Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 1 July 2021
Ley hears ‘win-win’ option
Environment Minister Sussan Ley met Dr Bob Brown this morning and took a short stroll in rainforest similar to that threatened by MMG’s toxic tailings dam proposal in northwest Tasmania.
“It was an informative meeting,” Brown said.
“I told the minister that I believe MMG’s current works towards installing the dam in the rainforest are illegal. This project is subject to her decision and should not proceed until an environmental impact statement and a study of the alternatives are completed. MMG is pre-empting the decision and pulling the rug from under proper process,” he said.
Together with Bob Brown Foundation experts Jenny Weber and Scott Jordan, Brown explained that a win-win outcome will be saving the rainforest and its wildlife while MMG takes up one of the four or more options for disposing of its future toxic wastes on the Rosebery mine’s side of the Pieman River.
Minister Ley’s meeting and walk were hosted by the Tarkine Wilderness Lodge south of Burnie.
Meanwhile, the foundation is being inundated with people joining the peaceful campaign to halt MMG’s destructive works proceeding without a proper environmental study. This morning Hobartian Billie Raffety was arrested after attaching herself to and halting, an MMG mining machine.
“This magnificent forest should be National and World Heritage, not a dump site for a multinational mining company,” Brown said.
(earlier) – Tarkine protests continue as federal Environment Minister meets with Bob Brown
As federal Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley meets Bob Brown in the north Tarkine rainforests this morning, a new group of Bob Brown Foundation Tarkine defenders has closed down mining company MMG’s roadworks to its proposed toxic waste dump in the southern part of the same forests.
Artist Billie Rafferty (18) has locked herself to an excavator to prevent further destruction of rainforest by MMG.
“Sacred takayna is not the only option for this tailings dam. How dare MMG irreversibly scar 285ha of pristine rainforest”, said Ms Rafferty.
“takayna is the home of countless endangered species, rare flora, and ancient old growth trees. This area must be officially recognised as World Heritage Value, and must be returned to the palawa people. As citizens living on stolen land, we cannot allow large corporations to control our future”.
Billie has joined with the 53 others who have risked arrest over the past 45 days to stop MMG’s proposed tailings dam.
“As a young Tasmanian, Billie represents the future of our island state. If only our political leaders had an ounce of the courage and passion that Billie and her compatriots have shown this tailings dam proposal would be a thing of the past”‘ said Bob Brown Foundation takayna/Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.
