Media release – Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing and Energy Council (TMEC), 22 January 2024
TMEC launches Tarkine myth-busting campaign
Today, the Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing and Energy Council (TMEC) has launched a campaign to bust some of the myths and misinformation surrounding the Tarkine area on Tasmania’s west coast.
TMEC has placed ads in all three of Tasmania’s daily newspapers that highlight the key issues the campaign will focus on.
TMEC CEO, Ray Mostogl, said the campaign highlights there is an important balance in the Tarkine area, mixing wilderness, industry, heritage and culture.
“The Tarkine area is incredibly special, but it’s just not right to say it’s pristine wilderness,” Mr Mostogl said.
“The Tarkine features some incredible wilderness reserves, but there’s also around 2,500 kilometres of roads, 93 kilometres of rail, power transmission lines, two power stations and over 173 current or former mineral extraction sites in the area.
“We need to work together as a community to get the balance right, protect what’s important and support the west coast communities that rely on mining and other industries. We shouldn’t forget that the minerals Tasmania produces, predominantly from the west coast, account for nearly two thirds of Tasmania’s exports by value. Without mining our economy would be devastated and thousands of jobs would be on the line.
“Unfortunately, there is a lot of information being kept out of the messages some groups are using to describe the Tarkine area. We want all Tasmanians to have all the facts and to understand that we are getting the balance right on the west coast and in the Tarkine.
“We also want the Australian Government to understand how we are working to get the balance right as they consider using the EPBC Act to either stop or severely curtail industries on the west coast.”
Mr Mostogl said more information about the campaign is available at – www.tmec.com.au/tarkine-facts.
Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 22 January 2024
Mining Council releases desperate PR bid to sell takayna / Tarkine
Bob Brown Foundation is renewing calls for a securely protected takayna World Heritage listed National Park, returned to Aboriginal ownership as the Tasmanian Mining Council pressures governments to allow further destruction of one of Earth’s last wild places.
“What is missing for takayna is government leadership, Australia’s largest temperate rainforests and Aboriginal living landscapes are still not securely protected in secure conservation reserves. Our Foundation has been for the past decade holding off the logging and mining destruction of this spectacular region. Mining and logging in takayna is a destructive problem that now must be relegated to the past, the future of takayna is in a secure protected 500 000 hectare area. It requires a government to come good and realise the global significance of the natural and cultural values,” Jenny Weber, Bob Brown Foundation’s Campaign Manager said.
“takayna needs secure protection in this age of climate and biodiversity crises. The communities of north west Tasmania will be the guardians of one of the planet’s last wild places as nature itself offers some of the most effective solutions to avert the worst impacts of a warming planet,” Jenny Weber said.
“Today’s desperate PR launch by the Mining Council fails to mention the Nelson Bay River mine mess that currently has acid-producing waste left in the environment and the Riley Creek mine which is on the shelf due to financial troubles,” Jenny Weber said.
“There must be no new mines in takayna and no new environmentally destructive expansions to current mines. The Savage River mine is the only mine that will remain when takayna is declared a World Heritage listed national park even though the mine is a sad legacy of dig up and destroy ancient rainforests,” Jenny Weber said.
“takayna needs secure protection from mining and logging now more than ever. 2023 was a year of record breaking increased threatened species listed in Australia, and it was the hottest year on record,” Jenny Weber said.
“Globally, there is widespread consensus that biodiversity loss and climate change are twin crises that must be addressed together to achieve success in either one. Protected and conserved areas are the most effective tool to address both biodiversity loss and climate change within a time-frame that reflects the required urgency,” Jenny Weber said.
For a stronger economy, resilient north west community and securing the benefits of a securely protected 500 000 hectares of takayna, we must hear the 2021 warning of UN Secretary General António Guterres’ that “we are digging our own graves by burning, drilling and mining deeper. We face a stark choice: either we stop it — or it stops us. It’s time to say ‘enough’. Enough of brutalising biodiversity. Enough of killing ourselves with carbon. Enough of treating nature like a toilet.”
Media release – Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Leader, 22 January 2024
Greens Back Takayna National Park
The Greens reiterate our long, consistent support for a takayna/Tarkine National Park, following today’s PR launch by the Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council. Takayna is a globally significant, culturally-rich place that should be protected, not gifted to mining or forestry corporates.
Instead, the Liberals – backed by the so-called Labor Opposition – have dramatically expanded mineral exploration in this world heritage significance region. The industry’s PR campaign, launched today, is a list of their demands to Labor and the Liberals ahead of a state election.
Takayna is the second largest temperate rainforest in the world – and the largest temperate rainforest in Australia. Industry might want to log and mine it forever, but in the midst of a climate and biodiversity crisis a responsible government should protect takayna.
Takayna’s cultural heritage demands protection for its largely unspoilt rainforests that are home to species like the masked owl, giant freshwater crayfish, healthy Tasmanian devils, quolls and more. Takayna’s almost 500,000 hectares are a rich landscape and thriving ecosystem and should remain so.
Media release – Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 24 January 2024
TCCI supports Tarkine ‘myth-busting’ campaign
The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is the voice of business in Tasmania and has thrown its support behind a new campaign to bust some of the myths surrounding the Tarkine area.
TCCI CEO, Michael Bailey, said the campaign shows that while the Tarkine certainly is a very special part of Tasmania, it is certainly not pristine as some would claim.
“There are thousands of kilometres of roads, rail, pipes, transmission lines and tramways in the Tarkine, as well as power stations and over 150 current or former mine sites,” Mr Bailey said.
“It’s not some sort of pristine rainforest, although parts of the area are, and those parts are protected, as they should be.
“It’s a big area, the equivalent of an area stretching from Hobart to Campbell Town and it’s a very diverse landscape with plenty of room for a range of uses.
“Around ten years ago, the Federal Government considered if the area should be locked up in a reserve and it found that around 400,000 hectares didn’t meet the standard needed.
“If we locked up the area now, we would destroy businesses, thousands of jobs and entire communities without protecting land that was deemed as being worth locking up.”
