Bob Brown Foundation is sounding the alarm for the World Heritage value takayna/Tarkine as three destructive new mining operations are marching to destroy this incredible region.

Tarkine Defenders are today demonstrating at the controversial Riley Creek mine as Tasmanian Minister for mining and logging is on site.

A demonstration has been set up at the entrance to Venture Minerals’ Riley Creek mine site. A protester has attached herself to a barrel blocking the road to prevent access to the mine site

Mining company Venture Minerals iron ore strip mine at Riley Creek is the first of three highly contentious proposed mines in the World Heritage value takayna/Tarkine.

Proceeds from Riley Creek operation will fund the development of Pilbara-scale open cut mines in heathland and rainforest at Tarkine’s Mt Livingstone and Mt Lindsay.

“New mining development in takayna/Tarkine is threatening the tourism economy that this region could greatly benefit from. The Tarkine is of World Heritage stature. It has the potential to put NW Tasmania on the global map as a place of extraordinary wild nature, generating a wealth of jobs and opportunities in the process. Instead, the Tasmanian Government is backing the destruction of Australia’s largest temperate rainforests for Venture Minerals mines and MMG’s toxic waste dump", said Campaigns Manager Jenny Weber.

Venture Minerals proposed mines will create huge scars across the takayna landscape, and irreversible damage to habitats of many threatened and endangered species.

“For the past 22 days, we have been carrying out an urgent frontline campaign on MMG’s proposed acidic heavy metals tailings dam. Today we returned to Riley Creek, the site of long held protest campaigns since the mine was setting up".

"Minister Ley has the opportunity to end this destruction and declare a National Heritage Listing over takayna/Tarkine. Until then, our campaign will continue to stand in defence of this ancient landscape".

“Protecting Australia’s largest temperate rainforests and 495 000 hectares of intact takayna with critical endangered species habitat will provide a major contribution to addressing this UN warning about the state of the planet,” Jenny Weber said.

A national opinion poll commissioned by the Australia Institute, and published today by the Bob Brown Foundation, shows a large majority of Australians will back Environment Minister Sussan Ley if she insists miner MMG uses an alternative site to the Tarkine rainforest for its next toxic tailings dam in northwest Tasmania.

The poll indicates that a 4:1 majority, including a 4:1 majority of Coalition voters, will back the minister if she saves the forest. Separate results for Tasmania were not provided due to the small sample from the state which has less than 3% of Australia’s population.

Minister Ley is due to make her critical decision by this Tuesday, 8 June, 2021. Yesterday saw a large indoor rally in Hobart opposing the toxic tailings dam site. In the last fortnight, there have been 15 arrests of peaceful protesters blockading the Chinese state-owned MMG’s machinery in the rainforest north of the Pieman River.

“It’s is must-do for the minister as this is habitat for nationally-listed species vulnerable to extinction including Tasmanian devils, quolls, giant wedge-tailed eagles and owls. The campaign to save this rainforest will grow rapidly if minister Ley fails to act,” Bob Brown said today.

Poll can be viewed here

Today marks the 18th day of protests by environmentalists opposing mining company MMG’s new proposed tailings dam in takayna/Tarkine; a proposed dam designed to hold 25 million cubic metres of toxic waste, right in the middle of pristine, World Heritage Value rainforest.

Retired public servant Frits Harmsen, 77, preventing access to roading construction and forest clearing.

"The reason I am here today is to save this large tract of temperate rainforest: firstly on behalf of my children and grandchildren, and secondly because I have felt powerless due to decisions made by successive state and federal governments without real scrutiny. I am here today because nothing else seems to be working,” said Frits Harmsen.

"Being one of a number potential sites for the new tailings dam, MMG need to move out of takayna. Instead, the company is driving machines into a vast tract of intact forests, despite immense backlash from citizens who are calling for the invaluable takayna/Tarkine area to be protected,” said Bob Brown Campaign Manager Jenny Weber.

"It is the government's duty to protect our future, and therefore our most valuable assets during this climate emergency, one of them is the carbon-rich temperate rainforests. Allowing this company to dump abrasive waste into a thriving eco-system is vandalism,” Jenny Weber said.

Returning to the same area where our blockade camp was held for 143 days, Tarkine defenders have shown we will not back down. The non violent resistance to this rainforest destruction continues.

