Bob Brown Foundation has dismissed claims by Resources Minister Guy Barnett that his granting and subsequent revoking of an unlawful mine lease to Chinese state-owned miner MMG were merely administrative errors.

"The known facts are that the mine lease was issued for a gravel mine, when no such mine is planned. That is illegal. The Mineral Resources Development Act 1995 specifically requires that the Minister must be satisfied that an ore body, capable of being mined, exists and that the applicant has submitted an adequate mine plan. Neither of those things have happened. At best, this is gross incompetence, although the evidence points to wilful misconduct by the Minister", said Bob Brown Foundation takayna / Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.

"If the Minister wants to hide behind a frankly unbelievable claim that this was just an administrative error, then he should release the documentation for public scrutiny. Unless he does that the public are right to call for his sacking".

Last Wednesday, Bob Brown Foundation sought documents related to the application, granting, and revoking of mine lease 4M/2021. The Minister may choose to actively disclose this information at any time.

In an embarrassing back down by a Tasmanian Minister who has broken the law to advantage a Chinese state-owned miner. Bob Brown Foundation has called for Minister Barnett to resign.

Minister For Resources Guy Barnett has been forced to tear up mine lease 4M/2021 granted to Chinese state owned MMG after the Bob Brown Foundation exposed the lease as illegal. In a letter to Bob Brown Foundation, Minister Barnett has said:

"Following due consideration, I was not empowered to make the decision. In consequence, there has been no valid grant of that lease".

MMG sought the lease over Helilog Road in southern takayna/Tarkine in April 2021. The area followed a narrow strip along five kilometres of Helilog Road and included beekeeping sites, the Forest Walk tourist site, the site of the Bob Brown Foundation's protest camp from December 2020, and access to MMG's proposed heavy metals tailings dam.

To be eligible for a mine lease under Tasmanian law, an applicant must demonstrate a mineable body of ore and a mining plan. The BBF asserted that neither existed in this case and that the lease was sought to deny public access to the 5km of Helilog Road leading to MMG's project site.

"This was an attempt to shut down public protest and to lock the community out of an area that MMG and the Minister did not want them seeing, and without our intervention, this illegal lease would have done just that", said Bob Brown Foundation takayna/Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.

"What discussions occurred between the Minister, Mineral Resources Tasmania, and MMG to facilitate the granting of a mine lease that didn't meet the most basic eligibility requirement? Who knew? When did they know? And will anyone take any responsibility? If Minister Barnett will not resign, then the Premier should sack him," concluded Mr Jordan.

A copy of the letter from Minister Barnett here

Today, Federal environment Minister, Sussan Ley, announced that support is growing for three proposed MPAs (Marine Protected Areas) in Antarctica.

But after years of talks being stalled, and Russia and China still blocking consensus, limited marine protected areas is too little, too late for the Southern Ocean and Antarctic coastline.

“While an MPA system is laudable, the world’s oceans are in crisis. Now is not the time to make small incremental changes, now is the time to take decisive action for our oceans. We need to protect the entire Southern Ocean, the Antarctica coastlines, and the sub-Antarctic islands. That’s why we are calling for an end to all fishing in the Southern Ocean” said Alistair Allan, Antarctic campaigner at the Bob Brown Foundation.

“Today, ironically, while there are news stories about protecting the Antarctic, the Australian longline vessel Antarctic Aurora arrived in Hobart. After setting 60,000 hooks on kilometres of line in the Southern Ocean, this ship is returning to unload its catch of Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish. Unbelievably, this is deemed ‘sustainable’ by Australia and under the current CCAMLR system.”

“We shouldn’t forget that the Australian government spent untold amounts, that they will not disclose, to do everything they could to stall the Great Barrier Reef as being listed “In Danger”. They want to drill for gas off the coasts of NSW and VIC and continue to approve new coal mines, rushing us ever closer to irreversible climate change. With krill hatch rates projected to drop by as much as 50% due to global warming, and with huge factory trawlers hoovering them up in the Antarctic despite krill being the foundation of the Antarctic ecosystem, a series of MPAs is not going to cut it. We need to protect the entire Southern Ocean and end all fishing in Antarctica to give it a fighting chance.”

Tasmanians should not tolerate the destruction of our much loved places because Minister Guy Barnett wants antlers over the fireplace, Christine Milne said submitting Bob Brown Foundation's submission to the Tasmanian government's proposed wildlife regulations.

"The Tasmanian government must drop its colonial nostalgia and join the 21st Century by removing the 'partly protected' status of deer. This is the critical first step in dealing with feral deer as the pest they are. Their numbers must be drastically reduced by managing them in an invasive species, pest animal, biosecurity framework, not as a hunting resource," said Christine Milne AO, BBF Board member.

"Feral deer are pest animals and are already in the Walls of Jerusalem (TWWHA) and throughout the Central Plateau and have progressed into the Douglas Apsley and Freycinet National Parks. They now number over 100,000 animals and are coming to a place near you. Don’t be surprised when they turn up at Cradle Mountain. They are on Bruny Island, have been sighted in Knocklofty Reserve in Hobart, right next to the West Tamar Highway in Launceston, and are in plague proportions in the Legana area. It is only a matter of time before there is a major vehicle accident

Feral deer are not Bambi. They are not native to Australia and were introduced at the same time as gorse and rabbits to make colonists feel at home. They inhibit fire recovery, they trample cushion plants, they browse and ringbark trees, they destroy fences and crops and are costing Tasmanian farmers $80 million a year, " concluded Christine Milne.

