Milne: Mining versus the Tarkine

Senator MILNE (Tasmania—Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens) (14:22): My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Senator Conroy. Has the Australian Heritage Commission advised the minister of its recommendation with regard to the National Heritage Listing of the Tarkine Wilderness in North-West Tasmania? What was its recommendation and can the minister give an unequivocal guarantee that the Australian Heritage Commission assessment was restricted to the natural and cultural values of the area, as is required by law?

Senator CONROY (Victoria—Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity) (14:22): I thank Senator Milne for her question. Mr Burke has made it clear that he wants to consider whether to include the Tarkine in the National Heritage List under the normal listing provisions. As Minister Burke said at the time, this would require further assessment and consultation. I understand the minister asked the Australian Heritage Council to begin the required work and to provide him with advice in due course. I am advised the Heritage Council has completed its formal consultation as part of that process. That included advertising the assessment of the Tarkine in national newspapers on 24 June 2011. I am further advised that the Australian Heritage Council has also contacted owners, occupiers and Indigenous people with rights and interests in the Tarkine to seek their views on the heritage assessment. The council must now consider feedback received as part of that process and prepare advice for the minister to consider. Once the minister receives that advice, he will make a decision on whether to include the Tarkine on the National Heritage List.

I think you asked some specific questions about what they were asked to consider. I will take that on notice and seek some further information from the minister.

Senator MILNE (Tasmania—Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens) (14:24): I thank the minister for his answer and, Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Has Minister Burke met with Tasmanian ministers Green and Wightman, who are opposing heritage listing and advocating the destruction of the national heritage values of the Tarkine to facilitate Venture Minerals tin mine at Mount Lindsay? If so, when did he meet them? If not, is such a meeting scheduled and will Minister Burke explain to these ministers that his responsibility is to protect areas of outstanding heritage significance to Australia, not facilitate their destruction?

Senator CONROY (Victoria—Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity) (14:24): Thank you. I do not have any information as to whether or not the minister has met his Tasmanian counterparts. I am happy to take that on notice. As to claims that anybody wants to destroy the Tarkine, I would reject that either the minister or the Tasmanian government—

Senator Brandis: The download is slow today, Stephen.

Senator CONROY: No. It is a very lengthy answer. Regarding reports claiming that Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings opposes any heritage listing of the Tarkine, let me make it clear: the Premier visited an open-cut mine on 24 August 2011 saying it could occur in the Tarkine without compromising the region’s environmental values. Mining is an essential part of the Tasmanian economy. It has a royalty benefit to the state government which helps contribute to us all. (Time expired)

Senator MILNE (Tasmania—Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens) (14:25): Mr President, I have a further supplementary question. I thank the minister for pointing out that the Tasmanian Premier thinks you can have a tine mine in the middle of the Tarkine and still protect its national heritage values. I ask him: in the light of that kind of statement from the Premier of Tasmania, will the federal government now give consideration to nominating the Tarkine for World Heritage Listing so that it can be permanently protected?

Senator CONROY (Victoria—Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity) (14:26): I am advised in March 2011 the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities reviewed the national heritage values recommended by the Australian Heritage Council in an area of the Tarkine affected by mining proposals received from Shree Minerals. The department advised that a second emergency listing of the Tarkine was not warranted on the basis of the mining proposal. That advice is publicly available on the internet, however, Minister Burke has asked the Australian Heritage Council to consider whether the Tarkine should be placed on the National Heritage List. Once the minister receives that advice, he will make a decision on whether to include the Tarkine on the National Heritage List.