Two weeks after apologising to Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Tasmanian Liberal Senator and Assistant Federal Minister for Forestry Jonathon Duniam has now withdrawn and apologised for false and defamatory statements he made about the Bob Brown Foundation in a Sky News interview and on his website.

Senator Duniam falsely claimed (amongst other things) that the Foundation supports
the activities of ‘dangerous activists causing harm’ by engaging in unlawful activity and that the Foundation is not an organisation formed for the purpose of lawfully pursuing environmental causes.

In his published apology the Senator states that ‘the statements I made in relation to the Foundation’s charitable status and involvement in illegal activities were false and defamatory of the Foundation. I withdraw those statements and I apologise to the Foundation for any harm that may have been caused.’ He has also agreed to pay the Foundation’s legal costs.

Former Greens leader and Foundation patron Bob Brown said:

“The Liberals’ top senator and minister from Tasmania got his facts wrong. We do not engage in criminal activity such as tree spiking. We are very active but peaceful defenders of Tasmania’s native forests and wildlife habitats, including the Tarkine. ”

“The Foundation supports the crucial work of environmentalists in an age of environmental crisis. It is deeply disappointing that a Minister would resort to making false and defamatory statements about the Foundation’s work in a nationally televised broadcast. The Foundation swiftly exercised its legal rights to correct the record. It will not hesitate to do so again.”

Meanwhile Tasmania Police has not found who was responsible for alleged incidents in tree spiking in central Tasmania last year. The investigation is now closed.

The Senator’s apology will be published on his website for at least 14 days.

https://duniam.com.au/

https://twitter.com/DuniamJonathon/status/1400335830573457409/photo/1

Senator Duniam had previously apologised to Senator Hanson-Young for comments made during the same programme. See below:

APOLOGY TO SENATOR SARAH HANSON-YOUNG
On 20 April 2021, I participated in an interview on Sky News with Rita Panahi concerning an anti-logging protest.
During that interview I made some allegations about Senator Sarah Hanson-Young. I accept that the claims made about Senator Hanson-Young during that interview were
false and defamatory.
I unconditionally withdraw those claims and unreservedly apologise to Sarah Hanson-Young for the hurt and offense caused to her by reason of my conduct.

As the deadline looms for Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley to declare an Emergency National Heritage Listing over takayna/Tarkine, protestors have stopped machinery for the seventeenth day in a row.

"takayna/Tarkine deserves National Heritage protection, not toxic, acid producing tailings dams", said takayna/Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.

"Minister Ley has a choice that will define her takayna legacy. She can back the 2012 recommendation of the Australian Heritage Council and apply a heritage listing, or she can hand it over as a waste dump for a Chinese state-owned mining company".

Protestor Harrison Vermont (29) has locked on to mining machinery to prevent ongoing clearing and roading in rainforest.

"I am here putting myself on the line to protect takayna/Tarkine, and believe that these old growth forests have amongst the highest carbon density and carbon stores on Earth", said Harrison.

"I fear for my future and that MMG mining is allowed to replace this forest with dead Earth and heavy metals leaching into the Pieman river. I have no faith that MMG cares one ounce for people or the environment. We can not lose this patch of forest, and I am determined to fight for a brighter future. It is time to demand change".

Bob Brown Foundation nominated takayna/Tarkine for Emergency National Heritage Listing on 20th May 2021.

Protestors have re-entered the site of MMG's proposed toxic tailings dam to prevent the further clearing of rainforest and road building in takayna / Tarkine.

Student Tzigane Scholz-Talbot (25) has locked on to mining equipment to prevent its use. Tzigane is studying natural Environment and Wilderness at UTAS.

Tzigane has immobilised a machine with her peaceful action. Every day, dozens of tons of roading rock are being imported onto the site by trucks to pave the way for this monstrosity of a waste dump.

"On the sixteenth day since the invasion by MMG into takayna / Tarkine, another brave defender has taken a stand to protect these majestic forests and halt the assault on wilderness,” said takayna / Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.

“This devastation is happening under the guise of minimum impact assessment drilling, yet full heavy-class roads are being pushed into areas that have been undisturbed for over 10,000 years.”

"I hope this Chinese state-owned company is hearing loud and clear that ordinary citizens will not compromise in our defence of this National and World Heritage value landscape."

