Environmentalist and former Greens leader Bob Brown has welcomed the appointment of senior Labor MP Tanya Plibersek as the next Minister for the Environment and Water.

“Tanya Plibersek is probably the most senior political figure to take the environment portfolio since Graham Richardson in the Hawke government era,” Bob Brown said tonight. “It is a sign that the Albanese government is taking the environment seriously in this age of biospheric breakdown and mass extinction which threatens everyone’s future.”

“We have written to Minister Plibersek inviting her to see the World Heritage value takayna/Tarkine wilderness in northwest Tasmania which includes the nation’s largest temperate rainforest and rich Aboriginal heritage,” said Bob Brown Foundation’s Campaign Manager Jenny Weber. “Of immediate concern is a completely unnecessary toxic waste dump proposed in the rainforest for which mining giant MMG has prudent and feasible options outside the Tarkine: the minister needs to make that decision by 10 June. We look forward to the rainforest being saved.”

Forest defenders have re-entered the rainforests to prevent MMG's plans for a toxic, heavy metals tailings waste dump in southern takayna / Tarkine.

Artist Jo Wilmot (61) is preventing access to the threatened forests by occupying a blockade structure on Helilog road.

“It has been an honour and a privilege to spend the night here in defence of this magnificent place, listening to the cries of the Masked Owl. Their future, our future, depends on this living breathing place," said Jo Wilmot.

“Today we will have a new Environment Minister. The public will be urging the new Minister to act fast to protect takayna from mining threats and the tailings dam proposed by Chinese state owned MMG,” Bob Brown Foundation’s takayna / Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan said.

“This will be an opportunity for the incoming Minister to show their Government's mettle on the environment. Will they side with the planet and its defenders or will they side with the Chinese Government owned miner who is right now ignoring Australian environment laws and illegally working without EPBC permits," said Scott Jordan.

Two people were arrested yesterday holding MMG out of their illegal roadworks. These illegal works commenced 22 days ago with no action or prosecution forthcoming under the previous government.

Bob Brown Foundation is calling for miner MMG to leave takayna / Tarkine after two protestors were arrested today defending the rainforests and critical breeding Masked Owl habitat from a proposed heavy metals tailings waste dump.

Two peaceful protestors have been arrested and released on bail after spending the day in a tree sit and atop a tripod preventing illegal roadworks in takayna /Tarkine today. Machines were prevented from continuing illegal activity for 8 hours. Tasmania Police used move on powers to clear the public forests so miner MMG could proceed with the controversial activity.

“We have a stacked deck here. MMG can illegally progress roadworks for its proposed toxic, heavy metals tailings dam with impunity while citizens standing in the way of these machines face arrest and convictions”, said Bob Brown Foundation takayna / Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.

“If only our government would channel a small part of its enthusiasm for prosecuting peaceful protestors into enforcing environmental laws then maybe the MMGs of the world would be inclined to treat environmental laws as optional”.

“It is unfair that we seem to have two very different standards at play. There is still time to save the rainforests and protect the breeding habitat for the Tasmanian Masked Owls. MMG has a viable option to build a paste-fill plant at their Rosebery mine site, the Owls have no alternative,” Scott Jordan said.

The roadworks on Helilog Road were referred for EPBC assessment (2021/8909) in May 2021, and are awaiting MMG’s submission of an Environmental Impact Statement for final assessment. The assessment will assess impacts on Tasmanian Devil, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Wedge-tail Eagle and Tasmanian Masked Owl. A separate EPBC permit was granted for drilling and trackworks, however, this permit is currently subject to a reconsideration after the former Environment Minister received new evidence from Bob Brown Foundation demonstrating the presence of Tasmanian Masked Owl on the site despite the company claiming the contrary.

Forest defenders have returned to prevent MMG’s continued illegal roadworks connected to their proposed toxic heavy metals tailings dam in takayna / Tarkine.
 
Tree sitter Tobias Linz 28, has occupied a tree sit, and wildlife veterinarian Colette Harmsen, 46 is suspended from a tripod to prevent access to the site.
 