Copy of submission

Tasmania’s Bob Brown Foundation has joined the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre in calling for the return of the takayna temperate rainforests to the palawa people, following yesterday’s announcement of the return of the Daintree tropical rainforests to their Indigenous owners.

“With Premier Gutwein looking to a treaty with the Tasmanian Aboriginal community, returning takayna would help fit the bill,” Bob Brown said today. Brown has previously called for the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area to be handed back. His foundation has repeatedly said that the takayna/ Tarkine should be nominated for World Heritage.

“So far we’ve heard a lot of talk from the Premier about forming a Treaty with Aborigines and righting the wrongs of the past, but talk is all it has been. We are still a landless, dispossessed, and oppressed people, we want to see some action. The Premier should take a leaf out the book of the Queensland Government, who have recently announced the return of Daintree national park to the traditional owners. We call on Peter Gutwein to stop twiddling his fingers and return takayna and the TWWHA to the people it was stolen from; the palawa people of lutruwita," said Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre's Nala Mansell

According to the Guardian today, the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people will take formal ownership of the world heritage-listed Daintree tropical rainforest in northern Australia, after the Indigenous traditional owners reached a historic deal with the Queensland government. The Daintree national park is part of 160,108 hectares (395,467 acres) of land that will be handed back to the traditional owners at a ceremony on Wednesday at Bloomfield, north of Wujal Wujal. The handback will see the world’s oldest tropical rainforest join Australian landmarks such as Uluru and Kakadu, where First Nations peoples are the custodians of UNESCO world heritage-listed sites.

Today’s revelation of a federal-state Liberals agreement for Tasmanian fish farming to expand beyond the five-kilometre state jurisdiction into Commonwealth waters confirms the secret maps made public by Neighbours of Fish Farming at the Cygnet Town Hall meeting nine days ago, Bob Brown said in Cygnet this afternoon.

“While the premier and other politicians said no such maps exist, this announcement says that they do. The government politicians have been forced into endorsing this astonishing expansion long before they otherwise would have. This agreement is politicians going behind the public’s back, at the behest of the salmon companies and the out-of-state billionaires lining up to take them over, to steal Tasmania’s publicly-owned oceans.

The plan is to bring enormous fish pens using Norwegian design, and manufactured in Chinese shipyards, to Tasmania to seize our offshore waters for industrial fish farming, wind farms, and potential hydrogen production - massive integrated off-shore factories - with no public consultation. This is politicians colluding against the Tasmanian public interest with a disgusting disdain for the people who will bear the burden of environmental, lifestyle, and scenic degradation coming down the line.

Duniam and Barnett have treated their fellow Tasmanians with contempt. It took community group Neighbours of Fish Farming to force this monumental plot to exploit Tasmania’s seas out into the open," said Bob Brown.

Bob Brown Foundation has called on the Federal Environment Minister to explain the shifting of unlawful activities out of the scope of the assessment of a proposed acidic heavy metals tailings dam in the takayna/Tarkine rainforest by Chinese state owned Mineral and Metals Group.

In May, the Bob Brown Foundation sounded the alarm that MMG had commenced activities without federal environment approvals, leading to the company removing machines from the site after 60 days of protests and 70 arrests against the proposal.

"Here we have confirmation that MMG were in breach of national environment laws. But instead of prosecuting MMG, the Commonwealth is colluding with the company to step around inconvenient aspects of our environment laws", said Bob Brown Foundation takayna/Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.

The roading activity and preparation for geotechnical drilling had commenced prior to approval, and as such were unlawful. Approvals have still not been granted. Though illegal the Minster did not intervene after the miner had commenced work.

“MMG did the wrong thing and better not do it again. The Federal Environment Minister needs to take action on the company for their previous damage done,” Scott Jordan said.

"The activity by MMG impacted federally listed Brookers Gum, and we contend impacted on Masked Owl habitat. The Minister is choosing to remove the illegal, unapproved activity from the assessment and then pretending that the activities are not part of the controlled action and therefore not requiring assessment. This is not how the EPBC Act is meant to work," said Mr Jordan

"MMG still faces more hurdles before it can return to destroy rainforests in takayna / Tarkine. We will be back in the rainforests with the public to defend these National and World Heritage value rainforests if MMG attempts to move machines back in. MMG have a solemn commitment to give BBF seven days’ notice before it does any new work in takayna/ Tarkine,”

“Bob Brown Foundation favours paste filling the tailings back into the empty shafts of the Rosebery mine site. We also note that company is raising their current tailings dams to afford it more time,” Scott Jordan said.

EPBC notice

Bob Brown Foundation is calling for Tasmania’s anti-protest laws to be scrapped, with a demonstration today in Hobart.

