Three more Tasmanians have taken action this morning to protect takayna/Tarkine's rainforest from MMG's proposed heavy metals tailings dam.

North West Coast Farmer David Henderson (45) has blocked the gate preventing road access to the site. While retired Occupational Health, Safety, and Environment Manager Phil Tapper (68) and Disability Support Worker Liz Downes (43) have locked on to a loader preventing the use of that machinery.

“We rely on our clean image and environment to sell our products across Australia. Rainforests are too precious to lose and we have lost so many already. All remaining rainforests need secure protection, a priority over the profit of a Chinese Government owned company. I’m calling on the Federal Environment Minister to back a World Heritage Listing for takayna/Tarkine over the Chinese Government's profits. Make the mine move the tailings proposal out of the Tarkine", said Mr Henderson.

"I've been an occupational health and safety and environmental manager for forty years, and in that time had to develop numerous environmental management plans prior to commencing work, and I just can't understand in this beautiful old growth forest how a mining company can work without adhering to basic environmental principles", said Mr Tapper.

"I have spent 20 years of my working life on projects aimed at improving the lives of communities and protecting the environment. I’m here because we are in an ecological and climate crisis. In almost no cases is the environment considered in economic cost benefit analyses, business bottom lines, or GDP. I’m here to be one of the voices speaking up for this incredible forest and its rights to exist and thrive", said Ms Downes.

In 39 days, over 150 people have participated in protests on the proposed tailings dam site leading to 43 arrests.

A tree sit occupation continues on the site of the proposed tailings dam has been in place for 13 days

Tasmania Police have returned wildlife monitoring equipment belonging to the Bob Brown Foundation which was taken from the public Tarkine rainforest by mining company MMG. However, batteries are missing and some of the video imagery captured by the cameras has been erased.

“We ask MMG to return the missing evidence of wildlife in the forest threatened by its proposed toxic tailings dam. Either that or explain why parts of the photographic record captured by our cameras were erased,” campaign manager Jenny Weber said today.

“And I am writing to MMG to return the missing images and batteries. We are concerned that vital evidence of wildlife in Tarkine forest may have been destroyed,” she said.

The High Court rejection of a Bob Brown Foundation request to appeal against the Federal Court’s validation of Regional Forest Agreements will send shock waves through the majority of Australians who want our forests saved, Brown said today.

“The bizarre state of affairs where Commonwealth responsibility for protection of endangered species and their habitats under the EPBC Act is deferred to state agencies devoted to destroying them is upheld in this decision.”

Graeme Samuels’ October 2020 report on the EPBC Act, commissioned by this government, commences with “Australia’s natural environment and iconic places are in an overall state of decline and are under increasing threat”. Samuels recommended that the RFAs go. Environment Minister Sussan Ley rejected this along with Samuels’ recommendation that she set up an environmental police force - a green ‘cop on the beat’. Our most powerful environmentalist is destroying our most vulnerable wildlife. This is ecocide in broad daylight by the Morrison government,” Brown said.

“The RFAs are a spectacular failure in protection of forests harbouring a long list of birds, animals, insects and plants headed for extinction, including koalas, Tasmanian devils, black cockatoos and greater gliders,” Brown said.

“The Greens alone oppose the exclusion of forest logging and incineration from environmental law. The politicians, not the judges, are at fault. Voters can decide on this at the next federal election.”

“An excellent outcome of this ‘Great Forest Case’ was halting logging in swift parrot habitat on Tasmania’s Eastern Tiers in October 2020. There’s no sign it will resume.” But Brown and fellow forest defenders face Tasmanian courts in July after being arrested while halting the logging.

“Support for the ‘Great Forest Case’ has been phenomenal. The public loves its forests and understands their importance in the climate and biodiversity crises. But PM Morrison is with the chainsaws, not the public. Today’s abysmal High Court decision highlights his failure to protect the threatened iconic forests and wildlife of our nation,” Brown said.

A team of veteran cricketers from The Thylacinians have taken to the crease to defend takayna/Tarkine from MMG's proposed heavy metals tailings dam.

Pete Hay, Androo Kelly, John Button, Ian Terry, and Rod Headlam have blocked the road access to the proposed site in a show of opposition to the destruction of National and World Heritage value rainforests.

"This is my island. These magnificent forests are my heritage. I reject the claimed right by a company that is foreign-owned to priority. Especially as there are alternatives option for where to put this tailings dam", said academic, writer and former state and federal government advisor Pete Hay.

"I am trying to stop this blatant, unnecessary, and ill-founded proposal. The fact the Commonwealth have not approved the current works, speaks to the flawed process" said Tasmanian devil conservation pioneer Androo Kelly.

