Stanley River mine
The Tasmanian minerals industry has rejected the latest set of demands from the Tarkine National Coalition (TT here) over mineral exploration and mining in the north-west of Tasmania.
The Minerals Council believes the TNC is becoming increasingly agitated because most people, including governments, do not endorse their anti-industry agenda.
The executive director of the Minerals Council, Terry Long, said today both industry and governments are working within the law as it stands.
“The environmental campaigners don’t have the right to demand negotiation from people going about their day-to-day business, just because they object to this job-creating activity, “he said.
“The environmentalists may be having a tantrum that they’re not getting their way, but the Tasmanian Government acted wholly within the law in granting a mining lease to Venture Minerals in the north-west.
“Similarly, the Federal Government has not intervened in this due process because there is no need to do so,” he said.
“It is not relevant to the minerals industry if one of the many environmental groups is inside or outside the current forestry process, which is a secret off-agenda deal in any case.”
Mr Long said the Tarkine is one of Tasmania’s two heavy mineralised mining fields and if governments close it down, it will have a disastrous effect on cash flows within regional communities which are needed to keep towns alive and people in jobs.
