The Tasmanian Greens Leader Nick McKim today called on the Federal Environment Minister to reject the iron ore mine at Nelson Bay River in the Tarkine, in light of departmental advice showing the project risked introducing devil facial tumour disease to the area.
“The departmental advice is right there in black and white showing that the mine is likely to introduce devil facial tumour disease to this currently disease-free part of the Tarkine,” Mr McKim said.
“It looks as if the Federal Minister is moving to fast track the approval of this mine, despite this very clear advice from his own department.”
“The Environment Minister should knock back this proposal, or he risks being responsible for contributing to the extinction of the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial.”
“We have national environmental laws in place to protect threatened and endangered species and ecosystems, but those laws are being ignored in a political race to the bottom by Labor and Liberal.”
“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.”
Nick McKim MP Greens Leader Wednesday, 24 July 2013
