The State Government must keep its offer on the table to encourage potential operators to reopen the Avebury Mine on the West Coast.
It is disappointing news that the sale of the mine is not going ahead.
Resources Minister Paul Harriss’ belated attempts to support the mine and its workforce were not enough to restart the operation.
Mr Harriss followed Labor’s lead by promising a royalty holiday for the mine but what he offered was too little, too late.
Mr Harriss should not give up and must now do everything in his power to help get this mine going again.
Mineral exploration investment in Tasmania has collapsed under the Liberals which makes future new projects unlikely.
It’s a tough time right now for Tasmania’s mining and minerals sector and a restart of the Avebury nickel mine would provide a much needed confidence boost for the industry.
Labor has a strong record of supporting mining, particularly through challenging times, and we will never back away from that.
Labor has a strong policy to get mining on the West Coast moving again and despite initially ridiculing the plan, the Liberals now concede the merits of our approach.
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader
