give permission for a private project to cross public land. However, many West
Tamar councillors support the mill and may ignore public opinion.  

27/8/2008: PARLIAMENT SUSPENDED

Parliament was suspended and the public gallery cleared before parliament voted on repealing the PMAA. The motion was
lost and the Act remains in force. Premier Bartlett said that he would not support the mill if he thought that peoples'
health in the Tamar valley would be adversly affected. He obviously considers himself more of a medical expert than the AMA
which predicted that the pulp mill would result in extra deaths in the valley. How fortunate we are to have such a
talented Premier! 


27/8/2008: GUNNS' SHARES REMAIN IN VOLUNTARY SUSPENSION

A statement by the ASX this morning said that Gunns shares, which were due to be re-listed this morning,
are to remain suspended for another week. This surely is an indication that they have major financial problems
with a loan repayment due in September.

24/8/2008: 10,000 MARCH AGAINST MILL

Another huge demonstration against the pulp mill in Launceston shows that this issue
is not going away. The event was organised by TAP (Tasmanians Against the Pulp mill),
an organisation that appears to going from strength to strength.

10,000 march


22/8/2008: GUNNS MAY HAVE TO ALTER PLANS

Gunns may have to add a tertiary effluent treatment plant to their pulp mill plans adding
hundreds of millions of dollars to the cost and resulting in further long delays. They are almost certainly going to miss the October 4th deadline for permit approval. Alterations to their existing plans could add months on to the process. As well as that,
if Gunns bring in a European partner, they could find that using native forest would
be unacceptable and that the mill would be plantation only. Gunns do not have enough
plantations in Tasmania to feed the mill and, anyway, Gunns prefers to sell plantation
wood to the Japanese as this commands a higher price. No financial deal can be sown up
until Gunns have all the building and operating permits in place. It is extremely unlikely that Gunns will be able to start construction before 30th November and so will
lose their sovereign risk deal with the State Government. Altogether, this mill is looking less and less likely to be profitable by the day and you wonder when they are going to have the sense the abandon the project.
 

Matthew Denholm


22/8/2008: RUMOUR MILL ON FULL THROTTLE

There is speculation on what Gunns will announce next week. It will be about fund raising - probably under pressure from ANZ wanting some of their money back. A rights-issue is unlikely
to be underwritten (ie it would be up to existing shareholders to stump up) according to the Australian as the prospect for the shares would not
be that great so it could flop or result in the share price collapsing. Perhaps Gunns
will announce that they have a partner for the project from Europe or China. Another
rumour says that CEO John Gay will stand down but remain chairman.

Australian - second item down


ANZ started decline


Fund-raising


22/8/2008: PERMITS UNLIKELY TO BE APPROVED BY DEADLINE

Peter Garrett said today he thought it was unlikely the permits would be approved by
the October 4th deadline. Also, tomorrow is the deadline for landowners to accept Gunns'
offer for pipeline easements. Several landowners have said they will not sell.

21/8/2008: GARRETT SUPPRESSES CSIRO OCEAN REPORT

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has refused a Green request to see a CSIRO
report on the effect of the mill dumping 64,000 tonnes of effluent a day in to Bass Strait.
That can only mean one thing - it must be damning. Once again the transparency we
were promised has been trashed. Come on Mr Garrett, what's going on?

Mercury


21/8/2008: STOP PRESS - GUNNS' SHARES SUSPENDED

Gunns' shares were suspended this morning until at least next week. There will be an
announcement about a capital raising of about $3/400m. to reduce debt. This capital
will be used to pay off debt to the ANZ Bank and it is thought it is because many Auspine
shareholders took cash instead of Gunns' shares in the recent takeover. As a result,
Gunns is crippled with huge debt. Could it be that ANZ, as well as refusing to finance
the mill, has insisted on debt reduction? Gunns are also looking to sell $170m. worth
of plantations. The company also announced CEO John Gay would be standing down in the
next year (but he would still remain chairman).

21/8/2008: BARTLETT EXPRESSES DOUBTS

Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett told a group from TAP (Tasmanians Against the Pulpmill)
that he didn't think the project would get finance anytime soon. He also said that
compulsory land acquisition was not going to happen. Many of the landowners have said
that they are not going to let the pipeline through. 

Mercury


19/8/2008: MORE LANDOWNERS JOIN LEGAL BID

Three landowners have joined Environment Tasmania in challenging the State Government's
refusal to justify permit conditions.

Legal attack


Stateline


18/8/2008:GUNNS SUBMITS PERMIT MODULES THIS WEEK

Gunns has announced that it will be submitting its final permit modules this week.
That leaves the Government about six weeks to approve them - that's assuming that they
 will not have to be sent back to Gunns for alterations. Meanwhile Gunns' share price has
collapsed to $1.93 (see above).

ABC


16/8/2008: PULP MILL FACES MORE LEGAL ACTION

Environment Tasmania has challenged the validity of Section 11 of the Pulp Mill 
Approval Act. If successful, it could lead to a mountain of legal challenges and
claims for compensation. Section 11 effectively removes all rights to challenge
or claim compensation with anything to do with the pulp mill. Opponents claim this
is unconstitutional. EV had asked for information on the State permits for the mill
but were refused because of Section 11. So much for transparency!

Federal Court challenge


15/8/2008: GUNNS SELLING FOREST TO REDUCE DEBT

Gunns have announced they are going to sell forests worth $170m. to reduce debt. Their
profit for the year is likely to be $67m. down from $74m last year. The share price crashed 10% today probably
because of Wal King's statement yesterday.

14/8/2008: PULP MILL WILL NEVER HAPPEN - WAL KING

Leighton Holdings' CEO Wal King said at the company results meeting today that the pulp mill was unlikely to be built this year, next year or ever. Gunns replied
that he is misinformed.

Pulp mill dead


14/8/2008:GUNNS PRESSURED BY FEDS

According to today's Examiner, the Federal Government have asked Gunns to provide a 
timeline for presenting their permit modules. The company has just over six weeks to
present their modules and get them passed by the department, the independent experts
group and the Minister. The deadline is October 4th and it is looking increasingly
unlikely it will be met yet Gunns have said they will not seek an extension. What's
going on? It's looking very much like last year when Gunns failed to produce material
for the RPDC when asked. When Malcolm Turnbull approved the mill in October 2007 subject to permits he
said that all Gunns had to do, if they had done their homework, was to shove it all in
an envelope and post it to him! 
 
 
10/8/2008: JOHN GAY IN LONDON?

 There was an unconfirmed sighting of Gunns'
CEO John Gay in London last week so he may still be searching for funds. British banks
have been badly affected by the credit crunch so will be reluctant to lend for any
project that has any sort of risk.
Meanwhile, there is still no sign of the judgement in the
 'Lawyers for Forests' court case challenging the Federal approval.
 

7/8/2008: GUNNS LOSES FEDERAL FUNDING

The Federal Government have cancelled the funding provided ($5m.) to keep jobs in
Scotsdale. Gunns sacked over 100 workers in spite of the agreement. This sends a strong
signal to Gunns that it will have to keep agreements with the Federal Government or it
will be penalised.

3/8/2008: PROJECT MODULES SENT BACK TO GUNNS

Ten of the project modules that need to be passed by the Federal Government have been
returned to Gunns for modification according to the Examiner newspaper. It does not seem
very likely that the October 4th deadline will be complied with but Gunns say they are
confident that an extension will not be required. Minister Garrett has indicated that he
would consider an extension. Meanwhile Gunns have extended their deadline for landowners
accepting the offers for pipeline easements to August 23rd.

25/7/2008: GUNNS NEGOTIATE EXTRA WATER RIGHTS

In spite of the fact that the availability of water from Trevallyn Dam has not been
 properly assessed, Hydro Tasmania have agreed to supply Gunns with an extra 50% water
 so that gunns can sell water to farmers on the pipeline route. Some landowners have said that it will not make any difference - they will still say NO. In the West Tamar area
 pressure is building on the Council to just say no to the pipeline passing through
 council-owned land. The Council voted to oppose the mill last year at a special meeting
 and residents are now insisting that Council uphold that decision. 

24/7/2008: COMMENT

The report below is the same publication that announced that ANZ would help finance the mill to the tune of $150m. just weeks before ANZ pulled out so can this report be trusted? 
It looks as though the main source of the story is Gunns Ltd itself (many of the claims sound as though they came straight from John Gay) so it could be just another attempt to bolster the share price. If so, it hasn't worked (see above)- in other words the Stock Market is not impressed. Or it could be an desperate attempt to persuade an Australian lender to put their hand up. 

23/7/2008: NEW FINANCE DEAL FOR MILL?

According to the 'Business Spectator' today, Gunns are about to stitch up a finance deal
with some European banks to finance the mill. The article says that the banks are
enthusiastic about the deal because the mill CAN be totally supplied by plantations in
Tasmania and South Australia. But Gunns have always said that they will be using 80%
native forest, and in fact have a deal with Forestry Tasmania and a sovereign risk
agreement with the State Government (just re-negotiated) with that aim. Please explain.




23/7/2008: MORE CONDITIONS FOR MILL APPROVAL?

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has indicated that there might be additional
conditions that need to be met before approval can be given. The process may well need
extending beyond 4th October when the original approval process expires. The Greens are
urging Mr Garrett not to extend the approval period.

ABC


21/7/2008: MILL LESS LIKELY EVERY DAY

A report from Access Economics says that the mill is less likely to be built with
every passing day. Tasmanian Treasurer Michael Aird, who a few months ago said the
mill was an absolute necessity for the economy, now says that it will not be a problem
if the mill is not built. 

The Mercury



20/7/2008: FINNS GO BACK TO FINLAND

According to locals, some, maybe all of the Jaako Powry workers' families from Finland who
moved to Tasmania to help build the mill have left. So it appears that Gunns are not
going to start building the mill any time soon.

16/7/2008: GUNNS HAVE PIPELINE PROBLEM

Landowners along the pipeline route are not going to let Gunns' pipeline pass through
their land according to gardening guru Peter Cundall. There can be no mill without the
pipeline. The State Government will be reluctant to help out because it will result in
unpopularity. Meanwhile Gunns' share price (see above) has gone down again in spite of a speculative
buy recommendation in Today's Australian.

Peter Cundall


THE PIPELINE

The cost of the pipeline has been greatly underestimated. Comparison with other
projects would indicate a total cost of $200m. for the water and effluent pipelines
including the costs for all the associated infrastructure. Suggestions that it
might pay the State to build the pipeline are nonsense as the water in it will
be untreated and could only be used for irrigation and there are areas of Tasmania
that are in far greater need. An effluent pipe in the trench would not solve Launceston's
problem as that is caused by the city having a joint sewage and groundwater system. At
times of heavy rainfall the system cannot cope and untreated sewage ends up in the Tamar.
A pipe to the sea would not help that problem. Because Gunns withdrew from the RPDC
assessment, the project ceased to be 'of State Significance' and so the automatic right
to put the pipeline through private land disappeared. Gunns now have to persuade the
landowners along the route to let it through. Quite a few are against the pulpmill!

10/7/2008: GUNNS TRIES TO WOO FARMERS

Gunns have realised that there is opposition from farmers to their pipeline passing
through their land and so has written to them saying they would provide water to them
from the pipeline 'if possible'. (There's a pretty good chance that, in times of drought,
it will not be possible even if the capacity of the pipe would allow it.) Gunns CEO John 
Gay said that, without the pipeline, there would be no mill.

