Sue Neales Mercury

“He said, `Go ahead, (the Premier) he’s my mate, you know — he won’t do anything’,” the senior public servant told the Mercury. Resigned RPDC pulp mill scientist Dr Warwick Raverty yesterday backed the public servant’s recollection of the incident. “Although I recall that (Mr Gordon) actually first said `Get lost, Julian’, before saying that Lennon was his mate,” Dr Raverty corroborated. But in a new development yesterday, Mr Lennon said Mr Green had also resigned 10 months early because he feared for his safety. He said Mr Green had received death threats and been jostled in the street.

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Matthew Denholm The Australian

TASMANIAN Solicitor-General Bill Bale QC has confirmed he was directed by Premier Paul Lennon to negotiate a highly contentious ex gratia payment for the state’s disgruntled chief planning commissioner. Mr Bale told The Australian yesterday that Mr Lennon had directed him to conduct the negotiations that resulted in a $140,000 golden handshake for Julian Green. “A request from the Premier was the reason (for the payment negotiations),” Mr Bale said. “It’s the job of lawyers to act on instructions and not to act without instruction.” Mr Lennon has said until now that he merely approved the payment - not legally required - after Mr Bale had negotiated it. Mr Green quit on December24, accusing Mr Lennon of allowing a taskforce undermine the independence of his assessment of a pulp mill proposal. The Australian is aware of documents showing that the payment ordered by Mr Lennon’s department was opposed by his deputy and Attorney-General Steve Kons, and senior Justice Department bureaucrats. They argued the payment was unnecessary, while some within the Government believed it could be seen as an attempt to buy Mr Green’s silence.

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