“Today we are in takayna / Tarkine to peacefully protest MMG’s new tailings dam. Ongoing works are being heavily scrutinised and we are here to stand up for the animals of the forest - we are their voice,” said Ms Harmsen.

“Our Foundation has repeatedly asked MMG to desist from these illegal works. They do not have an EPBC permit for these works which are still under assessment”, said Bob Brown Foundation Campaign Coordinator Scott Jordan.
 
“It is outrageous that they can continue to act without EPBC permits with impunity and so again it falls to citizens to stand against this.”
 
“This is not MMG’s first offence. They commenced work last year without permits and were not prosecuted. Clearly, they think that in the post-election absence of an Environment Minister they are likely to get away with it again.”
 
The roadworks on Helilog Road were referred for EPBC assessment (2021/8909) in May 2021 and are awaiting MMG’s submission of an Environmental Impact Statement for final assessment. The assessment will consider impacts on the Tasmanian Devil, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Wedge-tail Eagle and Tasmanian Masked Owl. A separate EPBC permit was granted for drilling and track works, however, this permit is currently subject to a reconsideration after the former Environment Minister received new evidence from Bob Brown Foundation demonstrating the presence of the Tasmanian Masked Owl on the site, despite the company claims to the contrary. 

“The Tasmanian Labor Party has voted with the Liberal Government to silence community protest. What a shameless betrayal of a movement once built on protest,” Scott Jordan, Bob Brown Foundation takayna / Tarkine campaigner said.

“What a dark day for democracy. In what could have been a day for progressive Tasmanian parliament after Premier Rockliff announced increasing parliament members to 35. However, it’s been overtaken Premier Rockliff legislating draconian anti-protest laws - unamended - through House of Assembly,” Jenny Weber said.

“We shall continue to protest for planet Earth. From Australia’s largest temperate rainforests threatened by mining, logging and a heavy metals tailings waste dump to Tasmania’s stunning coastlines and oceans being polluted by the toxic salmon industry. To the climate heroes, the native forests that are critical carbon storehouses and home to critically endangered wildlife,” Jenny Weber said.

“This legislation was for nature’s destroyers, not the citizens who stand up to defend it with a proud history of non-violence and peace,” Jenny Weber said.

“Dangerous misleading comments by politicians in the debate need to be corrected. Tasmania Police are well aware that our protesters are trained in non-violent direct action, and use de-escalation techniques to maintain safety in our protests. None of these tactics has had safety impacts on workers,” Jenny Weber said

The long-awaited Tasmanian upper house report into fin fish farming comprehensively outlines a litany of issues about the toxic salmon industry but doesn't go far enough in its recommendations.

The inquiry’s findings state there have been “challenges with the state being an enthusiastic promoter and supporter of the industry”, “general community disquiet and discontent” and "lack of accountability and transparency.” It also mentions “a high level of concern for environmental harm caused by the industry.”

"The Tasmanians labelled 'dark forces' by former primary industries minister Guy Barnett, who have spoken out over the years against the salmon industry, will feel validated by this report which outlines a litany of problems with the industry," said Bec Howarth, Fish Farms and Marine Campaigner at Bob Brown Foundation.

"They deserve an apology from the Tasmanian government and Mr Barnett."

"This report makes some important recommendations but it doesn’t go far enough to ensure adequate protection for Tasmanian waterways and marine life into the future. We support the committee calling for the reduction of coastal fish farming sites and prioritising removing pens from sensitive, sheltered and biodiverse habitats."

"Premier Rockliff’s government needs to act and fix this mess that they have allowed the toxic salmon industry to create in Tasmania’s coastal waters. We call on the Premier to implement the inquiry’s recommendations. The government needs to go further than this. The tabling of this report for the public has been delayed so the situation has got worse in the waters, for the wildlife and communities. We are calling for our government to truly prioritise Tasmania's marine environment by ordering all salmon pens out of Tasmania’s waters entirely."

