According to national media reports the advertisements, in the form of an open letter, says the project is a necessary cornerstone investment for the prosperity of the state. “The pulp mill is an essential part of the plan to transform Tasmania’s disintegrating forest products industry,” it says.

Signatories include TasPorts, Forestry Tasmania, ferry builder Incat and listed almond producer Webster.

“I have always been supportive of the Gunns project, and believe that Australia, while resource rich, must ensure that we are exporting value-added product,” said Incat chairman Robert Clifford.

The advertisement urged Tasmanians to put aside the differences of the past. However, it acknowledged the lingering concerns in the community about the risk of a “world-scale” pulp mill.

Meanwhile, Greens MP Kim Booth has demanded to know whether any Government money was spent on the newspaper ad.

He says any Government support for the mill would cause him to move against the Government. Booth told the ABC he is still investigating the ad saying, “This [is a] blatantly political and partisan plan.”

Comment below to have your say on this story.

If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.  

Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter