FEDERAL support for the pulp mill is welcome, but delivering the outstanding $100 million forest peace deal money is a more pressing concern for Tasmania, Premier Lara Giddings has said.
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Ms Giddings said Federal Assistant Minister for Regional Development Jamie Briggs's statement this week that the federal government was looking at options to help ``de-risk'' the $2.5 million stalled project was ``premature''.
``While the state government remains hopeful that a pulp mill project will be realised, the fact is that the project is currently going through an expression of interest process and does not have a proponent at this point, therefore it is somewhat premature to be speculating about what may or may not eventuate,'' she said.
``If Mr Briggs and his Liberal colleagues want to do something positive for the Tasmanian economy, they can stop sitting on their hands and get on with delivering the $100 million they promised to Tasmanian businesses almost three months ago.''
The Gunns site and proposal has been put up for expressions of interest by receivers KordaMentha and has reportedly attracted serious interest from US and European corporations.
Tasmanian Opposition Leader Will Hodgman said he had discussed the option of federal support for the pulp mill with Prime Minister Tony Abbott, but did not think Tasmanian taxpayer dollars should prop it up.
``I think we need to exhaust all avenues before we slam the door shut on this project forever,'' Mr Hodgman said.
``As far as the state's concerned, I think Tasmania has done its fair share of the heavy lifting.''
Mr Hodgman said the form that any federal support might take was a ``matter for the federal government'' but state and federal governments should work together to get the project off the ground.
Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Michael Bailey said government support had historically been given to encourage industry to set up in Tasmania, and it was worth it if that provided certainty for investors.
``The economic benefit of a project of that scale would be a game-changer for the state,'' Mr Bailey said.
He called on the ``silent majority'' of Tasmanians who supported the project to voice their support, lest investors be scared off by environmental groups.