"In a few months I will be 70. I am entering grandfather territory. Increasingly I am concerned at the adverse impact of climate change and what this might mean to my children, their children and future generations. Over the course of my lifetime, we have collectively done our best to ruin the place, rather than provide proper stewardship", said Mr Button.

"I have been on this Earth to be a caretaker of this planet. What's happening here at MMG's proposed tailings dam site is sheer vandalism, a practice I feel I need to do something about.
", said Mr Headlam.

"I have spent ten years working in the Tasmanian bush and for 35 years it has been a significant place of recreation, renewal and spiritual growth for me. Now it is time to give something back to this same bush, to make a stand to protect what is precious to everyone, not just an international mining company", said Mr Terry.

The team was joined by volunteers from Bob Brown Foundation.

Retired Arborist Dave Cornick and former Heritage Architect Dany Pacaude locked onto each other and blocked the road preventing access to the rainforests threatened by MMG's proposed heavy metals tailings dam.

Following this morning's arrest of four protestors including academic and writer Pete Hay and Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary owner Androo Kelly.

"I am reminded of Oscar Wilde's quote 'Some people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.' The Chinese State-owners of this company don't understand the true value of this amazing environment," said Mr Cornick.

"We are doing this for the grandchildren of this world. We have to protect wilderness so that they will have a planet to live on. We must draw a line somewhere, and this is where we will draw our line", said Ms Pacaude.

Protests have continued over 38 days, with 41 arrests to date.

This morning, nature campaigners from Bob Brown Foundation scaled flag poles at the Australian Antarctic Division Headquarters in Hobart, unfurling a large banner to protest Australia’s Environment Minister Sussan Ley’s plans to build a giant concrete airport in Antarctica.

Antarctica is a natural wonder of the world — but it’s facing the threats of immediate industrialisation and climate impacts. This is a place of remarkable wild beauty dedicated to nature, peace and science,” said Dr Bob Brown.

“But Minister Sussan Ley and the Australian Antarctic Division want to build a giant destructive concrete airport in the middle of this extraordinary ecosystem.”

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the historic Antarctic Treaty coming into effect, which designated the continent as a global common for peace and science.

“Right now, Australia is attending Antarctic Treaty meetings and tabling preliminary plans for this multi-billion-dollar project, which will be built using public funds,” said Alistair Allan, Bob Brown Foundation’s Antarctic Campaigner.

“This proposed mega-airport will blast petrel rookeries, disturb penguin and seal colonies and encase this astonishing wild landscape in more than 115,000 tonnes of concrete. This disastrous project stands in stark opposition to the spirit and terms of the historic Antarctic Treaty.

“This is not the Australian Antarctic Division we as Tasmanians have come to value as part of Hobart's Antarctic connection. Director Kim Ellis needs to know that this is not what we expect from our Antarctic Division. The Antarctic Division conducts great science that contributes to a multitude of important areas, be that krill population or the effects of global warming on Antarctica. But that science is losing funding already and will be almost completely displaced by the airport construction crews for at least 10 years if this airport goes ahead. Antarctica needs more science and collaboration, not concrete and industrial infrastructure” said Alistair Allan

Elsewhere around the country, the Australian public expressed their concerns.

“With demonstrations in Melbourne, Hobart, Perth, Byron Bay, Gold Coast, Castlemaine, Albury and Bells beach, there is a growing opposition to this airport as more and more people are astounded to find out what the government is planning,” said Dr Bob Brown.

Concerned citizens across the country — from Perth to Bells Beach — have taken action today to voice their concerns with this proposal to build a giant concrete airport in Antarctica. Demonstrations have taken place in Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Castlemaine, Bells beach and Albury

“Antarctica is no place for a giant concrete airport,” said Bob Brown.

People are coming from around the nation to oppose the MMG toxic waste dump in the rainforests of takayna/Tarkine.

There are three occupations within the mine lease including a platform up a majestic sentinel tree that has been occupied for two weeks while MMG scours the site.

“It’s time for MMG to stop calling in the police to remove takayna defenders. MMG should remove their machines in Australia’s largest temperate rainforests,” said Jenny Weber.

This morning another defender - The Lorax- is suspended up a platform in an ancient Gondwanan myrtle that is attached to an MMG excavator.

And Launceston born retiree Ailsa Bennell (66) has locked on to the excavator to prevent roading and clearing of rainforests ahead of environmental approvals.

"I have returned to Tasmania after time living in the US and Africa and am disappointed that we are having the same environmental fights as when I left in 1980", said Ms Bennell.