Mercury


3/7/2008: GUNNS SEEKING FINANCE PARTNER

Gunns have submitted a statement to the Stock Exchange which says that the company is 
still actively pursuing finance options (ie. they don't have finance yet) and may take
a partner (if they can find one that doesn't mind the stigma of the pulp mill).
This statement is almost certainly a attempt to shore up Gunns' share price which has
been falling recently (as one can see above, it didn't work) and
does not say anything we don't already know. It may also be an attempt to counter
adverse publicity arising from the 25th anniversary of the Franklin river battle.
The statement to the ASX says that Gunns have complied with all the environmental
requirements - This is not true, a fact that Peter Garrett confirmed.
Meanwhile, Gunns have sacked over a hundred workers in Scottsdale, after saying their
jobs were safe, with virtually no warning. This action may lose them a Federal grant
and will not exactly make them popular with the State and Federal Governments. It is difficult to
see why Gunns chose to announce the decision now whilst the mill project is still up
in the air.



2/7/2008: GUNNS' CEO GAY MAY RETIRE SOON

In an interview, John Gay has said he might retire soon. He is 65. Could it be that if
the mill fails to get up, Gay will retire rather than face the next AGM? In the interview
he also admitted that some finance would have to come from shareholders. The share price
has tumbled further.

Mercury


1/7/2008: BARTLETT SAYS GUNNS MUST MAKE SUBSTANTIAL START BY NOV 30th

Premier Bartlett says that a hole in the ground will not qualify! Meanwhile Gunns' share
price (see link above) plunged to a yearly low before recovering.

ABC


1/7/2008: BOB HAWKE COMES OUT AGAINST MILL

Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, who stopped the Franklin dam, has come out against
the mill proposal.

Dambuster



30/6/2008: CABINET EXTENDS DEADLINE TO NOVEMBER 30th

The State Government has extended the sovereign risk agreement to November 30th. Gunns 
wanted it extended until 31st May next year and Gunns' CEO John Gay has given no assurance
that Gunns can raise the money. This is in stark contrast to previous statements.

Mercury


30/6/2008: 75% OF TASMANIANS OPPOSE ANY FURTHER HELP FOR MILL

The latest opinion poll by GetUp shows that the project is getting more and more
unpopular as time goes by. Only 19% think that the State Government should give
more support to the mill.

Tasmanian Times


29/6/2008: COURT CASE AWAITING DECISION

Lawyers for Forests say that the decision in the court case against the Federal
approval of the project is pending but the actual date is unknown.

Lawyers for Forests


25/6/2008: PIPELINE BENEFITS LIMITED

A report commissioned by the State Government is rumoured to say that benefit to
the State for building and owning the pipeline to the mill is limited. There is 
however a rumour that Gunns may have got finance for their mill in Europe but
the banks involved have to investigate the project and so will not announce their
decision for several weeks. This
would be a risky strategy as fluctuations in the Euro/Dollar exchange rate could
result is huge cost overuns for Gunns. 

22/6/2008: NEARLY TWO THIRDS OPPOSE MILL

Nearly two thirds of Australians oppose the pulp mill according to a poll 
organised by Get-up.

The Age


19/6/2008: GUNNS GIVES UP HOPE OF GOVERNMENT PIPELINE

Gunns has apparently given up hope of the State Government helping to build
the water pipeline. This means they will have to negotiate with landowners to
allow the pipeline to be built across their land several of whom have said
they would not allow it at any price.

Australian



18/6/2008: COMMENT

Gunns is trying to get finance from abroad. This is a very risky strategy. 
Supposing a finance company lends the money but is then horrified at the 
inevitable protests that will take place and the ensuing bad publicity and
then withdraws. Gunns' potential losses could be huge. Most projects this 
size are done by huge multi-national companies such as Visy which has the
resources and flexibilty to withstand a massive set-back. Gunns is only a small
company and if their shares fall and the value of the company sinks below its
debts then it could cause a collapse.

18/6/2008:GUNNS NOW ASKS THE GOVERNMENT TO SLOW DOWN!

Surprise, surprise, Gunns have asked the State Government for an extension to the 
30th November to start constructing the project. At stake is the $15m. sovereign
risk agreement which expires if the mill is not started by 30th June. Premier
Bartlett says he will ask Gunns about the likelyhood of the project going ahead.
Why bother Mr. Bartlett? We know what the answer will be but opponents
might question the truthfulness of the answer. The Cabinet will discuss it on June 30th. Last year, the Government fast-tracked the process at Gunns' request. 

18/6/2008: COURT CASE STARTS TODAY

'Lawyers for Forests' court case starts today challenging the original federal
approval of the project by Malcolm Turnbull. If successful, it would force
Environment Minister Peter Garrett to consider the whole project again.

13/6/2008: TASMANIAN BUDGET SCRAPS MILL INTERSECTION

$12m. designated for the junction to the proposed pulp mill at Bell Bay has been dropped
from the Tasmanian budget announced yesterday - another indication that the pulpmill
looks a long long way off - if it happens at all. And State Treasurer Michael Aird said that if the
pulp mill does not go ahead, it would make hardly any difference to Tasmania's
economy. Previous Premier Paul Lennon claimed that Tasmania would virtually collapse without it!

Australian


10/6/2008: GUNNS' SHARE PRICE COLLAPSES

Gunns' share price today collapsed to $2.69, a 10% drop this week. This indicates
the market does not think the project will go ahead anytime soon. It also makes it
more difficult for Gunns to raise finance. These are the rumours doing the rounds: Equipment supplier Andritz
have left, designers Poyry have returned to Finland and Smorgan told to stop work
on the perimeter fence. Whether or not these rumours are true, unless Gunns commences construction by 1st July, the forest supply contract will expire.

8/6/2008: ANTI-PULPMILL FIGHT GOES GLOBAL

Internet action group GetUp have received so many donations to fight the pulpmill that
they are now going global with their campaign. Adverts are being placed in London's
Financial Times - one of the most highly read and influential financial newspapers in
the World. The level of donations shows just how much this project is on the nose in 
Australia, not just in Tasmania.

Mercury


3/6/2008: COMMENT

So much has gone wrong for Gunns'pulp mill project over the last couple of weeks
that it is difficult to see how the project can succeed. Gunns' main political backer
Paul Lennon has resigned and it is difficult to see him going if there was any hope
of the project proceeding as it was his main policy. Also gone is Parliamentary
Private Secretary, the top civil service job, Evan Rolley who was head of Forestry
Tasmania. New Premier David Bartlett says that the pulp mill project will receive no
further help from the State Government and that it would not be paying for Gunns'
infrastructure or acting as guarantor on a loan. ANZ have pulled out and no other
Australian Banks have jumped in. If Gunns get overseas finance it could cost them 
nearly double and will come with huge risks. Fuel prices have rocketed as have other
costs and every month's delay adds millions more to the cost. Some parts of the World
may be heading for a depression. Gunns' CEO John Gay is still sounding upbeat but he
must be looking for a face-saving get-out. Perhaps a finance deal will be announced but rejected by the Gunns' Board as too expensive. We shall see.....

3/6/2008: DESIGN FIRM TOLD TO STOP WORK

Design firm Pitt and Sherry have not denied rumours that work on the pulp mill has been
halted for the present. There is no comment from Gunns.

ABC report


29/5/08: ANZ PULLS OUT OF MILL FINANCE

The ANZ Bank announced this afternoon that they would not be financing the pulp mill. Gunns' CEO John Gay announced
that the company would be seeking finance abroad. This involves far greater expense and also currency risks.



28/5/08: NO MORE PUBLIC MONEY FOR MILL

New Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett has made it clear that there will be no more public money for the pulp mill.

Mercury


26/5/2008: PAUL LENNON RESIGNS

Gunns' main political supporter, Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon, has resigned. An opinion poll last week gave
him an approval rating of just 17%.  Mr. Lennon has paid the price for supporting the mill.

25/5/2008: GUNNS WILL NEED TO GO ABROAD FOR FINANCE

It is now virtually certain that ANZ will announce that they are not prepared to back the pulp mill in the next
few days. And according to the Australian Business News Macquarie Bank will not be standing in. That means
Gunns will have to try and borrow abroad meaning higher interest rates and a huge currency risk. A shift in 
the value of currencies could mean that Gunns find themselves with a debt of $3bn. Hedging to reduce this
possibility is expensive too. In the current state of World financial markets it is doubtful Gunns will get
the money.

23/5/2008: GUNNS' SHARE PRICE DROPS 6%

Gunns' share price has dropped 6% on the rumours that the ANZ will not provide funding for the mill even though
both Gunns and ANZ have denied that a decision has been made. The Bank Workers Federation has congratulated the
Bank on making a good decision and conservation groups have also assumed that funding will not be available. If
it is true then Gunns will be trying to find alternative funds in a market where the long-term loan market is virtually
dead. Money from abroad will be prohibitively expensive.

22/5/2008: ANZ TO DECLINE PULP MILL FUNDING

According to the Business Spectator, the ANZ has declined funding the pulpmill. Gunns may be looking for
a joint venture with a company such as Carter Holt or may just sell their approvals.

Business Spectator


18/5/2008: MACQUARIE BANK MAY BACK PULP MILL

There is speculation that Macquarie Bank may be prepared to be the lead financier to back the pulp mill:


Australian



14/5/2008: ANZ ANNOUNCE NEW FORESTRY POLICY

The ANZ Bank have announced a new forestry policy indicating that they will not fund projects that include
illegal logging or logging of forests of high conservation value. This would seem to exclude the Gunns' pulp
mill which will be fed a large percentage of Tasmanian native forest - one of the World's last remaining
temperate forests.

Australian


Mercury


6/5/2008: ANOTHER MATES DEAL ANNOUNCED

The Government have announced a sovereign risk deal that will pay Gunns $15m. if a future government interferes
with wood supply to the pulp mill. The claim is that finance institutions asked for this. But did they? The ANZ have refused
to confirm that they asked and it is a pathetically small amount compared with the cost of the mill at $2bn. $15m. would be 
just over a month's interest. It seems far more likely that the deal was made to discourage a future government
from curtailing wood supply and that the announcement was made now because it would have to be disclosed in the
budget coming up anyway. It's just another example of the Government bending over backwards to help Gunns. The
mill has yet to be financed and is not likely to be this year (in spite of what Mr.Gay keeps saying) with the banks 
unlikely to give approval before all 
permits are granted (and then they might say no) - and the permit process seems to be taking three times as long as predicted.

4/5/2008: PRO-MILL CANDIDATE SUFFERS CRUSHING DEFEAT

In an upper house election in the electorate likely to be most affected by the pulp mill, Rosevears, the sitting
member Kerry Finch, who is against a pulp mill in the Tamar valley, was re-elected with nearly 75%
of the vote. The candidate against him supported the project so giving pro-millers a chance to have a say.
The result shows that support for the mill is still only about 25% - that hasn't changed at all
over the last three years.

