Triabunna woodchip mill: Government probe to call 20-plus witnesses (ABC)

View Comments ABC Timber company Gunns put the Triabunna woodchip mill on the market in 2011.

The State Parliamentary probe into the sale of the Triabunna woodchip mill is planning to call more than 20 witnesses, including former Gunns chief Greg L'Estrange.

The Tasmanian Government claims Labor and the Greens hid important details of the sale of Gunns' Triabunna woodchip mill to environmentalists Graeme Wood and Jan Cameron, and directed the Lower House's Liberal-dominated Community Development Committee to investigate.

The inquiry was prompted by an essay in The Monthly magazine written by its editor John van Tiggelen, which described the covert wrecking of the mill so it could not be forcibly reacquired by the State Government.

Greens Leader Kim Booth claimed the Government was embarking on a political witch-hunt.

The ABC understands the committee will hear from the mill site's owners, Mr Wood and Ms Cameron, environmental activist Alec Marr and Mr van Tiggelen.

The committee will also call four former Labor cabinet ministers: former premier Lara Giddings, her former deputy Bryan Green, former Attorney-General Brian Wightman and former economic development minister David O'Byrne.

Former Greens leader Nick McKim and his successor Kim Booth will also be called.

Senior bureaucrats and the Glamorgan-Spring Bay mayor Bertrand Cadart are also listed.

The Premier's parliamentary secretary, Guy Barnett, who is chairing the inquiry, said he was particularly keen to hear what Mr L'Estrange had to say.

"Obviously he is a witness that could provide important evidence to the inquiry going forward," he said.

Mr Booth claimed the inquiry was a sham.

"I'm sure that Guy is indulging his fantasies and he'll call whoever he wants to," he said.

"I mean the whole thing is a witch hunt. It's a waste of public cash. And I think Mr Barnett is sailing very close to abusing parliament and his position in it."

Millionaire environmentalists Graeme Wood and Jan Cameron bought the Triabunna mill three years ago.

The pair initially said they hoped to reopen it, but later unveiled plans for a tourism development.

The Monthly magazine article, which appeared in the July issue, contained claims the pair never intended for the site to re-open as a mill.

The committee will hold its first hearing next month.

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