Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 30 June 2022
Arrests in Tasmania’s battle to save takayna / Tarkine
Two women have been arrested today protesting and calling for protection of Tasmania’s takayna / Tarkine.
Dr Colette Harmsen and Rose Sheehan were charged after halting a drill rig that arrived into forests threatened by mining company MMG’s proposal for a heavy metals tailings waste dump.
“It’s not good enough that we are losing such wild and biodiverse rainforests for the sake of a mining company’s profit. I grew up in lutruwita / Tasmania and was able to explore the forests and seas so I know what we are losing. I will stop at nothing to protect these beautiful forests regardless of the penalty for protesting. A fine or sentence will never outweigh my love and value for these forests and for the welfare of future generations,” Rose Sheehan said.
Dr Colette Harmsen has been held on remand in Burnie today after her arrest due to breaching bail conditions.
“I am defending takayna for the animals and the wildness. We are going to stop this corporation driven by greed. Our peaceful protest today halted the drill rig in the middle of Helilog Road among the critical breeding habitat of the Tasmanian masked owl.”
“Ever since I studied science at high school in the early 1990s, I have been acutely aware of climate change and the negative impacts humans are having on the environment and the lack of government action to respond to these impacts. Here we are 30 years later and nothing has changed. Governments are still refusing to act, industries are still given incentives to destroy wild places and pollute, and politicians do not look beyond the next election,” Colette Harmsen said.
“Citizens, including courageous Colette and Rose, are doing the work to protect wild places, intact nature and habitat for rare and endangered wildlife while governments fail to, and corporations continue their relentless destruction of the environment,” Jenny Weber, Bob Brown Foundation’s Campaign Manager said.
Tasmanian Conservationist held on remand overnight
Dr Colette Harmsen, wildlife veterinarian, has been refused bail in Burnie night court. Dr Harmsen was arrested today protesting against the destruction by mining company MMG of masked owl breeding habitat in takayna / Tarkine today.
Dr Harmsen will appear before a magistrate tomorrow.
“Colette is a wonderful hero for the planet,” said Bob Brown.
Bob Brown Foundation and thousands of citizens have been protesting for the protection of Tasmania’s takayna / Tarkine from logging and mining for the past 8 years. In the past twelve months, the highly controversial proposal to dump heavy metals sludge into takayna rainforests for a new mining tailings waste dump has resulted in more than 85 people being arrested defending the forests.
Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 1 July 2022
Protesters stop illegal works after MMG breaches court undertakings.
Bob Brown Foundation has shut down MMG’s drill rig on the site of its proposed toxic heavy metals tailings dam because of alleged breaches by the company of undertakings given to the Federal Court last month. The drill rig arrived a couple of days ago and hasn’t been able to leave the middle of the road where we’ve halted it for two days with protests.
The undertaking that the company would not operate within 15 metres of a tree with a diameter of one metre or more was given to the court in lieu of an injunction sought by Bob Brown Foundation to protect Tasmanian masked owl ahead of reconsideration by the Federal Minister of EPBC permits granted for drilling and roading.
Bob Brown Foundation has documented 13 sites along Helilog Road where this undertaking has been breached between 24-29 July.
Tenisha Van Dam (20) has locked on to a drill rig to prevent continuation of the unlawful works.
“I am here in takayna because I know that once these trees come down there is no going back. Now is not the time to be complacent, we need action for Earth,” said Tenisha Van Dam.
“Again this company has shown its disregard for Australia’s environmental laws, and in this case an undertaking it made to the court less than a month ago. They cannot be trusted in World Heritage value forests like takayna / Tarkine”, said Bob Brown Foundation takayna / Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.
“If the Minister needed any more confirmation that this company should not hold environmental permits, it is now etched into the landscape”.
Bob Brown Foundation will be appearing in the Federal Court at 3.15 AEST today to seek that in light of MMG’s breach of its undertaking and associated court order an injunction be granted preventing works until the current challenge to the EPBC permit is resolved by the Federal Court. The hearing for this challenge is set down for 19 July.
Concurrently, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has indicated that a decision on the reconsideration will be unavailable until mid July at the earliest. The reconsideration was triggered by Bob Brown Foundation.
At 11:15 am, conservationist Colette Harmsen will appear in the Magistrates Court after being arrested yesterday and held in custody in Burnie.
At 11:30 am a judgement in the Tasmania Supreme Court will be given on our directions hearing yesterday in Bob Brown Foundation vs Minister Barnett.
Minister Guy Barnett may appear before Supreme Court on 1st August
In a rare and possibly unprecedented event, the Supreme Court has ordered Minister Guy Barnett to provide an affidavit. It’s likely the Minister will be a witness in the proceedings.
Bob Brown Foundation is challenging Minister Guy Barnett’s granting of an unnecessary mining lease to miner MMG in Tasmania’s takayna / Tarkine. The lease is along the controversial public Helilog road where our protests have been defending world heritage value rainforests and critical breeding habitat for the Tasmanian masked owl.
Minister Guy Barnett admitted his first issue of a licence in July 2021 was invalid. Minister Guy Barnett then granted another lease in January 2022. The Supreme Court has ordered all documents be produced that informed the new decision by the Minister via a personal affidavit by Mr Barnett.
Federal Court Stops MMG’s Machines Invading Tarkine
In the Federal Court today, Justice Moshinsky, stopped mining company MMG’s heavy machinery from its invasion of the takayna / Tarkine for preliminary work on a toxic waste dump.
Justice Moshinsky has made clear that MMG is not to bring any of its machinery or vehicles – light or heavy – down roads that pass the very Exclusion Zones it has set up to protect Tasmanian masked owls.
“MMG’s arrogant flouting of the Federal Court ruling was illegal,” Bob Brown said.
“We have had good citizens arrested and one to jail, because MMG has breached a Federal Court ruling. This is so wrong. MMG’s decision makers should have been arrested, not our peaceful forest defenders,” Bob Brown said.
“Where were the state and federal law makers? Environment Minister Plibersek has failed to ensure this fragile forest and its endangered Masked owls were protected as required by the Federal Court,” Brown said.