2/5/2008: STATE GOVERNMENT REFUSE TO GIVE PIPELINE INFORMATION

Paul Lennon's transparency promise has taken another battering with the State Government refusing to release
information on a possible secret pipeline financing deal between the State and Gunns. The pipeline is likely
to cost well over $100m.
Matt Denholm
 

1/5/2008: COURT GIVES GO-AHEAD FOR CASE

Gunns' lawyers have failed in their attempt to stop 'Lawyers for Forests' challenging the Federal approval decision 
on environmental grounds. The case will be heard in June or July.


ABC
 

Australian
 

30/4/2008: PRO-DEMOCRACY MEETING ATTRACTS 700

A pro-democracy meeting held at Riverside last night attracted a large attendance. One of the main topics was
the fast-track pulp mill approval process. Speakers included Warwick Raverty, Lindsay Tuffin, Bob McMahon, Terry Martin 
and Jeremy Rockliffe. The large very vocal audience made it quite clear that they are not happy with the present
Government and the way it was supporting and promoting the pulp mill - and that this issue is not going to go away.


12/4/2008: TAP POLL NO COMFORT FOR GUNNS

An opinion poll commissioned by 'Tasmanians against the pulpmill' shows that the public are still very much opposed
to the project. 61% said ANZ should not finance the mill (after eliminating don't knows) and only 1% thought spending
money on infrastructure for the mill should come before health and education.

Mercury
 

 6/4/2008: WHERE TO FROM HERE?

Gunns' CEO John Gay said this week that the banks will need to see all the permits in place before a decision on finance can
be reached. At the present rate of progress that could be many months or even over a year away. And then the ANZ
Bank could say NO. Meanwhile Gunns, which has only a modest operating profit, is bleeding from the costs of all
the design work and permit preparations. If managed investment schemes are stopped and carbon credits introduced
it may be that Gunns will be forced to have a re-think about the whole project.



 4/4/2008: LAWYERS FOR FORESTS UPDATE

The first hearing in the case was on 4 February 2008.  Gunns made an application for security for costs, which is an
order that would require LFF to give a bank guarantee that would go to contribute to Gunns' legal costs if LFF lost
the case.  The Judge delayed deciding that application until a later stage in the proceeding.  He said that at that
stage he was of the view that LFF should not pay security for costs.  Also on 4 February 2008, the Judge set a timetable
- LFF is to file its evidence on 25 Febrruarry 2008, the Minister is to file his evidence on 17 March 2008 and all the
parties will be back in Court on 18 March 2008 at which time it is possible that the Judge will set a date for the
ultimate hearing of the case. The hearing scheduled for 18 March 2008 was changed to 30 April 2008.  

Lawyers for Forests
 


2/4/2008: GARRETT GIVES GREEN LIGHT TO EARTHWORKS

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has given the go-ahead for earthworks to begin at the Longreach site.
There has been no indication if Gunns will proceed - one problem might be that much of the rubble created
will be used to build the wharf so that module may need to be passed first. Gunns have not confirmed finance
yet and the ANZ have not given any indication at what point they will give a decision. If all permits need to be issued
it could be a long long time.

Green light


28/03/2008: DESIGN WORK TO BE RELOCATED TO MELBOURNE

Gunns announced today that the design work for the mill, 100 jobs, is being relocated to Melbourne - the excuse being
that more expertise was available there. So much for jobs for Tasmanians. Or could it be that Gunns do not want their
design engineers exposed to public antagonism to the project?

25/03/2008: WORK ON THE SITE

Gunns have started installing their perimeter fence around the mill site. Rowella was treated to the sound
of chainsaws as the fenceline was cleared.

25/03/2008: WHAT'S WRONG WITH TASSIE?

The Gunns' pulp mill has featured in a poll as the strongest negative about Tasmania in a visitor's poll.

Poll


21/03/2008: GAY DENIES MISLEADING PUBLIC

In an interview in the Hobart Mercury, Gunns' CEO John Gay says that more work will be done on the mill before it arrives
which is why less workers are needed now. So the 3000 jobs and boost to the economy that would have resulted has been more
than halved and the extra work is completed overseas. That wasn't in the promotional blurb. He is also said it would be
built by the middle of 2010 (in spite of it taking longer to build) because the time started in January - in spite of no work
on the site having started by Easter!

Gay interview


20/3/2008: LACK OF TRAINING MEANS FEW LOCAL PULP MILL JOBS

Industry analyst Robert Eastment says that little or no training has been done to prepare the Tasmanian workforce
for work at the mill.

ABC

 

19/3/2008: YET ANOTHER LIE EXPOSED

It has now been announced that the number of jobs at the pulp mill site during construction will be less than
1300. The original documentation said 3000. How could they get this figure so completely wrong? Is it deception
or ineptitude - or is there another explanation? The mill will take longer to build - another six months.

15/3/2008: LENNON FAILS TO ANSWER COLLUSION QUESTION

In an interview with Matthew Denholm, Premier Lennon refused to directly answer the question whether Gunns knew
if they withdrew from the RPDC it would be replaced by a new easier approval process. The whole of Tasmania knows the answer
to that question Mr Lennon, so why hide the truth?

Matthew Denholm


15/3/2008: LENNON ATTACKS 'NIMBY' ATTITUDE

Premier Paul Lennon admits that the people of Launceston don't want the pulp mill but says it is a 'Not in my backyard'
response.  Cobblers Mr Lennon. The people of Hobart voted 75% against the pulp mill in a council poll and the only poll
where the mill had a (slight) majority was in George Town where it will be built. Think again Mr Lennon.

Australian


15/3/2008: HYDRO CANNOT GUARANTEE WATER FOR MILL 

Hydro Tasmania admits it cannot guarantee water for the mill in drought conditions.



Mercury


14/3/2008: DEMO MARKS ANNIVERSARY OF RPDC DUMPING

A very vocal demonstration outside Gunns' offices in Launceston today indicated that opposition to the project
is as strong as ever. The main speaker was former RPDC panellist Dr. Warwick Raverty.

Mercury

Dr. Warwick Raverty's speech


12/3/2008: FINANCE SET TO BE FINALISED - GAY

The front page of the Examiner quotes Gunns' CEO John Gay as saying that finance for the mill will be finalised
soon. Could Mr. Gay be trying to prop up Gunns' falling share price? If there are no problems with the finance
why say anything at all?

6/3/2008: PULP MILL WATER USAGE QUERIED

The pulp mill could use up to 45% of daily average flows at certain times according to the Mercury.
There is also disquiet at how little Gunns are paying for their water - in fact, they are only paying for lost electricity
generation.

Mercury


4/3/2008: GUNNS BEHIND SCHEDULE ON SUBMISSIONS 

The Federal team assessing the mill are only working on one Gunns' submission - the earthworks. The others due
by now are Wharf construction (14th Feb), Accommodation facility (1st Feb), and Pipeline (26th Feb). These dates
were on Gunns' website.

4/3/2008: NEW APPROVAL MAY BE REQUIRED FOR PIPELINE 

A legal opinion is that the pipeline would have to be sent back to Peter Garrett for further approval if sewage is
added to the pulp mill effluent. The Tasmanian Liberals have come out against State funding for the pipeline.

Mercury


3/3/2008: PULP MILL UNREST BIGGER THAN FRANKLIN

Groups opposed to the proposed pulp mill promise a huge and bitter fight if the project proceeds.

Australian



3/3/2008: TASMANIAN GOVERNMENT MAY PAY FOR GUNNS' PIPELINE

In a move that makes it look as though Gunns is looking for financial help from the Tasmanian Government,
Premier Paul Lennon has announced that the Government will look at declaring the pipeline essential infrastruture
and pay the cost. This is likely to be far more than has been stated so they could get a shock. The reasons for
doing so do not bear close scrutiny as there would be far cheaper options for irrigation and sewage disposal. In
fact, the reason is that it would enable them to compulsory purchase a corridor for the pipeline as some landowners
have said they will not let it through their land.

The Mercury


2/3/20008: GAY STILL GUNG-HO ON MILL

Gunns' CEO says that there will not be any problems with the mill going ahead and expects it to be operating by 2010.
He admits that final approval for finance has not come through from the ANZ but says it is a formality.

The Mercury


1/3/2008: GAY SAYS PULP MILL PROJECT HAS MADE HIS LIFE A MISERY

In an interview with the Mercury newspaper, Gunns' CEO John Gay says that he can longer go out in public.

The Mercury


28/2/2008: GUNNS' PROFITS LOWER

Gunns announced a reduced half year profit of $14.9 million. Some broker recommendations have been downgraded.

23/02/2008: PULP MILL WILL NOT BE IMMUNE FROM GREENHOUSE SCRUTINY - LENNON

Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon has asked Professor Ross Garnaut to assess the impact of the Tasmanian forestry
industry on the greenhouse effect. He said that the recommendations will be implemented even if it adversly
affects the pulp mill.

Australian


22/02/2008: GUNNS ARROGANT UNPROFESSIONAL COWBOYS - RAVERTY

Pulp and paper expert Dr Warwick Raverty says that Gunns have not received any recognisable support from other pulp and
paper manufacturers in Australia probably because they could be afraid the Longreach project may give the industry a bad name
with unacceptable odour emissions in the Tamar valley.

Tasmania Times


19/2/2008: STOP LOGGING FORESTS MEETING TOLD

An international forestry convention in Hobart has been told to stop logging old forests.

Mercury


16/2/2008: PULP MILL STILL UP IN THE AIR

A meeting of 290 contractors hoping for work on the pulp mill development has been told that the project
still has to be voted on by the Gunns' Board and that finance had still not been finalised according to
the Hobart Mercury.



12/2/2008: WE CAN FIELD 6,500 - WILDERNESS SOCIETY

Vica Bayley of the Tasmanian Wilderness Society says that they will protest for years if the mill is built.

Mercury
 

9/2/2008: PROTESTORS SHARPEN THEIR CLAWS

Preparations are being made to disrupt the building of the mill. Tasmanians against the pulpmill (TAP)
are running training camps for peaceful protests.

Australian
 

8/2/2008: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BLAME FOR DELAYS - GAY

Gunns' CEO John Gay said that the timeline was out of date due to Federal Government delays in issuing permits
and that no work would be carried out on the site until further permits were issued. He also said that the Gunns'
Board would meet soon to approve the project which means they will have to disclose their source of funding to
the Stock Exchange. There is also a rumour that Gunns are negotiating to sell their Tamar Ridge wine interests to
Lion Nathan.

7/2/2008: GUNNS PROVIDES TIMELINE FOR MILL

Gunns have provided a time table for construction of their pulp mill at Longreach on their website. Gunns hope
to start earthworks by the end of February and begin construction in August. It must be noted that Gunns have
completely failed to meet any of their self-imposed deadlines in the past. Earthworks cannot begin until the
Federal department passes further modules. Gunns have signed a contract with Poyry, the Swedish company that
designed the mill, and have leased houses for their engineers so they obviously expect to be going ahead but, so far,
there has been no confirmation of funding, a contract with the construction company or the Gunns' Board approving the project.

Gunns site
 

The timeline for the submissions and construction is on page 8 of the overview section. It is already behind schedule:

Overview - scroll to page 8
 

6/2/2008: CELCO EXECUTIVES TO BE QUESTIONED ABOUT TOXIC LEAK

The furore about the leak of toxic chemicals from the CELCO pulp mill that killed thousands of fish has involved 
executives of the company.

