Greens Deputy Leader, Christine Milne has welcomed the Federal government’s call for more information on the environmental impacts of the proposed Tarkine road, but is disappointed the public have been shut out of an extended period for comment open only to the State government.
Senator Milne called for the Minister for Environment to open additional comments beyond that of the Bartlett acolytes and to include the public.
“This would have been a great opportunity for the minister to establish once and for all the devastating effect of building a road through the Tarkine. Extra information presented truthfully and accurately would give the minister no other option than to deem the proposed road as ‘clearly unacceptable’. ”
“Instead we are now faced with an order for additional information to be used as an opportunity for the Tasmanian government to sell their idea to Peter Garrett without the voice of the Tasmanian and scientific community.”
“For example, the government will no doubt attempt to throw light on its Save the Tasmanian Devil program and the formation of insurance populations in zoos and wildlife parks throughout the nation, but is the minister aware that only 170 devils out of a planned 1500 have been captured and moved, and now we have zoos and parks saying they are full?”
“It is vital the minister is made aware of the whole picture when it comes to the long-term survival of the Tasmanian devil.”
“Building a road through the last tract of disease free devil habitat will spell extinction for this iconic marsupial already experiencing heavier losses than other critically endangered species listed under the EPBC Act.”
“This is a lost opportunity for the Tasmanian community that serves to give unfair advantage to the State government.”
“The Bartlett government is so desperate to hear the hum of bulldozers in the Tarkine before next year’s election that it’s using the planned closure of McCain’s Smithton factory to vamp the road’s tourist potential. Mr Garrett, please understand that Tasmanian wilderness values, in particular the devil, is what draws so many tourists here in the first place.”
Senator Christine Milne
