MEDIA RELEASE
Socialist Alliance election candidates release open letter to timber workers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
16th November 2007
Socialist Alliance candidates for Franklin and Denison have released an open letter to timber workers explaining why Socialist Alliance supports workers but is opposed to the Tamar Valley pulp mill.
In launching the open letter, Susan Austin, Socialist Alliance Candidate for Denison in the upcoming Federal elections, said “We’re not against all pulp mills, but we are against this one. It would poison the environment, endanger other industries in the region, and put other workers’ livelihoods at risk. More jobs would be lost in industries adversely affected by the pulp mill than would be created.”
“Gunns has no ongoing commitment to timber workers. We already see this when log truck drivers have their contracts ditched, leaving them with huge debts to pay for the trucks that they are in the middle of buying,” said Matthew Holloway, Socialist Alliance candidate for Franklin. “In addition, we know that Gunns doesn’t care about environmental impacts, but working people must. We workers would have to live with the environmental and economic consequences of a bad development like the pulp mill,” Holloway said.
Both candidates will be attending tomorrow’s anti-pulp mill march organised by The Wilderness Society. “We have been helping to promote this rally because it is important that the large majority of people in Tasmania and throughout Australia voice their opinions publicly. We expect the incoming government will eventually have to listen to the people, because the people are not giving up!” said Austin.
Susan Austin Ph: 0418 643 133
Matthew Holloway Ph: 0419 582 372