Santiago Times


5/2/2008: GEORGE TOWN ELECTOR POLL

In a Council elector poll in George Town, the place nearest where the pulp mill is supposed to built and where support
for the proposal was considered to be strongest, nearly 50% of electors who voted opposed the mill. This has got to be a 
very disappointing result for supporters of the mill to get such a poor result in their heartland. 



4/2/2008: LAWYERS FOR FORESTS TAKE GARRETT TO COURT

The group 'Lawyers for Forests' have started a legal battle against the Federal approval of the pulp mill on six
counts. The case will be heard on March 18th.

1/2/2008: MINISTER APPROVES SITE CLEARANCE

In a statement released at 5.20pm on a Friday afternoon, Environment Minister Peter Garrett has approved the
first two modules of the pulp mill plan. This means that Gunns can go ahead and clear the site. Another 14 modules
will require the Minister's approval before further work can be done. The wisdom of allowing Gunns to clear the site
before they have obtained the finance for the project has been questioned by environmentalists. The rumour is that
ANZ are going to say NO and that the project is going to cost more than Gunns have budgeted for.

The Australian


29/1/2008: PULP MILL COULD COST TASMANIA $300 million

A new study has indicated that Gunns' figures on the financial benefits of the pulp mill are extremely optimistic
and, in fact, the overall effect is more likely to be negative than positive.

$300m. cost


28/1/2008: FOREST INDUSTRY FUTURE BLEAK

A report in the Australian today says that, even with a pulp mill, competition from South America and Asia
will mean low returns for Tasmanian forestry in the future.

The Australian


23/1/2008: DANNI ECUYER SAYS MILL NOT GOING TO HAPPEN

Former investment banker Danni Ecuyer says nobody is likely put money into the pulp mill in the present
financial meltdown:

Danni Ecuyer


22/1/2008: OPPONENTS TAKE HEART FROM MORE MILL DELAYS

Further delays to the approval process and finance arrangements make it more and more likely that the pulp mill
will never happen according to opponents:

Australian



18/1/2008: SO MUCH FOR TRANSPARENCY

The State Government has failed the transparency test again. A freedom of information request from the Greens on Gunns'
construction permits has been refused. What possible reason can there be other than they're totally inadequate?

FOI refused


16/1/2008: IFT WINDING UP

The small group of businessmen and women called the 'Investors for the Future of Tasmania' (IFT) are calling it a day.
The group tried unsuccessfully to stop the pulp mill in court. Mill supporters may think that this is a sign that
opposition is abating but they would be wrong. The Greens, The Wilderness Society, Lawyers for Forests,Geoff Cousins and Tasmanians
against the pulp mill (TAP) are all determined the mill will not proceed. And they will have plenty of time to campaign
now that Gunns have admitted serious construction will not be for at least 6 months. It also looks increasingly improbable
that Gunns will get the finance any time soon with the current credit crisis. Gunns' board has yet to approve the mill.
If and when they do Gunns will have to disclose their loan arrangements to the stock exchange. If it gets to that point expect there
to be a massive campaign against the lenders.

11/1/2008: GARRETT TO MAKE DECISION SOON

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett will make a decision on a permit to allow Gunns to clear the pulp mill
site at Longreach within a few days.

Decision soon


4/1/2008: GUNNS WAIT ON FEDERAL APPROVAL

Gunns intend to press for initial approval from the Federal Government next week to start work on their site. However,
they admit, according to the Examiner, that construction will not start for 6 months. Gunns continues to issue statements
that contradict what they have previously said. For example - any delays beyond 1st September would make the project unviable.

ABC report


3/1/2008: PULP MILL ON SHAKY GROUND

News on the pulp mill has been sparse over the Christmas period but opponents such as Geoff Cousins, Danni Ecuyer,  TAP (Tasmanians
against the pulp mill) and the Wilderness Society have vowed to continue the battle in 2008 with renewed vigour. A court challenge
from Lawyers for Forests is due to start in a month. There have 
been rumours that the ANZ will not approve funding for the mill and/or that the chief scientist will reverse his approval in his next report
due later this month. The financial situation is not looking good for Gunns with interest rates rising and credit getting
increasingly hard to obtain. Also the price of oil is going through the roof and there is the threat of a recession in the 
United States and unrest/war in the Middle East. Another factor is the possible increase in construction costs if workplace
reforms are abolished. A report has stated this could increase costs by as much as 7%. The Federal Government may take a dim
view of Gunns' breach of conditions although it was only a minor breach by a firm checking out the local water table apparently.

21/12/2007: GUNNS BUYS LAND BUT PERMITS STILL TO BE GRANTED

Gunns has completed the purchase of the land at Longreach for the pulp mill from RIO TINTO but has yet
to be granted a permit to clear the site nor has it yet signed contracts with the builder.

Mercury


20/12/2007: GEORGE TOWN COUNCIL HOLDS ELECTOR POLL

George Town Council are holding an elector poll on the pulp mill in the new year. It will cost $20,000 to conduct
instead of the $5000 it would have cost if conducted at the time of the Council elections. Mill opponents say
the Council is to blame as they ignored requests for an elector poll last year.

19/12/2007: HOBART COUNCIL WILL SEND RESULTS OF POLL TO CANBERRA

The Hobart City Council will send the results of their elector poll to Federal Ministers Penny Wong and Peter Garrett. The poll revealed
that over 75% of voters were opposed to the mill proposal and the way it was approved.

Mercury


18/12/2007: ANZ AGM BRIEFED ON MILL

The Wilderness Society briefed the ANZ AGM on the mill today at the invitation of the ANZ CEO Mike Smith. The ANZ 
chairman said that the bank had yet to decide on whether to finance the mill. The Wilderness Society said that they
could not approve the mill without breaking the 
Equator Principles which the bank has signed.

Tasmanian Times


18/12/2007: CANADIAN PULP MILL FAILS TO MAKE PROFIT - CLOSED

The closure of a Canadian pulp mill was announced yesterday. It cannot make a profit because of the high value of the
Canadian dollar. The Australian dollar has been gaining on the American dollar in recent months.

Kymmene Pulp and Paper mill


15/12/2007: ANZ MAY SAY NO

There are rumours that the ANZ Bank will not finance the mill according to Crikey.com. This would mean Gunns 
would have to look elsewhere for finance and it could mean higher interest payments and more risk.

14/12/2007: WILDERNESS SOCIETY DROP COURT CASE

The Wilderness Society have decided not to appeal against the decision that supported the EPBC assessment.

14/12/2007: GUNNS ON SHORT-LIST TO TAKE OVER CARTER HOLT

According to the Australian today, Gunns are on the most favoured list to buy the New Zealand timber company
Carter Holt. This company is worth more than Gunns so it is likely that there would have to a substantial
capital raising - perhaps in the form of a rights issue.

12/12/2007: GUNNS HAVE NOT HAD QUOTE FROM LEIGHTON YET

Gunns may be in for a shock when they get the quote from Leightons to build the mill:

Michael West


10/12/2007: GUNNS MAY HAVE BREACHED CONDITIONS

A report today says that work on the pulp mill site may have breached the planning Ministers' conditions. Section 20 (a)
of the approval document says 'No disturbance must occur until such a time as the relevant pre-construction and construction requirements of the EIMP
have been approved by the Minister'.

Mercury


8/12/2007: SHAREHOLDERS QUESTION ECONOMICS OF MILL

A blogspot has questioned whether building the mill is a sensible economic decision and complains that Gunns Ltd AGM
was halted before this could be discussed by shareholders.

Investor information service


5/12/2007: LAWYERS FOR FORESTS CHALLENGE MILL APPROVAL

A legal challenge to the pulp mill approval decision will be submitted in Court today based on the premise that
Malcolm Turnbull had insufficient information to approve the project because the marine effluent survey and modelling
had not been completed. It will be heard on February 4th.

Australian
29/11/2007: PETER GARRETT APPOINTED ENVIRONMENT MINISTER

In a move that will please conservationists, PM elect Kevin Rudd has appointed Peter Garrett as Minister for
the Environment.

29/11/2007: RAVERTY TELLS GEORGE TOWN - IT'S GOING TO SMELL

In a submission to the George Town Council for their public meeting, pulp and paper expert Dr. Warwick Raverty
warns the residents of George Town to expect the pulp mill to smell.

Raverty
28/11/2007: GEORGE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING REJECTS MILL

At a public meeting in George Town last night, a motion that called on the Council to withdraw its support for the pulp mill
was passed as well as one that called on the council to undertake a health and safety risk assessment of the project.

ABC


27/11/2007: GUNNS BIDS FOR AUSPINE AND SUSPENDS SHARES

Gunns Ltd has offered $7 a share to purchase the 39% of Auspine that it does not own. Meanwhile, shares in Gunns Ltd
were suspended at the company's request pending an announcement on Thursday. We can only guess at the subject of the
pending announcement but it must be pretty major to suspend the shares. Are they about to pull the plug on the mill? 
 - Or perhaps they are going to bid for Carter-Holt, the New Zealand timber company that is for sale and that would fit
very nicely on to Gunns' existing business. It could just be to stabilise the shares until the Auspine deal is complete.

27/11/2007: RAVERTY SAYS MILL WAS ELECTION ISSUE

Former RPDC panel member Warwick Raverty says that the swing from the Liberals to the Greens was at least
partially caused by the pulp mill issue.

Typingisnotactivism


26/11/2007: ELECTION RESULT HITS GUNNS' SHARES

Gunns' shares fell sharply today as investors realised that the Green party would have the balance of power in the
Senate and could us this to impede the pulp mill. Greens' leader Bob Brown has called on the new Government to review
the pulp mill decision.


25/11/2007: ELECTION RESULTS REFLECT PULP MILL UNEASE

A huge increase in the Green vote across Tasmania shows that the opposition to the pulp mill had quite an effect.
Senator Bob Brown was elected with a full quota and it is possible that the second Greens candidate, Andrew Wilkie,
will be elected on preferences. The pulp mill backlash has almost certainly cost both Liberal sitting members
in the lower house their seats. The man who insisted that Malcolm Turnbull approved the mill, John Howard, has gone.
If he loses his seat by a small margin, it may well be that the pulp mill issue sunk him too.
Malcolm Turnbull, who is against the mill according to Geoffrey Cousins, was re-elected and may be a candidate to
be leader of the opposition.

Sue Neales


24/11/2007: ISSUE GETS AIRING IN BRITISH PRESS

The pulp mill issue is featured strongly in this article in one of Britain's quality daily newspapers.

The Guardian


 Many thanks to the person who sent this cartoon:



23/11/2007: BOTNIA STARTS UP - WHAT A PONG!

The newest pulp mill in the World featuring state of the art technology has opened up in Uruguay.
There are reports of revolting smells and people ill with nausea and vomiting. Here is a transalation
of the report:

Transalation


23/11/2007: THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY AGM

Crikey.com's Stephen Mayne said that the Gunns' AGM was the most extraordinary he had ever been to.

Stephen Mayne


There were threats and scuffles:

ABC report



22/11/2007: COURT REJECTS WILDERNESS SOCIETY APPEAL

The High Court today rejected the Wilderness Society appeal against Malcolm Turnbull's assessment of the mill.

22/11/2007: GUNNS AGM DISSOLVES INTO CHAOS
 In Launceston today,
at Gunns' AGM, Gunns' CEO John Gay announced a reduced yearly profit of $75m. He said that he was confident that
the proposed pulp mill will be competitive and profitable. The meeting broke up in choas as Anti-pulp mill
shareholders asked Gay difficult questions and the CEO stopped the AGM without finishing the agenda. 

