Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader, Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Member for Franklin, Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens Member for Bass
The Tasmanian Greens MPs enthusiastically congratulate Quentin Beresford on winning the Tasmania Book Prize with his book, The Rise and Fall of Gunns Limited.
Greens Leader, Cassy O'Connor said Beresford's masterpiece is a cautionary tale of corruption and greed that should be compulsory reading in Tasmanian high schools.
"The Rise and Fall of Gunns Ltd is a thoroughly researched history of a government in bed with industry, a failing democracy and, ultimately, of a company's demise and shame".
"It's also a story of hope and of ordinary Tasmanians who cared about our unique wilderness and natural values and who eventually triumphed over the toxic combination of corporate power and political interference."
"It is a gripping work of literature that tells the story of a community's dogged campaign, which eventually exposed the social, economic and environmental consequences of the actions of a few men who thought Tasmania was theirs to trash," Ms O'Connor said.
The Greens note Mr Beresford's comments that politics is susceptible to the influence of corporations and vested interests.
"Right now we have the Liberal Government’s EOI process, which is secretive and the Tasmanian public have no way of knowing that history is not repeating itself behind closed doors," said Rosalie Woodruff MP
"This book should be part of the Tasmanian high school curriculum. Every school child needs to learn about this sad part of our state’s history, and about the dangers of removing public scrutiny and allowing laws to be re-written for the interests of a few," said Andrea Dawkins MP