HOBART - Federal Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown has welcomed a court challenge that could scupper plans for a proposed $2 billion pulp mill in northern Tasmania.
Senator Brown has sent a bunch of flowers in thanks to the Wilderness Society which this week named Federal Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull and proponents Gunns Ltd as the co-respondents in legal documents.
The society alleges Mr Turnbull has breached federal environmental laws by not ensuring a proper assessment of the mill, earmarked for the Tamar Valley, north of Launceston.
"I have sent them (the Wilderness Society) a bunch of flowers and said congratulations for your contribution to proper public process," the senator for Tasmania said.
The court action ultimately will seek an adequate assessment of the mill proposal, including its impact on Tasmania's forests, water and wildlife.
The society says the independent Resource Planning and Development Commission (RPDC), which had been scrutinising the proposal, was unjustifiably sidelined when Gunns withdrew from the RPDC process, citing delays as too costly.
The passing of a bill, introduced into parliament by Premier Paul Lennon introduced, gives politicians the power to decide on the plan by early September.
Senator Brown said Mr Turnbull had a duty to protect the environment.
"It's not good enough to rubber stamp a farce of a process which the Lennon Government has done," he said.
"They've knocked out of place the RPDC, but it's still sitting there.
"That's what the Federal Government has signed up to. I can't see how Malcolm Turnbull can validate throwing that aside because Paul Lennon says I'm throwing that aside.
"I think what's wrong here is that the Wilderness Society is doing the job of the minister of the environment for this nation, Malcolm Turnbull."
Senator Brown said he would like to know what legal advice Gunns chief executive John Gay and his board had received over the legal challenge.
"The best thing they can do is insist that the Federal Minister (Turnbull), like the state ministers, do their job and be sticklers for the law and that would mean there wouldn't be challenges and big question marks hanging over the pulp mill."
The Wilderness Society will seek an injunction on May 31 in Hobart's Federal Court.
The case could potentially drag on for months.
Gunns has previously said it will not proceed with the mill unless it is approved by August.
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