A group will be raising awareness in the Hobart CBD this morning, dressed as silenced, restrained prisoners, while a state minister and industry representative make deals behind their backs. The prisoners will represent the diverse range of people, including teachers, students, parents and managers, who will be affected by these harsh laws.

“As five people appear in Hobart’s Magistrate court this morning for protests in takayna, this demonstration is to oppose the government’s unnecessary and draconian anti-protest laws. Police already have numerous powers to remove and charge people engaged in non-violent direct actions in Tasmania and activists can face jail terms for non-violent action. These new anti-protest laws are unnecessary, harsh and excessive,” Bob Brown Foundation's Jenny Weber said today.

"The right to protest is fundamental to a robust democracy. From land rights, the environment, equality and workers’ rights, peaceful protest has been an integral part of Australia’s healthy democracy. Peaceful protests have protected Tasmania’s outstanding wild places, including the Franklin River, Styx Valley of the Giants and wildlife-rich native forests around the state, along with the jobs, economic activity and public amenity they provide.

Public submissions on the proposed legislation close tomorrow, and we have already seen over 2700 submissions opposing these laws.  It’s vital that people know the government is wasting taxpayers' money and parliamentary time with this attack on democracy,” Ms Weber said.

People can join the campaign to halt these draconian laws here: https://globalvoices.good.do/raiseyourvoicefordemocracy/raiseyourvoicefordemocracy/

After alarming new data shows major Koala population decline across their habitats, one of Australia's most iconic book characters, Blinky Bill has joined our national campaign to end native forest logging across Australia. Our Foundation is ramping up our campaign for Koala protection calling for an end to native forest logging.

“Protecting native forests for Koalas is a solution to the rapid decline of Australia’s international icon. Koala habitat remains threatened by logging in NSW while the Koala is on the brink of extinction. Morrison’s Federal Government and NSW Government needs to secure protection of all Koala habitat by ending native forest logging,” Bob Brown Foundation’s Koala Campaign Organiser Doro Babeck said.

"With Blinky Bill we want to rekindle the connection with generations of Australians who forged a love of Koalas and their critical forest habitat. Our campaign is a plea with Blinky’s voice that Koalas and their forest homes are being lost and need urgent protection," said Doro Babeck

"According to the latest report on Koala population figures, released by the Australian Koala Foundation, there has been a 30% decline in total population since 2018 with a 41% decline of Koalas in NSW alone. There could now be as low as 30,000 Koalas left in the wild. Logging, mining and urban sprawl are the main reasons driving the koalas to extinction. Currently, logging is occurring in NSW and Victoria in unburnt forests, containing koala habitat," Doro Babeck said.

“Australia urgently needs the protection of remaining native forests from demolition. Only 8% of Australia’s original forest cover is remaining since invasion in 1788. Just 4% of the original forest cover are protected in national parks and conservation areas,” Doro Babeck said

The majority of Australians support an end to native forest logging. A new poll commissioned by the Bob Brown Foundation found 65% of Australians support an end to native forest logging. “Providing secure protection for all Koala habitat would ensure Koalas are around for future generations of children not only in story books. Blinky Bill will inspire people to join our campaign and help save these iconic creatures," said Doro Babeck.

First published in 1933, and never been out of print since Blinky has brought stories of Australia's native animals and their lives in the forests to generations of children. Author and illustrator Dorothy Wall created the cheeky Koala character and Bob Brown Foundation is proud to have him as the face of a new call to end native forest logging and protect koalas in the wild. The Foundation has started a new crowd funding promotion to fund the campaign by producing Blinky Bill merchandise. All funds raised will be used to place Blinky Bill around NSW on billboards, street posters, and newspaper advertisements, rallying Koala protectors to join our call for an end to native forest logging and secure protection for all Koala habitat.

Bob Brown Foundation’s Blinky Bill campaign can be found at:  www.bobbrown.org.au/blinkybill

Bob Brown Foundation disputes claims that community opposition to planned tailings dam in takayna rainforest threatens the life of MMG's Rosebery mine.

"Leaving it to the last minute to create a plan for toxic waste storage dumps should not result in takayna wilderness bearing the brunt of poor planning by MMG to secure the life of their Rosebery mine. These claims, in fact, provide an insight into the reality that mining companies such as MMG and Venture Minerals have no plan at all outside short term profits," said Bob Brown Foundation's Erik Hayward.

"Let’s not forget the legacy of the recent Shree Minerals Mine at Nelson Bay River, also in takayna. Seven months in, going gets tough and we are left with a gaping hole scarring one of the most significant cultural landscapes of this ‘clean green’ island state. No attempt has been made to regenerate the area. The same will go for Riley Creek once this downturn pushes Venture off their misadventure. The scars already inflicted on MMG’s proposed tailings dam site in takayna also will take millennia to heal.”

"What MMG's chief executive Geoffrey Gao clearly does not understand is that lutruwita / Tasmania does not need its ancient landscapes wiped from the face of the earth, in order to line the Chinese government's pockets. We invite Mr Gao to join us in the threatened rainforests at his earliest convenience, to move away from the desktop projections and lines on maps to the real life forests, mountains and rivers which he is set to destroy," concluded Mr Hayward.