This morning, fifteen people held an end native forest logging protest at the entrance to the Artec woodchip mill in northern Tasmania. During a peaceful walk-in to the woodchip mill, a number of protesters were harassed by employees of Artec, including one young woman being knocked to the ground by an Artec representative.

“In the history of Tasmania’s forest protection movement, it is always the peaceful forest protectors who are victims of harassment and threats to safety. It is unacceptable. A young woman was knocked to the ground by a representative of Artec woodchipping company today while participating in a peaceful protest about the ongoing loss of wildlife-rich native forests that are our planet’s rich carbon storehouses,” Bob Brown Foundation’s Campaign Manager Jenny Weber said.

“The daily line of trucks into the Artec woodchip mill come from across the state’s native forests and churned into hundreds of thousands of tons of woodchips. These smashed forests include the precious ancient forests of Wentworth Hills and habitat for critically endangered Swift Parrots in the Eastern Tiers. They are all rich carbon stores and only provide benefit to mitigating climate change when left standing,” Bob Brown Foundation’s Campaigner Erik Hayward said.

Prime Minister Morrison and Opposition Leader Albanese will today be delivered 45 000 signatures from Australians calling for an end to native forest logging in Australia. The growing signatures on Bob Brown Foundation’s Native Forest Declaration will be used in the new term of government to call for the protection of the nation’s forests – critical carbon storehouses and home to countless threatened species.
“It is a popular call to our next Prime Minister to lead this nation to protect all its remaining native forests and the wildlife that are being lost to logging. 65% of Australians support an end to native forest logging on public land. Liberal and Labor voters want native forest logging to end, 72% of Labor voters and 59% of Liberal voters. Only 16% of Australians want logging destruction to continue,” Bob Brown Foundation’s Campaign Manager Jenny Weber said.

“In Sydney, we will deliver the 45 000 signatures collected from the Native Forest Declaration to both Kirribilli House and Anthony Albanese’s electorate office in Marrickville,” Bob Brown Foundation’s Campaign Manager Jenny Weber said.

In northern Tasmania at the state’s largest native forest woodchip mill, a non-violent disruption of the archaic woodchipping of Tasmania’s wildlife-filled forests is underway. Banner drops around the country hosted by Bob Brown Foundation supporters and allied forest groups are in Bega, Batemans Bay, Sydney, Lismore, Gold Coast, Torquay, Melbourne, Adelaide Hills and Hobart.

“We are at Artec woodchip mill in northern Tasmania to remind voters that over 90% of what is demolished in Tasmania’s wild native forests ends up here for export. It is an outrage. Every day of the year, native forests are lost to export woodchipping for paper products and, potentially, forest furnaces overseas. It is eco-devastation, runs at a loss, is subsidised by the taxpayer, removes critical climate storehouses and has been sanctioned by consecutive state and federal government orders written with the blood of endangered species and signed off with the quills of Masked Owls, Wedge-tailed Eagles and Swift Parrots,” Bob Brown Foundation Campaigner Erik Hayward said.

“Native forest logging employs far fewer people than the plantation sector and accounts for less than 1% of the workforce jobs while plantations supply almost 90% of Australia’s timber needs,” Jenny Weber said.
“Native forests need protection over the next term of government, or we will continue to fuel global warming while losing critically endangered and endangered species like Swift Parrot, Koalas and Greater Gliders,” Jenny Weber said.

14 May 2022

A large crowd of 300 turned out to Burnie's West Beach today, calling out to 'Save Bass Strait' from toxic salmon expansions. The rally, which was organised by Bob Brown Foundation and NW Tas for Clean Oceans, sent a loud and clear message to government, industry, candidates and voters that the plan to explore for salmon growing sites in Bass Strait is extremely unpopular and will harm the beloved NW coast ecology.

13 May 2022

Bob Brown Foundation has been vindicated in its assertion that the Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley's decision to allow drilling and roading works on the site of MMG's proposed tailings dam site in takayna / Tarkine was flawed, as the Minister has commenced a formal reconsideration of that decision under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.