As federal Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley meets Bob Brown in the north Tarkine rainforests this morning, a new group of Bob Brown Foundation Tarkine defenders has closed down mining company MMG’s roadworks to its proposed toxic waste dump in the southern part of the same forests.

Artist Billie Raffety (18) has locked herself to an excavator to prevent further destruction of rainforest by MMG.

"Sacred takayna is not the only option for this tailings dam. How dare MMG irreversibly scar 285ha of pristine rainforest", said Ms Raffety.

"takayna is the home of countless endangered species, rare flora, and ancient old growth trees. This area must be officially recognised as World Heritage Value, and must be returned to the palawa people. As citizens living on stolen land, we cannot allow large corporations to control our future".

Billie has joined with the 53 others who have risked arrest over the past 45 days to stop MMG's proposed tailings dam.

"As a young Tasmanian, Billie represents the future of our island state. If only our political leaders had an ounce of the courage and passion that Billie and her compatriots have shown this tailings dam proposal would be a thing of the past"' said Bob Brown Foundation takayna/Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.

“Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley will meet environmentalist leader Bob Brown on Thursday as she prepares to make a call which could be crucial to the future of the Rosebery Mine.

Ms Ley flew into Tasmania on Wednesday and met representatives of mine owner MMG at Rosebery. MMG has been targeted for weeks by environmentalists led by the Bob Brown Foundation who are arguing against the company's proposed site for a new tailings storage facility, saying it includes precious Tarkine rainforest.

Ms Ley said she "absolutely" had an open mind on the proposal.”

The above is from The Advocate June 30 2021.

Former Greens leader Bob Brown said he agreed with Minister Ley's office this week to keep trip confidential.

He was surprised to see that media had accompanied Minister Ley to the vinictity of Chinese-owned MMG's proposed tailings dam site in the Tarkine rainforest. It appears that Minister Ley did not go into the actual site of the dam where a Bob Brown Foundation member is in a tree platform in the rainforest.

Minister Ley's office turned down Bob Brown's request to show her the vast threatened site from the air. Brown said he is looking forward to meeting the minister in the morning.

Tasmania’s Tarkine is Australia’s largest temperate rainforest, a globally significant tract of unique rainforest, in urgent need of protection from destruction. This morning Tasmanian nurse Jacqui McElwee was arrested for blocking the road into a contentious proposed tailings dam site.

Bob Brown Foundation is accelerating emergency actions in the rainforests of takayna/Tarkine as mining company MMG claims they do not have alternatives to dump their heavy metals tailings waste than flattening the vast tract of primeval rainforest.

“A monstrous heavy metals tailings dam should not cost a rainforest. We have entered a new era with the climate and extinction crises where flattening 285 hectares of rainforest, tall eucalyptus forest and threatened species habitat is entirely unacceptable,”Bob Brown Foundation Jenny Weber said.

“This morning another team of concerned citizens carried out a protest on the access road to where MMG is building roads. Their road building has been delayed every day for six weeks by hundreds of citizens calling for protection not the destruction of the precious forests,” Jenny Weber said.

“Deep in the threatened forests is a tree sit that has been in the canopy for three weeks. Our rainforest occupation has been monitoring the forests for wildlife and broadcasting what is threatened by this toxic proposal,” Jenny Weber said.

“Our non-violent battle for takayna/Tarkine is unrelenting as this proposed tailings dam is a monstrous threat to wildlife, climate, and nature. In a time when all intact forests and threatened species habitat needs protection,” Jenny Weber said.

Contrary to Guy Barnett’s release today, an independent report written by leading energy experts Professor Bruce Mountain and Steven Percy, released last year by the Bob Brown Foundation, showed that the $3.5+ billion Marinus cable will not compete with mainland generated and stored electricity and will become a cost burden on taxpayers who will pay more overall with the project than they will without it. “If this is a producer of cheaper power, then let private enterprise pay for it. Surely the Tasmanian and Federal Liberals will follow their own philosophy and have the market sort this out, not sting ordinary Tasmanians with the risk,’ Bob Brown said today.

