A KEY report on the future of Tasmania's forests could be given to the state government on the same day as a federal decision on the Gunns pulp mill.
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Former ACTU chief Bill Kelty, who has brokered Tasmanian forest reform talks, will be in Hobart today to deliver his interim report to the state government.
Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke is expected to announce today whether timber company Gunns has been issued the last environmental permits it needs for its proposed $2.3 billion Bell Bay pulp mill.
Gunns managing director Greg L'Estrange has spent the week talking up the company's closer relations with environmental groups and other mill opponents in a series of public appearances.
He also repeated his commitment to set up a reference group of community representatives and mill experts to monitor the mill's emissions and operation.
Mr Burke postponed his decision on the permits by a week last Thursday after Gunns sought to have more stringent controls incorporated in the federal guidelines.
The Northern-based TAP into a Better Tasmania made a last-minute protest against the mill by planting a copse of native trees on a section of the Bell Bay pulp mill site.
TAP spokesman Bob McMahon said that the group knew it was only a token gesture but had dedicated yesterday's planting to the memory of five Tasmanian anti-pulp mill protesters - Stuart Leith, Mike Bleaney, Ruth Rowe, Peter Hewitt and Christopher Strong.
Environment Tasmania director Phill Pullinger said that the pulp mill proposal had failed to gain a social licence from the community.
Western Tiers MLC Greg Hall said that a Legislative Council committee inquiry could be established to look at the impact of the proposed lock- up of Tasmania's native timber resources.
Mr Hall said that would depend on Mr Kelty's report. The statement of forest principles, which has been the basis for talks this year, deals with a shift out of native forest logging.
Mr L'Estrange has said that Gunns will pull out of native forests and use only plantation timber for the proposed pulp mill whatever the outcome of Mr Kelty's talks.
Gunns is expected to make a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange today as soon as it is notified of Mr Burke's decision on the permits.