Minister’s secrecy prompts court action

Save the Tarkine has filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking orders that the Minister for Resources provide a statement of reasons for the granting of mine leases to Venture Minerals at Mt Livingstone and Mt Lindsay within the Meredith Ranges Regional Reserve in the Tarkine. This follows refusals by the Minister to comply three requests for these statements of reasons under the Judicial Review Act.

A previous refusal to provide a statement of reasons by the Director of the Environment Protection Agency was found to be unlawful under the Judicial Review Act and court orders made requiring the statement of reasons to be provided (18 June 2014, before Chief Justice Blow).

“We don’t understand why the Minister believes he is justified in withholding a statement of reasons, but it is not only poor process to have decisions about public lands and reserves made in secret, but we would also argue that withholding a statement of reasons is unlawful” , said Save the Tarkine Campaign Coordinator, Scott Jordan.

“For a second time in a year we are being forced to the Supreme Court to seek documents that the Judicial Review Act deems that we are entitled to request and receive”.

“Why is the Minister so afraid to release these documents?”.

A directions hearing has been set down for March 31st.
Scott Jordan, Campaign Coordinator Save The Tarkine