LATEST NEWS AND DEVELOPMENTS

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This section follows the news trail right back to the original IIS:

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 Februuary 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.

* The first is the Federal EPBC assessment which has attracted a huge number of submissions.
  It is possible that it may recommend that Gunns complete the deficient modeling before commencing -
  A logical decision as if the modeling is not satisfactory then Gunns would have a half-completed mill.
  This could take months to do.
* The decision may not occur before an election is called. Any decision then would have to be joint but
  Labour have said they would wait until after the election. Likely extra delay would be two months after
  the election is called.
* There has been a definite change in tone from the Federal Government - they are having a rethink.
  It is quite likely there will be an attempt to get Gunns to build it at Hampshire involving subsidies.
* The huge opposition to the mill and delays could result in finance being withdrawn. The recent financial
  downturn has resulted in less credit being available. The ANZ Bank have confirmed that they have not yet
  confirmed finance for the mill.
* The Gunns' board may decide that with all the delays and huge increase in costs that it is no longer
  financially viable or just too risky. 

* If the mill pollutes it will not be shut down.
* If the mill smells it will not be shut down.
* The odour panel has no mechanism for reporting.
* Residents with a good sense of smell will not be allowed on the odour panel.
* The Environmental Protection Agency will have no staff.
* No conditions or regulation of wood and chemical trucks.
* No obligation to use rail for longer distances.

* The mill operators claim that there were only 3/4 odour incidents in the first year lasting about an hour.
* The locals in a village 12kms away however reported frequent odours which are still continuing.
* There have been gastro' upsets, nausea, headaches and vomiting.
* A school had to be closed for the day and a church service cancelled because of the smell.
* Cellar door sales of wine have been badly affected.
* The river developed a brownish foam.
* Very little economic benefit for the locals. No benefit from pulp mill tourism.
* Lack of transparency in monitoring and lack of trust in the company.
* They recommend open and transparent independent monitoring if one is built in Tasmania.

* The Federal Government is assessing  what decision would be best for its electoral fortunes. This is a 
  cynical comment but it is almost certain to come in to their calculations as a YES would be unpopular
  not only in Bass, where a decision in favour will sink sitting Liberal MP Michael Ferguson, but also on
  the mainland. Add to that the probability of demonstrations during the election campaign and it all adds
  up to a potential nightmare for the Liberals.
* The proposal is not up to scratch and the department is trying to get Gunns to agree to changes that
  would not only make it acceptable but also limit the likely legal challenge that would result.
* Minister Malcolm Turnbull has not made his mind up yet. Well, Mr.Turnbull, if you have to think about
  it, the answer is NO!