"As a signatory to the World Heritage Convention, with 14 World Heritage sites, the Chinese Government should insist on the removal of rainforest-destroying machines from the recognised World Heritage value takayna / Tarkine."

"We are urging Tasmania’s and Australia’s government to change tack and provide urgent protection of takayna / Tarkine", Scott Jordan said.

Protests at the proposed site of a tailings dam in takayna/Tarkine have entered a third week.

The Bob Brown Foundation's peaceful protest was visited this morning by state MP's Cassy O'Connor and Rosalie Woodruff.

"People are flocking to this site to stand against this destructive and unnecessary attack on the National and World Heritage values of takayna/Tarkine", said takayna/Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.

"Australians want this area protected, not plundered".

 Gabby Knox (26) has chained herself to a gate preventing access to machinery used in clearing rainforest.

"I'm 26, I'm a zoology graduate, vet nurse, and wildlife carer. I'm passionate about conservation of our threatened species particularly in our rainforests which are currently being destroyed", said Gabby.

"In this day and age, we should not still have to be fighting for the protection of our precious ecosystems. We are so lucky in tassie to have one of the largest cool temperate rainforests in the world and it is absolutely necessary that this space be protected".

This is day 15 of daily protests against MMG mining company clearing of rainforests for geotechnical drilling.

Bob Brown Foundation has welcomed the release of Billy Rodwell from gaol while continuing to pursue Premier Gutwein about why this shocking and heavy-handed incarceration was allowed.

Meantime, protesters are back in takayna / Tarkine, blocking the access road to the mine site and planting a native myrtle in the hope that it will be there in 500 years, protected in a World Heritage Area.

“Only Premier Gutwein knows why Billy was treated so harshly. Billy Rodwell shouldn’t have been held on remand and should have been released from the police station on Friday. We are relieved he has his freedom again,” Bob Brown Foundation Campaign Manager Jenny Weber said.

“Questions need to be asked of Tasmania Police including why such an outrageous, ill-conceived gaoling of a young man for his first offences was carried out. What we have just witnessed from Tasmania Police, the government and MMG employees – the intimidation and bullying of a young environmentalist – has strengthened our resolve,” Jenny Weber said.

“Billy Rodwell has made a stand for the planet in our Tarkine rainforests. He is a sign of things to come,” Bob Brown said

“Young Australians everywhere will be proud of him,” Bob Brown said.

“I’m a bushwalking guide and have worked in the Tarkine for many years. After days of walking through pristine forest, the guests are confronted with the ongoing destruction of the Tarkine. 'How do we not know about this?', is their usual cry. Australians know more about the illegal destruction of the Amazon than the state-sanctioned logging of Tasmanian’s old-growth rainforest,” said Jef Donald, a Tarkine Defender currently protesting in the rainforest.

Bob Brown Foundation will not back down from the defence of these rainforests. We will not succumb to police intimidation tactics, and this action today is one stand of many to come until the bulldozers are out of takayna / Tarkine.

Bob Brown has today shown support for gaoled Tarkine defender Billy Rodwell.

Billy Rodwell is being held in Launceston’s remand centre before he appears in the Magistrates court on Monday. The police have charged him with “pushing a gate into” the security guard twice. Tasmania police statement says the security guard was uninjured.

“Young Billy has been jailed for three days for an alleged offence in which no one was injured. That offence is denied. The police had all day Friday to bring him before a magistrate and did not,” Bob Brown said.

“First the government has vilified the peaceful environmental defenders of the Tarkine as ‘radical extremists’ which is completely untrue. Now we are seeing efforts to falsely make out that these good citizens, standing up for our heirloom forests, are not peaceful.

This is a cowardly process in which the men in power know they cannot win the environmental argument in public so are aiming to falsely vilify and or jail the environmentalists,” Bob Brown said.

“Premier Gutwein should be ashamed of the whole tawdry process. The Gutwein government is using workers as fodder to cover up for this multinational company's push to dump its toxic waste in the Tarkine rainforest. We will not be coerced in this way”, Bob Brown said.

“Saving the Tarkine rainforests and wildlife is essential for Tasmania in this age of climate emergency and the catastrophic global extinction crisis, especially when MMG admits it has other places to put its toxic wastes,” Bob Brown said.