The Rudd government is continuing to support Gunns' proposed pulp mill through direct and indirect subsidies, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"The Minister for Forests, Tony Burke, quite clearly outlined one subsidy in last week's Ministerial Statement on forests:

‘The government is assisting this process through the $9 million Forest Industries Development Fund to support industry initiatives which add value to forest resources. The most significant value-adding investment proposed for Australia's forest industry is the Gunns Bell Bay Pulp Mill.'

"In the past few weeks the government has also announced it will fund industry lobbyists, including Gunns Chairman John Gay, through the Pulp and Paper Industry Strategy Group and Forest Industry Leaders Ministerial Roundtable.

"The government is using taxpayers' money to pay lobbyists to come to Canberra and ask for more money. I look forward to them footing the travel and accommodation bills for environmental, tourism and small business lobbyists to present their arguments," Senator Brown said.

Further information: Russell Kelly 0438376082