FORMER premier Paul Lennon has dismissed as a publicity stunt complaints made to a new anti- corruption watchdog over his handling of the Gunns pulp mill project.
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Friends of the Tamar Valley have reportedly made five complaints to the Integrity Commission alleging that Mr Lennon and other senior officials acted improperly when they fast- tracked the approval of the mill.
Calls to the group yesterday for comment were unsuccessful and details of complaints are being kept confidential.
Mr Lennon said the commission was being "used for political purposes" in a bid to generate publicity ahead of a federal government decision on the $2.3 billion Tamar mill.
"They didn't like the legislation then and they don't like it now," he said.
"All they're doing now is embroiling the commission into their opposition."
Environment Minister Tony Burke is expected to announce whether the proposed mill has won federal approval under national environmental laws today.
Mr Lennon was confident that the pulp mill would be approved and stood by his actions to encourage its development.
"I acted in the best interests of Tasmania," he said. "If we had a pulp mill now, then Tasmania wouldn't be under the severe economic pressure that it is now."
He said he would co-operate with any investigation.
The Integrity Commission has received 88 complaints since it was set up in October. Not all complaints will be investigated.