Tarkine National Coalition was advised yesterday afternoon that the Tasmanian Government will is not willing to explore a plan to bring government, the mining industry and the conservation movement together in talks to test if a negotiated agreement could avert an environmental campaign over mining in the Tarkine.
The Tarkine National Coalition approached the Minister Bryan Green four months ago seeking a meeting to discuss the talks plan. After a fourteen week wait, a meeting with the Minister’s staff occurred two weeks ago. Yesterday the decision not to proceed was relayed to the TNC by Ministerial staff.
The talks plan has support from a number of key players within the mining industry, and would have sought to find an agreement on where boundaries of a future Tarkine National Park should fall, and what areas might remain available for mining.
“With upwards of eight new mines being proposed in the Tarkine we believed that we needed to test whether the goodwill approach of the forest talks could avert a major environmental campaign. My discussions with mining companies led me to believe there is goodwill from the industry to attempt talks, but without government involvement the talks cannot deliver an outcome for either side,” said Tarkine national Coalition’s Campaign Coordinator, Scott Jordan.
“The unfortunate outcome of this decision is that we now look like ending up in a fight that was probably avoidable and that neither side really wants.”
The TNC is urging government to reconsider and commit to a preliminary meeting of parties to at least test whether there is a possibility of progressing discussions.
“TNC believes that all parties owe it to the Tasmanian community to test if it is possible to reach a negotiated outcome, and we are willing to make every effort to see this happen. The ball is firmly in the government’s court.”
Despite much of the Tarkine being reserved from logging, 95% of this remarkable place is still available for mining operations.
