Mr Kelty also said that he had spoken to potential joint venture partners for the mill.

The former union boss was in Launceston yesterday to discuss the talks and how they were progressing.

Mr Kelty also spoke to the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union's Tasmanian committee of management and a collection of shop stewards about the forestry statement of principles.

CFMEU national president Jane Calvert said that Mr Kelty had taken them through how the process was going and answered a number of questions.

She said that it was important to hear he believed an agreement could be reached.

Ms Calvert said that members wanted to know why forestry protests were continuing in workplaces when the two sides were at the negotiating table.

She said that Mr Kelty told them to ignore those groups who were ineffective and instead concentrate on reaching agreement with the well-funded and organised groups still at the table.

Ms Calvert said that the union also "recommitted to the statement of principles in its entirety".

She said that while there were aspects the union didn't like - such as the end of all native forest logging - the statement was the deal agreed to.

Premier Lara Giddings said that she looked forward to getting Mr Kelty's interim report - which is expected within weeks - on the progress of negotiations.

"However, as Bill Kelty has said, reaching a final agreement will be extremely difficult and we will need to consider his report closely to fully understand the challenges and barriers ahead," she said.

"Even if the statement of principles process does not proceed in its current form, there will still need to be changes to the industry to evolve and adapt to forces which are beyond our control."

Opposition Leader Will Hodgman said that closing down the native forest industry in exchange for the pulp mill was a mistake, as there was room for both.