"We share Ailsa's disappointment that after forty years of citizen action for the environment, our governments still fail to protect our wild places", said campaigner Scott Jordan.

"Our unique and treasured species like the Tasmanian Masked Owl and the Tasmanian Devil should be valued more highly than the needs of this mining corporation which admits it has other toxic waste dump options."

Bob Brown Foundation has called on mining company MMG to explain to Tasmania why they aren’t refurbishing their current tailings dams to new international standards of safety and use the current dams for their waste. Instead of their shocking intention to flatten 285 hectares of tall myrtle rainforest, ancient hollow-bearing eucalyptus forests in Tasmania’s takayna/Tarkine.

The Foundations push for MMG to leave the Tarkine comes as three first time protesters have halted destruction this morning on the site of the contentious battle for protection of rainforests. While a Treesitter remains deep in the proposed tailings dam site after one week’s occupation reclaiming the rainforests.

“This is week five of frontline actions to defend takayna, while the mining machines continue to push into the forests. We environmentalists aren’t going to cost the jobs for people of Rosebery, it’s the mining company threatening employment. Our Foundation is advocating for logical solutions to MMGs problem including reminding the company they have other options for storing tailings waste that doesn’t cost a rainforest,” Jenny Weber said

Simon Carter ( 64 retired), Stephen Newman (68 retired) and Stewart Millar (65 social worker) who have known each other for 40 years are today protesting at the takayna/Tarkine forest site. MMG’s is road building for drilling as they prepare to build a contentious tailings dam. The three Tasmanian citizens are today for the first time protesting, directing years of frustration into action.

“I've come here because I'm feeling increasingly frustrated with the lack of leadership when it comes to environmental issues. I have great fears for my children's future" said Stuart

“I have an overwhelming feeling that we should have done something in the past. Seeing young people here to save the forest is something of a lesson for us folk to learn,” Simon said.

“Our demands aren't great really, given there are other viable options for this tailings dam. This World Heritage value takayna/Tarkine should be protected,” Steve said.

Forest defenders are today halting road building in Tasmania’s takayna/Tarkine rainforests as one protester, Jai Onay, has attached himself to a machine to prevent ongoing destruction.

Chinese state owned mining company MMG wants to build a new tailings storage dam in 285 hectares of intact ancient rainforests. Bob Brown Foundation is calling for emergency protection of takayna/Tarkine as the mining company's machines continue to push in new roads.

After 35 days of protest and 34 citizens arrested for defending takayna/Tarkine, the Tasmanian Premier is failing to broker a win-win solution for Australia’s largest temperate rainforests and the Rosebery community.

“MMG’s future at Rosebery does not need to cost a rainforest. MMG have alternatives for their tailings storage that don’t require the flattening of rainforests,” Bob Brown Foundation Campaign Manager Jenny Weber said.

“While we wait for the Federal Environment Minister, Sussan Ley, to declare this proposed environmental catastrophe 'clearly unacceptable' there is ongoing damage to takayna/Tarkine right now,”

Attached to the machine, Jai Onay said, “I feel powerful, I feel strong...I feel hopeful that we'll get a very strong message to the people through these actions, that we need to save our natural environments, not put them in jeopardy. We're in some of the oldest temperate rainforests in the world, they're very precious.”

This is a rainforest emergency at a time when large tracts of intact rainforests and native forests are critical for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing the impacts of global warming, and slowing the extinction of wildlife,” Jenny Weber said

Tasmania Police has dropped an assault charge against Billy Rodwell, 23, who was jailed for three days after taking part in a peaceful protest in Tasmania’s Tarkine three weeks ago and expressed regret for his imprisonment with its consequent stress and inconvenience.

“Bob Brown Foundation welcomes this response to Billy Rodwell, from rural Victoria, who was touring Tasmania when he joined our peaceful protest against MMG’s proposed toxic tailings dam in the Tarkine rainforest. We were shocked and outraged that Billy was held in jail for three days on such an ill-founded assault charge,” Bob Brown Foundation’s Jenny Weber said.

“There is a long-held tradition of non-violent protest and our foundation is dedicated to continuing this tradition,” Jenny Weber said.

“There is a greater wrong here: this multinational miner is co-opting Tasmania Police to put a tailings dam in cathedral-like Tasmanian rainforest when it has better alternative sites,” Bob Brown said. “Premier Peter Gutwein should step in on MMG for a win-win outcome and let the police get on with their essential community work,” Bob Brown said.

Meanwhile, Billy Rodwell’s bail conditions which have detained him in Tasmania since his arrest will shortly be dropped. After bail conditions are dropped Billy is now free to go home to Victoria and see his family.

Copy of Tasmania Police letter of apology