Tamar pulp mill appeal to test ‘teeth’ of environment laws

The Wilderness Society Inc
Media Alert       
16 October 2007

Making sure Australia’s national environment laws “have teeth” and actually protect the environment will be the focus of an appeal by The Wilderness Society over the Federal Environment Minister’s decision to fast-track assessment of the controversial Tamar Valley pulp mill.

The Wilderness Society will challenge the decisions made by the Minister over assessment of the pulp mill and whether it is appropriate that national environment laws allow developers to ‘process shop’.

“If a company or a developer is unhappy with a process set up to assess the impact of their proposed project, is it really the role of national environment laws to allow them to shop around for a process they will be satisfied with?” TWS national forests campaigner Sean Cadman said.

“The Australian public must be able to trust the Federal Government has a legitimate environmental assessment process.”

Mr Cadman said that if the appeal is successful the pulp mill will have to be re-assessed.

Media opportunity:

The Wilderness Society spokesperson Sean Cadman will be available for comment before the case begins tomorrow morning.

When: 9.45am
  Wednesday October 17.

Where: Federal Court 
  39-41 Davey Street,
  Hobart, Tasmania.