Does Gunns Ltd rule the roost in Tasmania?
Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon has this week been accused of undermining the political processes of parliamentary after the re calling of parliament to seemingly fast track a monster Pulp Mill project. The proposed Gunns Ltd project had been under the assessment of Resource Planning and Development commission from July of last year until last week when it withdrew from the process citing it was taking too long and costing too much. Accusations of cronyism by both Greens and Liberal parties ensued when Premier Lennon recalled parliament 5 days later to push through legislation to potentially approve the project by the end of Gunns Ltd financial year. It’s not everyday that one corporation can change the political processes so quickly. To find out why, The Wire’s Eleanor Bell spoke with professor Richard Herr, from the University of Tasmania’s School of Government about the significance of Gunns Ltd with in the Tasmanian economy.