DESPERATE STURGES PROMOTING DIVISIVE AND UNPOPULAR TARKINE ROAD

Insult to Stakeholders Who Took Part in Genuine Consultation Process, Only to be Ignored

The Tasmanian Greens today said that Infrastructure Minister Graeme Sturges’ three-and-a-half hour journey to the North West Coast to launch a taxpayer-funded pamphlet promoting the divisive, destructive and unpopular Tarkine loop road smacks of desperation.

Greens Environment and Tourism spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP said the Bartlett Government simply does not understand the meaning of the word consultation, which is about asking the community what they think and what they want instead of telling them what they will get at their own expense.

“Minister Sturges traversing the length of the state to launch a taxpayer-funded pamphlet promoting a divisive, destructive and unpopular road smacks of desperation,” said Ms O’Connor.

“The Bartlett Government knows its $25 million loop road proposal is deeply flawed, unpopular in the community, and an insult to those stakeholders who took part in a genuine consultation process initiated by the Cradle Coast Authority (CCA) and conducted over two years.”

“The CCA consultation resulted in the Tarkine Tourism Development Strategy which sets out a genuine vision for sustainable jobs growth in the region.”

“The Forestry Tasmania-inspired Tarkine loop road does not even have Commonwealth approval yet, so why is the Bartlett Government using taxpayer funds to promote it?”

“The Tasmanian Greens believe that protecting the Tarkine in a National Park, and investing the funds set aside for the loop road in sustainable infrastructure, strategic marketing and wilderness brand protection, will grow jobs on the North West Coast and help to create a sustainable diverse regional economy into the future,” said Ms O’Connor.
Cassy O’Connor MP Greens Environment and Tourism Spokesperson