Mercury report


21/11/2007: FLANNERY SAYS MILL UNLIKELY

Australian of the year, Professor Tim Flannery, says that Gunns will be lucky to find anyone to finance the mill:

Flannery


20/11/2007: FLANAGAN SAYS MILL MUST BE STOPPED

Author Richard Flanagan said in his speech to 15,000 at the Hobart rally that the mill must be stopped for
Tasmania's sake:

Flanagan


20/11/2007: ANZ WILL LOSE HUNDREDS OF ACCOUNTS

The Wilderness Society picketted ANZ Banks today and predicted that ANZ would lose hundreds if not thousands
of accounts it it financed the mill:

Mercury


19/11/2007: LAUNCESTON COUNCIL WITHDRAWS SUPPORT FROM PROJECT

Launceston City Council withdrew its support for the pulp mill project this afternoon in a vote by 7 votes to 5
reflecting the change in numbers after the Council elections.

ABC


18/11/2007: NOTHING IS GOING RIGHT FOR GUNNS

The Age reports that financial markets are getting worried about Gunns' pulp mill project.

The Age



17/11/2007: PULP THE MILL - WE CAN, WE WILL!

15,000 people demonstrated in the rain against the mill in Hobart today chanting "Pulp the mill - We can, we will".
There were speeches by Bob McMahon, Naomi Edwards, Geoffrey Cousins and Richard Flanagan. Traffic had to be halted as thousands
marched through the streets after a rally in Franklin Square.



Hobart Rally


The Wilderness Society are targeting financiers involved with the project:

It's not over yet


13/11/2007: ETHICAL CORPORATION QUESTIONS MILL FINANCE

The magazine 'Ethical Corporation' reports that institutional investors are unhappy with Gunns' pulp mill project.

Gunning for Gunns


13/11/2007: TAP ANNOUNCE HUGE CLASS ACTION IF MILL PROCEEDS

Tasmanians against the pulp mill (TAP) say that they will organism the largest legal class action that Australia has
ever seen if the mill is built encompassing issues like falling house prices, lost business for tourist ventures
and prime producers and health problems. 

The Mercury


13/11/2007: NATIONWIDE POLL AGAINST MILL

A nationwide poll  says that 52% of Australians think there should be an inquiry in to how the pulp mill
was approved. Nearly twice as many are against the mill as for it.


12/11/2007: POLL SHOWS 54% DON'T WANT MILL

A Wilderness Society poll has found that 54% of Tasmanians do not want the pulp mill with 37% saying they do
and the rest with no opinion. Pressure is building on the ANZ bank not to finance the mill. The bank already has links
with a company in Papua New Guinea that has been accused of illegal logging.

Pressure on ANZ


12/11/2007: ARGENTINA ANGRY ABOUT MILL IN URUGUAY

A blockade continues on a bridge near a huge pulp mill in Uruguay about to start operations.

BBC report
11/11/2007: MILL BIG ISSUE IN WENTWORTH

The pulp mill could make the difference in Malcolm Turnbull's seat of Wentworth as polls show the two main
candidates running neck and neck.

Wentworth


11/11/2007: COMMENT - WILL THE MILL SLOWLY SINK?

In spite of Gunns' brave statements that there are no problems and that construction will begin before the
end of the year (which is impossible under the terms of Turnbull's permits), it looks as though there are
many problems for Gunns to overcome. The mill only has a conditional approval, construction cannot begin without
the next stage of approval which requires quite a lot of work to be done, and final approval to operate will
only be given when Gunns have completed a complicated survey/modelling of Bass Strait which will take over a year.
This work must show that the effluent is dispersed efficiently and yet two definitive surveys, one by the 
CSIRO
       and one by
	  Paul Sandery 
	  of Flinders University (who produce all the tide tables), both show that the area into which
the effluent is going only flushes by 1% a day. Any schoolboy will tell you that the maximum concentration of
pollutants will be reached after 100 days yet Gunns' IIS says that it will be 30 days (which would require 3.3%
flushing a day). The IIS acknowledges the Sandery survey but says the reason for the difference is that Bass
Strait is a very large body of water - not exactly a scientific explanation. So how is a new survey going to prove
efficient dispersal? The results of Gunns' survey will be checked by the panel of top scientists. If Gunns build
the mill but cannot get approval to operate then a further level of effluent control will have to be built on at
vast expense and potentially fatal delays. Who would lend a huge amount of money to a company in these circumstances?
If they're wise, they will insist on the survey being completed and passed first.

As well as that, there are reports that the new permit conditions have increased the cost of the project perhaps
beyond Gunns' ability to raise funds or beyond the point where it is economic. This could
be the reason why Wal King of Leighton Holdings
 said it would a long, long time before it was built, if ever. The other
reason could be shortage of skilled labour. Many of the workers will be working on other projects which will have
to be completed before they can join the project.

Political uncertainties also surround the project with the election likely to result in the Greens having the balance of power
in the Senate. Could Green demands that the pulp mill be stopped before vital Government legislation is passed derail
the project? And, if as seems likely Labor get in, will the MIS schemes that plantations rely on be stopped? Or will
Gunns go ahead when they AWAs are abolished? Interest rates are rising, World credit supplies are drying up, the oil price
is going through the roof and the Australian dollar is high reducing Gunns' profits on woodchip exports. Another possibility
is that a new Labor Government will legislate to force the mill to use plantation wood making it less economic.

Finally, there is international tension in the Middle East. Another conflict could see an oil blockade, huge increases
in the oil price and a financial downturn. If the price of wood pulp falls the financial backers of the project might pull out.



8/11/2007: WILL THE MILL EVER BE BUILT?

At the Leighton AGM, boss Wal King says that it will be a long time before the Gunns' pulp mill will be built -
if it ever is.

A long time


8/11/2007: STUDENTS DEMONSTRATE IN LAUNCESTON

About 350 students demonstrated peacefully in Launceston today against the pulp mill.

ABC


8/11/2007: TASMANIA'S PLANNING SYSTEM GETS A 'D'

Tasmania's planning system has been awarded a lowly 'D' partially because of the botched pulp mill assessment
process. The planning institute of Australia has little confidence in the process.

ABC


8/11/2007: GREEN SUPPORT IN TASMANIA CLIMBS

The latest poll shows Green support in Tasmania has soared and, as most Green preferences go to Labor, the Liberals
are likely to lose Bass and Braddon. The poll also shows Bob Brown will win a full quota for the first time in the Senate.

EMRS poll

6/11/2007: The Australian has printed the story:

The Australian

5/11/07: TURNBULL SAID HE HATED THE MILL

According to garden guru Peter Cundall, Malcolm Turnbull said that he hated the mill and the Tamar valley was a stupid place to put it.
In reply Mr.Turnbull said that he only said he hated the State Government process but Peter Cundall says that is
incorrect and that there are plenty of witnesses. So why did Turnbull approve the mill, albeit with much tougher
conditions? The only answer is that it was forced on him by senior Liberals who thought they would lose votes in
northern Tasmania (by now they must be thinking again!) if they rejected it. Either that, or because John Howard is friends with John Gay. Either way,
it is hardly a good reason to approve a project that has the potential to affect so many lives and businesses. 

And he said to me....

In another 'off the record' interview, opposition environment spokesman Peter Garratt said that their policies in power
could be different from what they said in opposition and this included the pulp mill.

and I said to him....

2/11/2007: GOVERNMENT THREATENS STUDENTS

As with any action now against the pulp mill, the Police are considering charging organizers of a student
anti-pulp mill rally in Hobart yesterday. It seems the State Government are intent on getting their message
across that no interference with their beloved pulp mill project will be tolerated. There will be another rally
next week in Launceston:

Students march

1/11/2007: TAP CLAIMS VICTORY IN LOCAL POLLS

Tasmanians against the pulp mill (TAP) are claiming a victory for their 'Voters' Block' in the local council
elections. In Launceston Pro-pulp mill Mayor Ivan Dean and his deputy were dumped and Jeremy Ball (Green) was easily voted on as well as 
a TAP member Ian Norton. There is now an anti-mill majority on the Launceston City Council. 
In the West Tamar, two TAP members were elected and an anti-mill deputy major. Even in
George Town 55% voted for the anti-mill mayor candidates although existing
mayor Doug Burt just scraped in on preferences. Another Voters' Block endorsed candidate was voted on to the council.

Australian

PERPETUAL'S ETHICAL FUND AVOIDS GUNNS

Gunns' largest shareholder Perpetual has an ethical fund which avoids Gunns' shares. Perpetual have taken the unusual step
of discussing their holding in Gunns at a board meeting because of investor disquiet.

Perpetual wary

31/10/2007: PRO-PULP MILL MAYOR, IVAN DEAN, DUMPED BY ELECTORATE

In what must be seen as a win for Tasmanians against the pulp mill's voters' block, the mayor of Launceston,
Ivan Dean, was voted out of office. The major of George Town came close to being booted out as well and Green
candidates have scored dramatic victories. The full results will be known later today.

30/10/2007: HOBART POLL SHOWS HUGE OPPOSITION TO PULP MILL

The elector poll in the Hobart local elections shows that over 75% are against the process used to approve the
pulp mill and over 76% are against it being sited in the Tamar valley!

30/10/2007: DANI ECUYER CUT OFF AT PERPETUAL MEETING

Anti-pulp mill protesters caused quite a stir in Sydney today at the AGM of Perpetual Ltd which holds a large
stake in Gunns Ltd. Several protesters were ejected from the hotel for handing out leaflets.

Sydney Morning Herald
 
ABC

29/10/2007: THE TRUTH COMES OUT - DIOXIN LIMITS WERE DECIDED BY GUNNS!

Chief Scientist Jim Peacock now admits that Dioxin levels allowed in Gunns' effluent will be a lot higher than
mills in Sweden and Canada and that the levels allowed were actually suggested by Gunns. Far from being four times more 
stringent as Turnbull claimed, in fact they were more than three times the level of similar mills in Canada
and Sweden. The lies just keep coming:

Dioxin levels

28/10/2007: EFFECT OF MILL ON WILDLIFE NOT CONSIDERED

In a far-reaching article in the Australian, Matthew Denholm says that whilst measures have been taken to prevent
loss of species around the construction and effluent sites, absolutely nothing has been done in the assessment process
to consider whether the huge amount of logging will impact on protected species:

Chip off the old blockade

26/10/2007: ABETZ ISSUES MILL PROPAGANDA

The Federal Minister for forestry has issued a list of answers for Federal Liberal candidates when they are
asked about Gunns' pulp mill. It contains the usual answers including how much of Tasmania is reserved (and so
it should be). It does not say that a large percentage of farmland will be bought for plantations so increasing
Australia's imports of food and ruining Tasmania's beautiful landscape - a mix of farmland and forests. No tourists
will pay to come and see trees planted in neat rows:

Sydney Morning Herald

25/10/2007: RPDC CHIEF SAYS FULL ASSESSMENT OF THE MILL WAS NECESSARY

Responding to statements from Gunns and Paul Lennon that the RPDC assessment of the proposed mill was too long,
RPDC chief Simon Cooper described the criticism as ill-informed and said that the public should have been able
to have their say at public hearings.

