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TIMBER company Gunns has thanked State Treasurer Michael Aird for agreeing to lobby its prospective pulp mill partner.

Gunns spokesman Matt Horan said last night while the Tasmanian Government had always been clear about its backing for the giant pulp mill, "every little bit" of open support helps.

Mr Aird left yesterday for a week-long, $50,000 trip to Europe, during which he will meet the unnamed companies Gunns hopes can be convinced to invest in its controversial pulp mill.

"We are very pleased the Tasmanian Government is reiterating its support in this way," Mr Horan said.

"The Government has always made its support clear in the past but a personal visit from the Treasurer is certainly not going to harm our cause."

Mr Aird conceded on Tuesday he had phoned Gunns management once he knew he was travelling to Europe, to offer to meet any companies it thought might be useful.

It is widely believed Swedish paper and pulp company Sodra may become a joint-venture partner with Gunns in building and operating the pulp mill north of Launceston.

Gunns said while it was confident the state and federally approved pulp mill would soon clear its final financial hurdles, Mr Aird's visit could provide the vital final impetus.

The Forest Industries Association of Tasmania also welcomed Mr Aird's show of support. "Politicians who converse with large stakeholders of projects show Tasmania is committed to projects and show Tasmania is a state that embraces new technology and industry," said FIAT chairman Julian Amos.

But the barrage of political outrage directed at Mr Aird for promoting the pulp mill while on an overseas mission continued yesterday.

Greens pulp mill critic Kim Booth accused Mr Aird of bringing embarrassment on Tasmania by acting as Gunns' "messenger-boy".

"Michael Aird needs to remember that he was elected by the Tasmanian people to represent the community, not just the vested interests of one company," Mr Booth said.

The Wilderness Society wrote yesterday to Mr Aird requesting full disclosure of all aspects of his pulp mill mercy-dash to Europe.

Wilderness Society anti-pulp mill campaigner Paul Oosting called on the Treasurer to disclose to potential investors in the pulp mill there was massive local community opposition to its construction and operation.

Originally appeared here.