Tarkine National Coalition has today raised concerns over a perception of bias surrounding Adam Brooks MP’s dual roles as Shadow Minister for Mining and owner/director of Maintenance Systems Solutions.
Maintenance Systems Solutions is a company that has a $25million turnover relating to services provided to the mining industry.
“We do not begrudge Mr Brooks business success, but we are concerned that recent comments attacking conservation of the Tarkine carry a perception of bias and conflict of interest”, said Tarkine National Coalition spokesperson Scott Jordan.
“The Tarkine National Coalition has enjoyed respectful relationships with the Liberal Party, with the Howard Government delivering significant conservation outcomes for the Tarkine and providing funding for development of the tourism industry in the Tarkine. And similarly, the State Liberals took a strong stand against the failed 2009 Tarkine Road proposal,”
“It becomes problematic for groups like ours to know whether Mr Brooks is speaking as a company director or as a Liberal Party spokesperson. His comments seen to contradict Liberal Party policy on the Tarkine. Does he believe John Howard and Jeremy Rockliff were wrong?”
“What is most concerning is that as Shadow Minister for Mining, in an alternative government Mr Brooks would be responsible for assessing and issuing permits for projects that his company may also be tendering on,”
TNC does not allege and illegality or impropriety on behalf of Mr Brooks, and does not dispute his right to speak his views as either a director or as a Member of Parliament. The issue relates only to the perceived conflict of interest with his portfolio responsibilities.
“We will be writing to Mr Hodgman and respectfully suggesting that Mr Brooks’ talents could be more appropriately applied in a different portfolio”.
• Matthew Denholm, The Australian, Saturday: Mines and trees: It’s not either ore:
MATTHEW DENHOLM, TASMANIA CORRESPONDENT
From: The Australian
April 28, 2012 12:00AM
MINING would be checked – but not excluded – in Tasmania’s Tarkine wilderness under a compromise that Environment Minister Tony Burke believes could win over opponents of the region’s proposed heritage listing.
After spending much of the week exploring the southern hemisphere’s largest tract of temperate rainforest with conservationists, Mr Burke told The Weekend Australian that a balanced approach to the design of a heritage area could satisfy critics.
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