Mercury report
 
24/10/2007: MILL FAILS GREEN POWER TEST

The Green revealed today that the power produced by the pulp mill will not receive green creditation because it
will burn old-growth forest. This could affect the ability to raise funds for the mill. Also revealed today was
the profit figures for Forestry Tasmania which showed that taxpayers received zero dividends for all the forestry assets
in the state whilst Gunns made $88m. profit.

23/10/2007 :MILL  CONSTRUCTION WILL START IN JANUARY - GAY

John Gay said today that he expected the construction of the mill to begin in January. Mr. Gay has made statements like
this in the past and been wrong and it looks a little optimistic. In fact, Mr.Gay's comment might be aimed at possible
investors rather than the public as it also says that Gunns had no problems with Mr.Turnbull's 48 extra conditions. 
Road works at the entrance of the Longreach site will be started soon but these are road improvements only. 

22/10/2007: NEW STUDY SHOWS DIOXINS PRODUCE MORE GIRLS

A new Canadian study shows that populations exposed to dioxins from heavy industry produce more girls.
Effluent has also been known to skew the gender balance in the seas around the outfall (see effluent section).

Dioxin report

20/10/2007: FISHERMEN KNOCK BACK CELCO - 'SEAS NOT FOR SALE'

Fishermen near the Celco pulp mill at Valdivia have refused compensation payments which would allow Celco to dump effluent in
to the sea where they fish. The company was told it can no longer dump effluent in the Cruces river because it caused
an environmental catastrophe and is now trying to build a pipeline to the ocean. This is an interesting story:

Santiago Times

20/10/2007: BUSH FIRE SHOWS HOW POLLUTION WILL STAY IN VALLEY

This morning Tamar valley residents awoke on a windless, cloudless day to find that a relatively small bushfire
along the East Tamar Highway had filled up the valley with smoke demonstrating once again that any pollution released
in the valley is trapped by an inversion layer.



20/10/2007: WOOD SUPPLY FIGURES RELEASED - INFLATION FROZEN AT LESS THAN 2% FOR GUNNS

The agreement between Forestry Tasmania and Gunns Ltd has finally been released (after all the political decisions
have been made!). The price will depend on World pulp prices with the lowest that Gunns will pay being $12.50 a tonne
for native forest and $27 a tonne for plantation. There is no timeline for Gunns to switch from native forest to 
plantation. Plantation wood produces at least 10% more pulp but, when pulp prices are low, will cost more than twice
as much. So guess which source Gunns will be using. Increases for inflation look modest too with no increase at all
for 5 years in the lowest price then a 12% increase - that's less than 2% compound per year. The present level of
inflation is 3% and, if that continues, Gunns will be paying over 20% less in real terms in 20 years.

19/10/2007: PULP MILL DECISION BITES BACK

The Liberals have halved the ALP opinion poll lead nationally in the last few days but there is a glaring exception,
Bass, where the pulp mill is due to be built. In Bass, a survey found that one in four voters was less likely to vote
Liberal because of the pulp mill approval:

The Australian

19/10/2007: DANIELLE ECUYER COMES OUT FIGHTING

Women For Change Alliance (WFCA) founder Danielle Ecuyer describes her recent trip to Tasmania in the latest 
WFCA newsletter. Ms.Ecuyer describes Tasmania as a sophisticated World-class tourist destination:

WFCA newsletter

18/10/2007: COURT CASE TO LAST THREE DAYS

It is thought that the appeal against the original decision of the High Court to dismiss the Wilderness Society's
case against Malcolm Turnbull will last three days and finish on Friday. The judgment is not expected for some weeks.

17/10/2007: PROTESTORS EXPOSE GOVERNMENT SHAME

A band of three protestors have exposed just how touchy (ashamed?) the State Government is about the pulp mill. They were
on top of the Batman Bridge 90 metres up for two days before anyone noticed. No traffic was held up. The routine maintenance 
work on the bridge carried on as usual. 
Now, desperate to avoid too much publicity, the authorities are pulling out all the stops to get them down even
though they say they will come down on Friday by themselves.
The Batman Bridge is just south of the pulp mill site on the Tamar estuary



The top is 90 metres high. It can be seen for miles. The pulp mill will be 190m. above the water.

A rather over the top reaction involving 12 vehicles

An embarrasing banner for the State Government


The story has made The Australian

EUROPEAN PERCEPTION OF AUSTRALIA - THE STUPID COUNTRY

This article in The Age says that Australia does not take advantage of its natural resources and includes the
pulp mill proposal as an example of stuffing up our future for the sake of a few extra dollars now:

The stupid country
 
Are we stupid? This picture was taken from the Batman Bridge immediately below today's protest. How do you stuff up a beautiful
place like this? Easy, you build a 3km. long, 190m. high pulp mill just round the corner! 


15/10/2007: NO SAFE LEVEL OF DIOXIN

Gunns' proposed pulp mill will produce as much dioxin as the whole of the Swedish industry combined and that the level
being allowed was surprising as there was no safe level for dioxins according to an article in The Age:

The Age

14/10/2007: ADVISOR SAYS MILL APPROVAL CRAZY

Science advisor Dr. Thomas Moore said today at the Bondi Beach meeting that it was unbelievable that the mill
could be approved before the science had been done and that Gunns' very existence could be put at risk:



13/10/2007: DANIELLE ECUYER STANDS IN WENTWORTH

Filled with passion after her visit to the Tamar valley and north-eastern logging coupes, Ms. Ecuyer has decided to
stand for parliament:

Ecuyer stands

12/10/2007: TURNBULL APPOINTS EXPERTS

Malcolm Turnbull has appointed a panel of experts to make sure that Gunns complies with the conditions laid down
in Jim Peacock's report. These experts will be able to ensure compliance unlike the pathetic permits laid down
by the Tasmanian government:

The expert committee

FORESTRY TOUR LEAVES PARTICIPANTS 'GOBSMACKED'

Yesterday, a tour of an area being logged organised by Tasmanians against the pulp mill (TAP), which included anti-pulp mill 
campaigner Danielle Ecuyer, returned amazed by what they had seen. Some were reduced to tears by the destruction
of the pristine forest areas with trees several hundred years old amongst those logged (so much for no old growth
logging).





11/10/2007: MILL OPPONENTS TACKLE NEWHOUSE

George Newhouse, Malcolm Turnbull's Labor opponent in Wentworth, is now being targeted by anti-mill activists:

Australian

MILL SAGA MAY RESULT IN FORESTRY RE-THINK

Judith Ajana writes in 'The Age' that Gunns will have to use native forest for its pulp mill to compete with South
America and that the furore created by this proposal may force the major political parties into a re-think on forestry
policies:

Judith Ajani

10/10/2007: MILL PROPOSAL DOES NOT ADD UP - BUSINESS AUSTRALIAN

John Durie in the Business Backpage of the Australian says that this project is literally a bet-the-company
proposition with interest bills outweighing Gunns' earnings, production costs nearly double those in Brazil and
investment scheme owners getting very poor returns. These figures were supplied by a consultant who cannot work
out how the mill will pay its way.

John Durie

9/10/2007: BOTH PEACOCK AND TURNBULL WARN GUNNS

Federal environment minister and chief scientist have both warned Gunns that it cannot start construction until
3 months of data is collected and if their effluent modelling proves to be inadequate or shows that pollutants will
accumulate then the mill will not be allowed to operate and that to start construction of the mill before the effluent studies
are completed constitutes a risk.

Turnbull
Peacock

BEN QUIN STANDS
Ben Quin, who resigned as Lyons Liberal candidate, is standing as an independent. The Greens say they will direct
preferences his way. Ben was interviewed by Kerry O'Brien on the 7.30 report and came over very well:

Ben Quin on 7.30 report - transcript

Once again, the Business Australian today advises investors to AVOID Gunns' shares.

8/10/2007: FINANCE NOT A PROBLEM SAYS GUNNS

Gunns say that it does not matter if the banks do not approve their funding. Of course it matters as Gunns would be forced
to borrow overseas at greater cost and with the dangers of currency movements. In fact, Gunns do not usually comment
on campaigns against them so it is likely that they ARE worried about finance and that they are trying to stop ANZ being targeted. 

Robin Gray says mill will be built

7/10/2007: APPROVAL DECISION IGNITES COMMUNITY ANGER

If the politicians thought that the 'final' decision on the mill would signal an end to the matter, they've been 
quickly disappointed. A huge rally was held today at Low Head. Thousands of angry Tamar valley residents gave Bob Brown
a standing ovation and heard him say that the decision was open to legal challenge.



Wotif boss Braeme Wood is furious that the assessment did not take into account loss of tourism:

Wotif boss is angry

Environmental websites all over the World have latched on to the story:
Environment news

Local groups such as Tasmanians Against the Pulpmill (TAP) and the Wilderness Society are preparing for battle:
Voters' Block

ANZ Bank may find it hard to approve finance with such vocal opposition:
Finance and the ANZ Bank



6/10/2007: LIBERAL CANDIDATE QUITS

Lyons Liberal candidate Ben Quin has quit the Liberal party in disgust at the pulp mill approval.

Quin quits

LENNON'S HYPOCRISY REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon now says that he wants to heal the divisions in Tasmanian society caused by the pulp mill
dispute. But first he gave a triumphal speech guaranteed to annoy anyone who has witnessed the way that he has lied and
cheated to try and get his own way. In any other state in Australia Lennon would be history by now and in disgrace. It
speaks volumes about the quality of our parliamentary representatives that he is still there after misleading parliament
and the people. The Federal assessment over a small section of the mill's possible environmental footprint found dozens of concerns.
How many would have been found if the whole project had been assessed? The State assessment did not even look at possible
health effects and fugitive odour emissions - the area of largest concern to residents and businesses. 

Sue Neales in the Mercury

CHIEF SCIENTIST'S REPORT

Section 2.1.1.6 states quite clearly that 3 months of roadkill data must be collected and analysed before construction
can commence. Presumably this will not begin until Gunns' board give the go-ahead. John Gay is sadly misinformed if he
thinks construction can start this year. With the long Summer break, the end of January would seem a more optimistic
date to aim for.

5/10/2007: ANZ HAVE NOT DECIDED ABOUT MILL FINANCE YET

Gunns' bankers, the ANZ, have not decided yet if they will finance the mill. They have commissioned reports on the
project. Businessman Geoffrey Cousins is trying to persuade them to refuse finance.

ANZ and the mill

COMMENT: Malcolm Turnbull has hidden behind a scientific report and obviously cares more about his own political
future more than the residents of the Tamar valley who may have to put up with the dreadful odour of this mill on
and off for the next 50 years. One thing is now certain - The Liberals will lose Bass and Braddon in the coming election
and Mr. Turnbull will probably be booted out from Wentworth where there is anger at his decision. He had the power to stop
it, he knew it was an inadequate state assessment but he did nothing.  Reports from around Australia indicate that there
is absolute outrage that this project has been given the green light and there will be a backlash.

4/10/2007 MILL APPROVED BUT 24 MORE STRICT CONDITIONS.

