Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I move:

That the Senate congratulates the 10 000 or more Tasmanians who turned out in Launceston on Saturday, 16 June 2007 to protest against the proposed Gunns Limited pulp mill, for their civic pride, concern for the environment and peaceful expression of opinion in the best of democratic traditions.

George Campbell (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement about the motion.

Leave granted.

Labor welcomes grassroots political activity such as that demonstrated by the 10,000 demonstrators referred to in this motion. However, Labor opposes this motion as it is merely an act of political sabotage rather than a genuine attempt to advance the debate on the proposed pulp mill. The government has established an environmental assessment process under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 for the proposed pulp mill near Launceston. The government has committed to achieving balanced environmental, economic and social outcomes and using due process and great thoroughness in the assessment of the pulp mill proposal. Senator Bob Brown is attempting to muddy the waters with regard to the proposed pulp mill with this motion. Senator Bob Brown wants to debate issues that are not related to the environmental assessment process that the government is undertaking. Instead, Senator Bob Brown wants to sidetrack the debate so that he can fight against the proposed pulp mill on a purely emotional basis rather than on the basis of informed judgements based on environmental studies. Labor opposes the motion. However Labor has always supported grassroots participation in the political process and will continue to do so in the future. Senator Bob Brown’s motion has nothing to do with grassroots politics and everything to do with distorting the true debate.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Leave granted.

The motion reads:

That the Senate congratulates the 10 000 or more Tasmanians who turned out in Launceston on Saturday, 16 June 2007 to protest against the proposed Gunns Limited pulp mill, for their civic pride, concern for the environment and peaceful expression of opinion in the best of democratic traditions.

Labor and, indeed, the government cannot have it both ways. If ever there was an expression of grassroots support for a cause—which is for the protection of the living environment and the forests in Tasmania and against the pulp mill—it was the 10,000 or more citizens of Tasmania who turned out in Launceston on Saturday. When the Premier, Paul Lennon, called a meeting in favour of the pulp mill some weeks ago, 47 people turned up. My submission here is that the people opposed to this pulp mill have every right to express that opinion peaceably, as they did.

Robert Ray (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Robert Ray interjecting—

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It might embarrass the Labor Party and the coalition, but the people turned out in their thousands on Saturday because they oppose this pulp mill—and they have a right to do so. They are not supported—

Robert Ray (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Robert Ray interjecting—

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor and the coalition are going to oppose this motion, as is their right. So be it. Mr Deputy President, I now seek your determination that there be a division on the matter, because there were two voices calling for a division.

Andrew Murray (WA, Australian Democrats) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, on a point of order: apart from my personal feelings about the propriety of the motion, it seems to me that it is very difficult for the Senate to congratulate 10,000 Tasmanians. The Senate cannot write to 10,000 individual Tasmanians.

Robert Ray (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Robert Ray interjecting—

John Hogg (Queensland, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Murray, ignore the interjection.

Andrew Murray (WA, Australian Democrats) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I take the interjection. My point of order is that it is not possible for the Senate to do this. The President cannot communicate with 10,000 Tasmanians individually and we are not going to take out an advertisement.

John Hogg (Queensland, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Murray, that is not a point of order.

Question put:

That the motion (Senator Bob Brown’s) be agreed to.