Media release – Tarkine National Coalition, 1 September 2021
Environment Minister declares open season on Tasmanian devils.
In a bizarre decision to change Venture Minerals’ Riley Creek Iron Ore Mine permit conditions, Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley has removed critical daylight-only transport conditions put in place to protect endangered Tasmanian Devils. This condition shall be removed until 31 May 2022, effectively allowing night time trucking of ore during the high risk breeding and dispersal seasons.
“The Minister has declared open season on the Tasmanian Devil’s of the southern Tarkine”, said Tarkine National Coalition President Patrick Johnson.
“At a time when devil joeys are weaning, emerging from dens, and seeking out new territories they will be met by trucks on the road in the night. It’s not just a tripling of possible transport hours and trucks, it is that these trucks will be on the roads now at the worst possible time”.
“The prohibition of night transport was specifically to prevent trucks and devils being in contact. This decision shows that the Minister is prepared to sacrifice endangered Tasmanian Devils to boost returns to Venture Minerals shareholders”.
Tarkine National Coalition is challenging a previous amendment to Venture Minerals state planning permit in the Supreme Court. Tarkine National Coalition is represented by the Environmental Defenders Office in that matter.
