Is the Tasmanian forest deal in peril? By Cathy Pryor
Wednesday, 07/09/2011
Tasmanian timber processor Gunns has rejected the State Government's first offer of financial restitution for leaving native forests.
Last Friday we broadcast from Triabunna, a Tasmanian fishing and forestry town facing an uncertain future after timber processor Gunns closed then sold the Triabunna woodchip mill three months ago.
But that's just part of the Gunns story. The re-opening of that mill, under new Greens ownership, is conditional on the company accepting the payout from the state government for Gunns to leave its contracts to log native timber.
If that doesn't happen then the joint forestry agreement announced by the Tasmanian and Federal governments could fall apart as well.
But in this complicated game of brinkmanship Gunns hasn't accepted the offer and now the Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings has rushed to assure the company that there could be more money to play with.
Neither Gunns nor the Premier would speak to Bush Telegraph today but as we try to unravel the politics and dollars, whether you support logging or not, it's important to recognise that the livelihoods of many regional communities and families remain in limbo.