Some of the conditions will have to be satisfied before construction can begin, some before the mill can start up. Gunns will have to draw up
an environmental impact management plan (EIMP) in co-operation with the scientific committee. Some parts of this will have to be completed
and passed by the minister before construction can begin. Unlike the rather
pathetic permits drawn up by the state government, there are provisions to shut down the mill if trigger limits are exceeded. Monitoring will
be more extensive and strict and will be controlled by the Commonwealth department. There will be Commonwealth site inspectors during construction.
The levels of dioxins and furans will be one quarter of current World's best practice with trigger limits one sixth.  These are very tough guidelines
 indeed and Gunns may find it hard to operate within them. But Gunns CEO John Gay says that he will press on with the mill
 but he thinks the guidelines are unfair. It remains to be seen whether the threat of legal action from Geoffrey Cousins
 and the Greens will eventuate.

The conditions

The chief scientist's report
Summary of chief scientist's report

3/10/2007: DECISION WILL BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW

Federal environment minister Turnbull says the pulp mill decision will be announced tomorrow.

3/10/2007: NEW POLL SUGGESTS LIBERALS COULD WIN BASS - IF THEY SAY NO TO THE MILL

An opinion poll released today says that a large percentage of voters could change their vote over the pulp mill
issue and it might be the only way that the Liberals can hold Bass:

Opinion poll

 HERBICIDE STUFF-UP WORST POSSIBLE TIMING FOR GUNNS

A serious herbicide leak has occurred in Western Creek from one of Gunns' plantations. Local pasture, an irrigation
dam and possibly rivers supplying Deloraine, Westbury and the West Tamar could have been affected. The incident took place
a couple of months ago and it taken a while for the news to leak out. Environmentalists are asking if Gunns cannot be trusted
on a simple matter such as this to take all possible precautions and immediately inform the authorities if an accident
occurs then how can it be trusted to run a large chemical factory?

Australian

2/10/2007: CONFUSION AS RUMOURS AND CONFLICTING STATEMENTS ABOUND

The approval situation has become very confused. Gunns Ltd said they had not seen the scientist's report the same
day that the Environment department said they had consulted them. Geoffrey Cousins claims that the report should
have been made public if Gunns has seen it. Gunns have not yet made any submission in reply to the report. Gunns' CEO
John Gay said yesterday that if there were any more conditions and stricter controls then the project would have to be
abandoned (had nobody told him?). Today, he said that the manufacturers of the equipment would have to indicate that
they could come in under the required new limits or finance for the project would not be available. A legal opinion
obtained by the Greens has confirmed that the EPBC Act does not allow for conditional approvals.

Threat to axe project
Gunns handed report
ABC - additional information required


1/10/2007: TURNBULL ADMITS DECISION MAY GO TO COURT

Malcolm Turnbull has said he will make a decision this week and release the report at the time. He admits the decision
could be challenged in court but is confident that the decision will be upheld:

The Mercury
Cousins keeps up the pressure
Bloomberg is in on the act

The conservation vessel, 'Sea Shepherd', sailed in the Tamar this afternoon according to an observer at Beauty Point.
It is not known if this is connected in any way with the pulp mill proposal but if an organization like
Greenpeace became involved in protest action would create a nightmare for Gunns as access to the site from the river could be
blocked and protesting activists could invade the area from the river bank.

30/9/2007: TURNBULL WILL FOLLOW SCIENTISTS ADVICE

Federal environment minister Malcolm Turnbull said this morning on Win TV's Sunday programme that he would be following
the advice of the chief scientist, Jim Peacock, to the letter. He said there was no point in asking top experts for advice
and then ignoring it.

An interesting article in 'Pulp and paper' by Chris Lang:

Pulp and paper
29/9/2007: TURNBULL CANNOT MAKE MILL DECISION CONDITIONAL

According to a legal opinion obtained by Geoffrey Cousins, Malcolm Turnbull cannot make a decision to approve the mill conditionally under
the EPBC Act as it states that the minister must know the full effects of the proposal before approval is given.
So, presumably this means that any extra modeling must be done and approved before permission can be given. This
would mean that Gunns would have to complete more extensive and expensive work on the effluent discharge before
getting permission to go ahead (and that's if the work is satisfactory and shows no ill effects). Gunns' share price is
still in full retreat in a rising market.

The Australian

GREEN CANDIDATES TOUR TAMAR VALLEY

The Green election candidates from Wentworth and Kingsford-Smith (Turnbull and Garratt's constituencies) are touring
the Tamar valley to see for themselves where the proposed pulp mill will be.

The ABC

28/9/2007: CONDITIONS MAY MAKE MILL UNECONOMIC

If Malcolm Turnbull approves the mill but puts strict conditions such as making the effluent pipe go much further
out to sea, insisting on further modeling before approval is given and/or requiring an upgraded treatment plant
then the project is likely to be unviable says Matthew Denholm in the Australian:

The Australian

Gunns' share price is falling in an otherwise rising market which suggests all is not well with the proposal.

28/9/2007: LENNON CALLS FOR DECISION

Tasmanian Premier yesterday called for the decision (ie approval) to be made straight away to avoid the possibility of an election
delaying the decision:

Mercury report

However, Eric Abetz has told Lennon to pipe down and that it was his ham fisted approach
that nearly got the mill sunk:

ABC

27/9/2007: FEDERAL CABINET REFUSED TO MAKE DECISION ON MILL

The report from the chief scientist says that the pulp mill proposal is seriously flawed and should only be
approved if far more stringent controls are introduced according to the Mercury today. Federal cabinet has been briefed
but refused to make a decision with Prime Minister John Howard in favour of an approval:

Mercury report

COMMENT: If the scientist's report said that the pulp mill was ok then there would
be no reason to delay the decision and it would have been announced. So, there are obviously problems and the delay
can only be because the minister is deciding exactly what Gunns will have to do to get the go-ahead. The report will
be mainly concerned with the effluent and one possibility is that Gunns will be forced to prove without any doubt
that the effluent will be dispersed efficiently before they can start building. This would result in a significant delay
and further substantial costs for Gunns without any guarantee of approval as the work will be checked by independent
scientists - not the cosy Scandinavian set-up that was used by the state government.

26/9/2007: SCIENTIST'S REPORT WILL IMPOSE RIGOROUS CONDITIONS

According to 'The Age', the chief scientists report will impose more stringent conditions on Gunns if the pulp mill
is to go ahead:


The Age

24/9/2007: TURNBULL SAYS HE WILL FOLLOW SCIENTISTS ADVICE

Federal environment minister Malcolm Turnbull has said that he will follow the advice given in the chief scientists
report closely but that it will take about a week to announce his recommendations. He is going to Washington tomorrow for
a few days and will not be back until Sunday. Paul Lennon says he should decide (ie approve it) immediately:

ABC report

23/9/2007: HUNDREDS ATTEND HILLWOOD MEETING

A meeting at Hillwood, in the George Town council area and Bass constituency, attracted hundreds of residents nearly all
of whom were opposed to the mill and wanted the council to hold a referendum. Hillwood Hall - standing room only:



A song was written by Tasmanian singer, Jim Welsh, for the event:
Beautiful valley 4.8mb (broadband only!)

22/9/2007: REPORT DUE ON MONDAY

The report on the pulp mill from chief scientist Jim Peacock will be handed to Malcolm Turnbull on Monday
and Liberals are urging Mr.Turnbull to approve the project straight away if the report is favourable.
The Liberals seem to think that approving the mill will improve their chances of winning Bass. In fact, the
opposite is almost certainly true with a massive voters' block organised by TAP (Tasmanians against the pulpmill)
pledged to vote against the candidates supporting the mill.
Meanwhile, an online submission is being organised to persuade the ANZ Bank not to lend the money for the mill.

Mercury
The Australian

22/9/2007: GUNNS LOOKING AT CARTER HOLT

Gunns are looking to expand abroad and have their eyes on Carter Holt, a large timber-based company in New
Zealand that would tie in nicely with their purchase of a controlling interest in Auspine.

ABC

21/9/2007: VIABILITY OF PULP MILL QUESTIONED UNLESS NATIVE FOREST IS USED

A report today on the ABC asked whether in fact the pulp mill will be a plus for Tasmania - or a minus.
Actuary Naomi Edwards calculates that the likelihood of large quantities of pulp from South America will cause the
pulp price to fall making the pulp mill unprofitable. This would mean Gunns would have to use very cheap native forest
timber to compete rather than plantation wood. Forestry Tasmania chief Bob Gordon is trying to negotiate a
rock bottom price which Gunns will have to pay for pulp wood regardless of the World price (good luck Bob!) and he
says that the profit figure of FT, a meagre 1.5% return for Tasmania, does not represent the true situation (difficult
to understand that one, Bob).

World Today

20/9/2007: ASSESSMENT MUST INCLUDE EFFECT ON WILDLIFE - THE AGE

Any proper assessment of the pulp mill must include the long term effect on wildlife due to the intensive forest
operations that will be needed to keep the pulp mill fed says Brendan Wintle and Sarah Bekessy:


Clear goalposts

19/9/2007: IFT LOBBYING IN CANBERRA

Investors for the Future of Tasmania (IFT) are lobbying in Canberra today meeting Peter Garratt and Bill Heffernan.
Wotif.com founder Graeme Wood says that opponents have a lot of science on their side:

ABC report

18/9/2007: GUNNS BETTING THE COMPANY

Rarely does a company invest more in a project than the company is actually worth. Gunns is worth $1.2bn. and
the pulp mill will cost at least $2bn. and probably more with cost overuns. The project is therefore a gigantic
risk that will place the company in danger says the Business Australian back page today:

John Durie

18/9/2007: LENNON APPOINTS EX-FOREST BOSS

In a move calculated to infuriate anti-mill groups, Premier Paul Lennon has appointed ex-Forestry Tasmania
boss Evan Rolley to be the new cabinet secretary, the most powerful civil servant in the State:

Evan Rolley

17/9/2007: JIM PEACOCK IN TASMANIA

The government chief scientist reviewing the pulp mill, Dr. Jim Peacock, is in Tasmania today for talks with
some of the scientists who are opposed to the project. He will meet with Gunns tomorrow.

Chief scientist

17/9/2007: SCIENTISTS CALL FOR FURTHER TESTS

A panel of more tham 120 scientists have called for more tests before the pulp mill is approved. They say that
the fast-track assessment left out vital areas and these need investigating. Gunns have replied by saying that
it is just an attempt to delay the project and that they have not taken in to account advances in technology
since Wesley Vale. However, many submissions to the RPDC suggested these studies were done and Gunns have ignored
them so, if they end up having to do them, they will only have themselves to blame for the delay:

Scientists not happy

17/9/2007: JOHN GAY ADMITS THAT GUNNS HAS BEEN DAMAGED

In an interview with the Business Australian, Gunns' CEO John Gay admits that the pulp mill has been a public relations
disaster for Gunns and that they were being pushed backwards in the financial markets. He admits now that it is far from certain 
that the mill will proceed and says, if it does not, Gunns will shift their focus to the mainland and Asia:

Business Australian

17/9/2007: HOBART COUNCIL WILL HOLD POLL

Hobart city council will ask its electors whether they approve of the pulp mill process. It is suggested that if
there is a large no vote then Paul Lennon should resign.

