Picture: Nicole Anderson
The Tasmanian Greens said the continual refusal by Federal Minister Tony Burke to move a National Heritage Listing for the Tarkine now places the onus on the State to act on protecting the last disease-free stronghold of the Tasmanian devil.
Greens Member for Braddon Paul O’Halloran MP said the Tarkine was now invaluable habitat and warranted protection at the State and Federal level, including National Park status.
“The delay in National Heritage listing has been deliberate, supported by both Labor and Liberal at the state and federal levels, to allow approval of mining developments with a minimum of fuss and scrutiny,” Mr O’Halloran said
“The Tarkine was first recommended for inclusion on the National Heritage List by the Australian Heritage Council in 2004, making the current assessment process the longest in the history of the National Heritage regime.”
“Minister Burke has allowed the previous emergency listing to lapse despite having been clearly advised by the Australian Heritage Council that it met the criteria for heritage listing.”
“These delays to permanent listing mean that the environmental and cultural impacts of mining development proposals in the Tarkine are not being adequately assessed.”
“The Tarkine must receive emergency heritage listing as one critical measure to help protect the last known habitat in Tasmania free from Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease.”
“The State must also meet its responsibilities to threatened species and formally protect this last known disease-free habitat as a National Park,” Mr O’Halloran said.