Protests in takayna/Tarkine continue as mining company MMG continues to push roads into Australia’s largest temperate rainforests. To date, fifty forest defenders have been arrested defending takayna/Tarkine. This morning retired medical practitioner Scott Bell (70) and retired veterinary surgeon Andrew Browne (68) are locked onto the gate, blocking the road into MMG's proposed heavy metals tailings dam site this morning.

"Yesterday marked the fiftieth protesters arrested in 42 days. Scott and Andrew are risking arrest this morning to protect Tasmania's takayna/Tarkine, a place that meets seven criteria of World Heritage Status and deserves protection," said Bob Brown Foundation Campaign Manager Jenny Weber.

"MMG has other options for their tailings dam than takayna. There is growing statewide and national pressure to protect takayna/Tarkine and for MMG to get out of this ancient rainforest." said takayna/Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordon.

“I’m here to save takayna from destruction from mining and logging for my grandchildren and their progeny to inherit," Andrew Browne said while locked on to the gate and blocking access to the site.

“I’m prepared to face the consequences of my actions because the science tells us that the relentless progression of habitat loss, species extinction, and environmental degradation means simply that we are running out of time,” said Scott Bell.

MMG has publicly stated that they have several options outside takayna/Tarkine for their tailings dam.

Two protesters arrested in Tarkine earlier today

Play for Change, a north west Tasmanian playgroup, has held a play date protest outside the office of Minister for the Environment Roger Jaensch. The group also entered the Minister's office to hand-deliver a letter calling for the protection of takayna / Tarkine.

The group hung a banner with the handprints of over 100 children and parents with the message 'Hands off our Future' in response to mining company MMG's proposal to build a heavy metals tailings dam in World Heritage worthy rainforests in takayna / Tarkine. While this morning, two women were arrested in the Tarkine after joining a protest with Bob Brown Foundation.

"Play For Change grew from a feeling of helplessness but in particular, how we as parents could come together and do our bit to secure our children's future in a peaceful, fun and engaging way. Last week, we collected the handprints of over one hundred children from Tasmania and mainland Australia in support of the current protection efforts for takayna / Tarkine. While young families can't be on the front line protecting these forests, we're still watching. Just because we don't chain ourselves to machinery or lay down in front of mining trucks, doesn't mean we won't voice our objection to what seems senseless destruction of pristine wilderness," said Play for Change founder Ashleigh Loubser. Play for Change was formed to allow parents of young children to have a voice on environment issues.

"Tasmanians should be fiercely protecting one of this state's greatest natural assets, not only for future generations to enjoy but also to guard ourselves against the climate emergency we're currently facing. We want our children to experience first-hand the beauty of this region, not read about it in history books. We want this state and its ancient forests, majestic mountains and wild coastlines to remain the envy of the world. The ‘who’ and ‘why’ doesn't matter to us – no one should have the right to touch these ancient landscapes.”

“As a mother of two young girls, I find myself asking what kind of parent would I be if I didn't fight for this? What kind of example are we setting for our children if we allow this to happen? When my children and grandchildren ask me one day what I did to protect our community against climate change, I want to be able to say I did everything I could," said Ms Loubser.

Bob Brown Foundation supports the stand made by Play for Change.

"This is a great initiative giving parents of young children a voice in issues affecting the future of the planet. We are thrilled that Play for Change has chosen to stand up for takayna / Tarkine on behalf of their children," said Bob Brown Foundation takayna /Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.

Contrary to Guy Barnett’s release today, an independent report written by leading energy experts Professor Bruce Mountain and Steven Percy, released last year by the Bob Brown Foundation, showed that the $3.5+ billion Marinus cable will not compete with mainland generated and stored electricity and will become a cost burden on taxpayers who will pay more overall with the project than they will without it. “If this is a producer of cheaper power, then let private enterprise pay for it. Surely the Tasmanian and Federal Liberals will follow their own philosophy and have the market sort this out, not sting ordinary Tasmanians with the risk,’ Bob Brown said today.

