Edwards reacts to a court decision re people caught driving ATV vehicles in a conservation zone

Jarrod Edwards reacts to the court decision regarding people caught driving ATV vehicles in a conservation area

Jarrod Edwards, Greens Candidate for Braddon has expressed his disappointment outside Burnie Magistrates Court today at the outcome regarding the two men caught driving ATV vehicles in the national-heritage listed Western Tasmanian Aboriginal cultural landscape, despite recreational vehicles being excluded from this area since 2012. This continues to happen because of a lack of leadership by the Liberal Government and their continual push to allow recreational vehicles into this important and unique Aboriginal cultural landscape.

“I am bitterly disappointed with today’s outcome. I feel strongly that this sends the wrong message to potential offenders and I feel my community and heritage has been disrespected.

“The Aboriginal heritage in the Arthur Pieman Conservation Area is some of the most important Indigenous heritage on the planet. It tells a story of our history and Australia’s history like nowhere else as such it deserves the utmost protection from all levels of government and enshrined in legislation.

“Today two men have seemingly got away with a slap on the wrist for practically doing circlework in Tasmania’s equivalent of the Sistine Chapel.
“And this is not just about these two men. This is only the tip of the iceberg. These are just the two of hundreds who have repeatedly shown a reckless disregard for our cultural heritage.

“No one is policing the damage that is happening.

“Brett Whiteley and Justine Keay need to condemn the damage to our heritage and the plans to open up the Pieman River track need to be abandoned. We call on all candidates to support measures to keep these tracks closed,” he concluded.
Jarrod Edwards, Greens Candidate for Braddon