Federal government says no funding for pulp mill

In Senate question time today, the federal Minister for Forests Joe Ludwig told Greens Leader Bob Brown that no federal money had been sought or offered for Gunns' proposed Tamar Valley pulp mill.

Senator Ludwig said he would seek more information on Senator Brown's concern that the proposed area of Tasmanian high conservation value forests to be protected in the long-awaited forests agreement had been cut from 610,000 hectares to 592,000 and that there are proposals to cut this further in the interests of Malaysian logging company Ta Ann.

Quoting new figures showing 3,644 native animals were drawn out of unlogged forests using grain baiting on to clear-felled areas and shot in the Southern Forests last year, Senator Brown asked if this slaughter had Commonwealth approval.

Again, Senator Ludwig said he would seek to get more information for the Senate.