Copy of report

Protests in takayna/Tarkine are entering week six as mining company MMG continues to push roads into Australia’s largest temperate rainforests despite unrelenting opposition from hundreds of people.

Retired maternal health nurse Judith Coram (71) and farmer Cate Mettam (65) are today’s protestors blocking the road into MMG's proposed heavy metals tailings dam site in takayna/Tarkine.

"Judith and Cate will risk arrest this morning, joining the 48 brave citizens who have already been arrested in the past 41 days. Every day more and more people are joining this campaign to defend these ancient rainforests against this obscene and unnecessary destruction", said takayna/Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.

"MMG can and must cease work in takayna. MMG has been urged to explore its options outside takayna/Tarkine rainforest. Until they do, resistance will continue to grow and disruptions will continue that slow down their destructive operations in the rainforest".

“My birthday gift to my grandson whose birthday is today is to be here to protect takayna, so he can experience the magic of this place in the future,” Cate Mettam said today while protesting.

“I remember very well the impacts of the peaceful protest for the Franklin River and I believe this majestic takayna/Tarkine is equally as important. This takayna/Tarkine needs to be recognized for its world heritage values. This is the first time I’ve participated in an active protest and I am very incensed by the lack of vision and disregard by our politicians to preserve takayna/Tarkine for future generations,” said Judith Coram, while locked onto Cate on the access road to MMGs proposed tailings dam.

MMG has publicly stated that they have several options outside takayna/Tarkine for their tailings dam.

Bob Brown Foundation will launch into a new campaign to protect Tasmania’s marine environment from the scourge of Toxic industrial-scale fish farms in Tasmania and climate change. Advertising for a new Fish Farms and Marine Campaigner, the Foundation is expanding its campaigns focused on native forests, takayna/Tarkine, the coal-mining giant Adani, and Antarctica.

“Our foundation’s campaigner will take on industrial fish farming’s impacts and advocate for increased protection for the island’s marine environment,” BBF’s Campaign Manager Jenny Weber said.

“As Richard Flanagan’s best-selling book ‘TOXIC’ has revealed, Atlantic salmon farming in its current form is threatening marine biodiversity and polluting Tasmania’s oceans, coastlines, riverine ecosystems. The government-proposed expansion of fish farms in Storm Bay and along the Northwest Coast needs to be reversed, including cleaning up Macquarie Harbour,” Jenny Weber said.

“Brand Tasmania is being marred internationally by revelations of tortured seals, killed birdlife and polluted habitat of rare fish while this island’s dedication of marine parks is far less than comparable places like New Zealand. We will be campaigning to raise Tasmania’s marine protection status,” Jenny Weber said

Bob Brown Foundation’s largest non violent direct action campaign has resulted in forty eight citizens arrested, with seventeen in this last week. Our Foundation is calling for protection of takayna/Tarkine and mining company MMG to abandon shocking plans to build a heavy metals tailings dam in rainforests.

Following the arrests of three people, this morning protesters re-entered the site this afternoon resulting in two more arrests.

Occupational Therapist Ashlee Marano (34) and mother and musician Kellie Watkins (43) were arrested in the early afternoon after blocking road access to the site.

"I don't have any animosity towards MMG workers. Everyone deserves to make a living and I don't want to shut down the mine. I just want Minister Sussan Ley and the decision makers at MMG to deposit their toxic waste somewhere that doesn't involve the destruction of 285 hectares of ancient rainforest", said Ms Marano.

"As a mother, I am here today because I have a voice and I need to speak up, to represent all the youth. Their global grief is too much for me to be bear, so I sing peacefully in protest. Grow strong, Grow tall, Grow older, we will not let you fall", said Ms Watkins.

"Members of the public are flocking to the defence of these ancient rainforests. MMG should take note that this project does not have, and will not have a social license", said Bob Brown Foundation takayna/Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.