16/9/2007: GREENPEACE BLOCKS PULP EXPORTS

A headline that will send shivers down the spine of Gunns' directors and shareholders if the mill goes ahead.
Greenpeace regard Gunns as one of their top targets and the Tamar would be easy to block as the channel is so narrow:

Blockade

16/9/2007: PULP MILL NOW AN ISSUE IN GARRATT'S SEAT:

The Greens candidate in the Federal seat of Kingsford Smith, where shadow environmental spokesman Peter Garratt
is the sitting member, has introduced the mill as an election topic. She will have to check her facts though - it isn't
a paper mill! 

ABC report

16/9/2007: GRAEME WOOD BLASTS PULP MILL ASSESSMENT

Graeme Wood, founder of wotif.com, appeared on Sky Business Sunday this morning and said that the pulp mill assessment
had not been done properly and, unless it was thoroughly assessed and found to be non-polluting and sustainable, it should
not be allowed to go ahead. He said that 4000 new jobs in tourism could be created with a bit of effort from the State
Government but not if all the trees are cut down.

The Age

15/9/2007: NEW STUDY SHOWS AIR POLLUTION CAUSES STROKES AND HEART ATTACKS

A new British study shows that air particulates, especially diesel fumes, increases the likelyhood of heart attacks and
strokes. This has implications with the likely tripling of heavy goods vehicles to Longreach and the particulates being
emitted from the mill stack.

Medical study

15/9/2007: MILL STORY IS FRONT PAGE NEWS YET AGAIN

For the second day in succession, the pulp mill saga is on the front page of the 'Australian' newspaper. The national spotlight on
the story means that unless a decision is made, it will be an election issue. The scientific committee asked by Malcolm
Turnbull to look at the mill will report next week. There is also critisism of Peter Garratt from Bob Brown for shelving his
environmental credentials:

Mill story in Australian
Greens lose faith in Garratt
Gunns' 20 court case blunder

15/9/2007: LENNON PUSHES FOR DECISION

Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon has once again demanded the Federal Government make a decision (ie approve) the pulp mill
before an election is called. Mr. Lennon is blaming the delay on Geoffrey Cousins intervention in Wentworth conveniently
forgetting that Mr. Turnbull expanded the assessment before Mr. Cousin's intervention. Meanwhile, it has been discovered
that, as the Federal Government gave Gunns money to do the IIS, their powers under the EPBC are greatly enhanced and they
are legally able to assess the social and economic impacts of the mill.

ABC - new study mooted


15/9/2007: IS THE PULP MILL VIABLE? THERE ARE SERIOUS DOUBTS

Judith Ajani in the 'Canberra Times' suggests that the mill is not driven by economics but by the 'grudge factor'! She
questions whether any proper economic assessment has been done to ascertain the mill's viability:


Serious doubts

There are also fears that the new pulp mill will make the existing industries in Burnie and Wesley Vale uneconomic
with the loss of 600 jobs.

14/9/2007: TURNBULL SAYS DECISION WILL BE BEFORE ELECTION

Federal Environment minister Malcolm Turnbull yesterday indicated to lobby groups that a decision will be made before an
election is called. However, today he said it could take longer depending on the report from Jim Peacock:

Decision soon
Could take longer

14/9/2007: WE WILL GET PERMISSION - JOHN GAY

Gunns' CEO John Gay predicts that the mill will be approved by the Federal Government in the next four weeks. He says 
that all the information Mr. Turnbull has to make the decision on says there are no issues with this pulp mill in
Tasmania (except, perhaps, for the 31,000 submissions, Mr. Gay!).

The Australian

13/9/2007: PULP MILL DEBATE ON ABC TONIGHT

The mill will be debated on 'Difference of Opinion' on ABC at 9.25pm. The online poll on their site was running 74%
against the mill at 6.15pm. (The morning after the debate, the poll was over 80% against).

Difference of opinion

13/9/2007: BASS VOTERS WANT MILL IN HAMPSHIRE

In Bass, the electorate where the mill would be built, voters do not want the mill and would prefer it to be built
in Hampshire (in Braddon - where they want the mill) according to a poll commissioned by the Wilderness Society. And
the Australian newspaper has obtained a submission by former pulp and paper manager, David Campin, that confirms that
Hampshire is a far superior site environmentally than Longreach:

Voters want different site

12/9/2007: DON BURKE SUPPORTS MILL

Australian environmental group AEF, chaired by Don Burke, has endorsed the mill (provided it meets environmental guidelines)
after a 45 minute presentation by Gunns. Apparently AEF is supported by the timber industry.  It begs the question - Did 
they seek an alternative point of view from other sources - somehow I doubt it?

Don Burke supports mill

12/9/2007: NEW POLL SHOWS OPINION RUNNING TWO TO ONE AGAINST MILL

An opinion poll commissioned by Investors for the future of Tasmania covering all of Australia shows that ony 21%
support the mill, 41% do not want it, the rest do not have an opinion. Many of those questioned said the issue would
effect the way they voted. Older people were more against the mill than the young.

Pulp mill an election issue

12/9/2007: EXPERT PANEL TO ASSESS MILL

Australia's chief scientist Jim Peacock has assembled a top class panel to assess the pulp mill for Malcolm Turnbull.
Click on the link below to check out who's on the panel:

Expert panel

11/9/2007: BEN QUIN RISKS ALL

Lyons Liberal candidate Ben Quin has risked being dumped from the party ticket by pointing out that Tasmania's
forests could be worth twice as much as carbon credits than as woodchips:

Story in Australian

11/9/2007: DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ON PULP MILL

The ABC programme 'Difference of Opinion' will be debating the pulp mill this Thursday at 9.25pm,
repeated on ABC2 on Saturday 15 Sept 9:30PM & Wednesday 19 Sept 4:30PM.

ABC website

10/9/2007: GOOGLE EXPOSES ANOTHER LIE

Gunns' adverts and various letters to newspapers have made the claim that the site for the proposed pulpmill
is in the Bell Bay industrial area. This is something that the RPDC rejected some time ago. A google view of the
area shows just how wrong this claim is. The Bell Bay industrial area is in the top left hand corner of the picture.
The site of the proposed pulp mill is in the centre about 6 kms away:



9/9/2007: TCCI AND TAP DELEGATIONS GO TO CANBERRA

The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry have sent a delegation to Canberra to plead with the federal
government to make a decision (they mean approve) the mill before an election is called or else delay the
election until a decision is made. This is rather likely to fall on deaf ears. A Tasmanians Against the Pulp mill
delegation is also heading to Canberra to lobby politicians and other decision makers.

9/9/2007: BEN QUIN STAYS ON

Ben Quin remains the Liberal candidate for Lyons but has been warned to stick to the party line in future. Mr. Quin's
crime was to articulate the views and fears of the electors of Lyons about the pulp mill.

8/9/2007: INVESTORS GETTING NERVOUS

Institutional investors are getting a bit nervous about the proposed pulp mill project. They are starting to question
the risks involved and the possible detrimental effects on other businesses in the Tamar valley:

Investors having doubts

7/9/2007: ALP MAY HAVE TO ASSESS MILL GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS

If the mill assessment passes on to a Labor government then it could trigger a threshold that requires it to be
looked at in terms of greenhouse emissions. It has been estimated that the mill would increase Australia's
carbon dioxide output by 2%. Peter Garratt, however, said that there would no retrospective assessment and the
project would be assessed under the present EPBC laws.

The Australian

6/9/2007: COGNITIVE DISSONANCE - SO THAT'S THE ANSWER!

Roger Hanney has come up with the name of the condition affecting most of our politicians. Cognitive dissonance
is the inability to absorb any information that does not agree with their viewpoint however significant and reliable
that information is:

Roger Hanney

6/9/2007: LENNON FAILS TO ANSWER KEY QUESTIONS

In an answer to Judy Tierney's probing article in the Mercury which asked many of the questions that Tasmanians would like to know
the answer to, Premier Paul Lennon has written a reply. But how many of the questions does he answer? You judge:

Judy Tierney

Premier Paul Lennon

5/9/2007: CHEMICALS FROM THE PULP MILL COULD TAINT WINE

The Australian Wine Research Institute has said that the pulp mill should not proceed until further research
has been done to make sure that chlorophenols produced by the mill do not taint the wine (or indeed fruit) giving it a taste of
antiseptic:

Story in Australian

Chlorophenols - what are they?

5/9/2007: BEN QUIN FACES DISENDORSEMENT

There will be a Liberal party meeting on Saturday to decide if Lyons candidate Ben Quin should face disciplinary action because
of his outspoken opposition to the current proposal to build a pulp mill in the Tamar valley. Not to be cowed, Mr. Quin said
yesterday that the community had a right to know if Gunns were paying a fair price for the timber for the mill. Details
of the deal are secret and it is suspected that the contract does not offer good value to Tasmanians who own the forests.
It is difficult to see why the agreement is secret as Gunns have a virtual monopoly. If Ben Quin goes then so will the 
Liberals chance of winning Lyons.


4/9/2007: NEW MILL IN URUGUAY SPARKS PROTESTS

A new kraft pulp mill has just opened in Uruguay sparking protests from nearby Argentina:

Protests at Uruguayan Pulp Mill

4/9/2007: ASSESSMENT NEEDS MORE THAN SIX WEEKS

Three scientists, Dr. Warwick Raverty, Dr. Andrew Wadsley and Dr. Stuart Godfrey, have sent in a submission to
Malcolm Turnbull that says six weeks is inadequate for a proper assessment of the effects of the effluent from
the proposed pulp mill on Bass Strait. The submission says that dioxin contamination will affect fish within four
years of the mill start-up:


Scientist's submission in text format
Clean Tamar Website


4/9/2007: TOURISM LEADERS IGNORED

Tourism operators in the Tamar valley fear that their concerns have been completely ignored by the State Parliament
when it rushed through the pulp mill permits last week:

Pulp queries ignored

3/9/2007: MILL HAS NO CHANCE OF PASSING RIGOROUS SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION

The proposed pulp mill has no chance of passing the scientific examination being conducted by the Government's
chief scientist Jim Peacock says Senator Bob Brown. And when it fails then the Malcolm Turnbull or Peter Garrett
will have no alternative but to say no. And the story according to 'The Australian' is that the Federal Liberals
were planning to nod the mill through before the State vote last week and so would then be able to point the finger
of blame at Lennon when the mill stuffed up the Tamar valley. That is probably why Gunns' CEO John Gay said he
was 95% certain construction would start this week. But Minister Turnbull has done his homework and realized that
there are potential problems that haven't been addressed and need to be - hence his referral to Jim Peacock. This was
done before the pressure applied to him by Jim Cousins so Malcolm Turnbull, in spite of flack from fellow Liberals,
has done the right thing and should be congratulated.

Malcolm in a muddle

3/9/2007: MILL IS A BIG IMAGE PROBLEM

A report for the Department of Economic Development says that the perceptions created by the pulp mill has already
damaged Tasmania's clean green image. The report says that the Gunns' pulp mill is the strongest negative about 
Tasmania:

Hobart Mercury

3/9/2007: PETER GARRATT RULES OUT PRE-ELECTION DECISION

The decision on the pulp mill is likely to be after the Federal election as shadow environment spokesman Peter Garratt
says that it is unlikely he will come to a joint decision with Mr. Turnbull. This is probably going to be sometime in
November and the new minister will want to review all the information before making a decision. So it is now unlikely
to be before December. The RPDC said that their decision would be in November so it is likely that Gunns' decision
to walk away from the RPDC process has actually delayed the decision!