11/03/2005 - The Minister
for the Environment and Heritage, Senator
Ian Campbell, today nominated Mr John Ashe
as the Australian Government's nominee for
a panel to assess the proposed Pulp Mill in
northern Tasmania.
An Evaluation Panel will be established through
the Tasmanian Resource Planning and Development
Commission to assess the pulp mill proposal,
which requires both the Australian and Tasmanian
governments' environmental approval.
"The governments have agreed to cooperate
in the assessment of the pulp mill, and Mr
Ashe's nomination by the Australian Government
is an important step in moving to the establishment
of the assessment panel," Senator Campbell
said.
"This will be a very important assessment
process because this project has the potential
for substantial economic benefits for Tasmania,
but must not have a significant environmental
impact on this beautiful state.
"Mr Ashe brings a wide range of skills
and formal qualifications, and extensive experience
on similar projects such as a joint Australian
government and state assessment of the Basslink
electricity interconnector project.
"Mr Ashe's extensive and successful
record in projects relating to domestic and
international environmental policy and legislative
issues resulted in him being awarded the Public
Service Medal (PSM) in the 1997 Queen's Birthday
Honours for 'outstanding public service through
the management of the Commonwealth's environmental
impact assessment legislation'," Senator
Campbell said.
In addition to a Master of Environmental
Law from the Australian National University,
he has qualifications in economics and business
administration. Mr Ashe has been recognised
by his peers as a Fellow of the Environment
Institute of Australia and New Zealand and
is a member of the Institute's Council and
Executive. He is also an active member of
the International Association for Impact Assessment.
