The Tasmanian Greens Environment spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP said yesterday’s Federal Court decision on the proposed Nelson Bay River mine was a massive wakeup call on the importance of protecting critically endangered species like the Tasmanian devil.
“The proponent and the Federal Minister only have themselves to blame for refusing to consider the impact of this development on Tasmanian devil habitat,” Ms O’Connor said.
“At best this is carelessness by the Federal Minister and his department, and at worst it is a deliberate oversight.”
“We have national environmental laws in place to protect threatened and endangered species, but those laws were ignored.”
“The same lack of foresight led to the extinction of the thylacine, and now we are seeing the world’s second largest carnivorous marsupial facing a similar fate on our watch.”
“The Tarkine is a largely-intact wilderness that is recognised internationally as a biodiversity hotspot and is home to a diverse range of unique endemic species including the devil.”
“These things are a rare and precious commodity on an increasingly stressed planet.”
“Future generations of Tasmanians will be grateful that there are organisations and individuals in Tasmania who are prepared to take an unpopular stand, and defend this rare and precious place.”
Cassy O’Connor MP Greens Environment Spokesperson Thursday, 18 July 2013
