The Greens have attacked the Tasmanian Government's new legislation extending a permit deadline for the Gunns pulp mill.

The Pulp Mill Clarification Bill gives Gunns until August 2011 to "substantially commence" work.

The Resources Minister David Llewellyn says the bill is in response to legal advice that the original Pulp Mill Approval Permit may be considered to have expired.

"We don't want to see a technicality create a further delay or concern," he said.

The Greens' spokesman Kim Booth says the legislation gives the pulp mill project another huge boost.

"This absolutely exposes David Bartlett as being dishonest and a hypocrite."

A spokesman for Gunns said the company welcomes the Bill as a show of Government support for the project.

Mixed response</h3>;

Barry Chipman from Timber Communities Australia says the project is now on the home stretch and the permit extension will avoid more litigation by special interest groups.

"It is a project that we hope now will take those final steps and become a reality," he said.

"The uncertainty that has allowed those litigation cases to proceed has now been cleared up."

Vica Bayley from the Wilderness Society says the Premier has lost credibility with the bill.

"The premier's throwing another lifeline to the pulp mill," he said.

Lucy Landon Lane from protest group, Pulp the Mill, says the Government is not listening to Tasmanians.

"There is so much anger and frustration in the community and we will continue to protest."
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