It is with fond interest that I read the latest edition of BRW and its article on the “Billion dollar pulp mill in doubt”.

Without giving too much away, it seems that perhaps BRW could be right.

All the usual characters are there, the article saying that both Labor and Liberal are “falling over themselves” to make this project happen.

Rene Hidding even goes so far as saying that 99% of Tasmanians support the pulp mill (proposal) and that the Government should be even closer to big business.

I was actually under the assumption that the Government was there to represent the people not just to snuggle up to big business.

Rene is also quoted as saying that the proposed pulp mill site is on crown land.

Not sure about that one Rene.

John Gay is as colourful as ever saying The Greens are off “their f—-ing brains”.

Well worth the read as is the extra article towards the back of the BRW…….

On Friday Gunns shares had a low trading point of $2.89.  Share prices below $3.00 capitalises Gunns at less than $1 billion.  It makes you wonder why Gunns continues to pursue this $1.3 billion pulp mill with such vigour. 

The ability to finance the mill is marginal, it faces significant community opposition, it will be costly to attempt to build the mill within the RPDC guidelines (providing they are stringent enough) and as Tony McCall has pointed out the market for pulp overseas is becoming increasingly competitive so market share into the future is doubtful.

Could it be that Gunns are caught between a rock and hard place.  Continue to export woodchips from native forests and risk losing markets due to purchasers becoming more concerned about environmental issues or use the chips here in a mill which is looking increasingly risky for the reasons outlined above