The Federal Environment Minister’s decision to seek more information on the State Government’s ‘Tarkine Drive’ demonstrates that the road is badly conceived and very poor public policy.
If, as the Government claims, it is clear that the road doesn’t pose any threats to the natural environment and to the Tasmanian Devil, then why is further information being sought?
The State Government has placed the Tasmanian Devil on the list of endangered species, owing to the invasive facial tumour disease afflicting up to half of the State’s devil population, yet at the same time it is moving ahead with its ill-considered Tarkine Road and ignoring leading scientists’ concerns that the construction and use of this road will further endanger Tasmania’s Devil population.
Even the Minister for Primary Industries and Water, David Llewellyn, admitted during Budget Estimates hearings that “There is an increased threat, there is no doubt about that” when referring to Labor’s Tarkine plan.
Once again, the State Labor Government is embarrassing our State with its sheer incompetence, and this is just one of the many reasons why Labor’s flawed Tarkine plan should be stopped and the Liberal’s alternative Tarkine Agenda take its place.
There is a better way to achieve the tourism potential of the Tarkine region, that will generate jobs and investment, without the risk of destroying its unique brand, and this is the vision the Liberals have put forward.
Jeremy Rockliff MP Deputy Leader of the State Opposition Liberal Member for Braddon
