Police have again arrived on the site of the protest blockade against Chinese state-owned miner MMG’s planned toxic heavy metals tailings dam in takayna / Tarkine.

“Despite evidence tendered in court by experts that MMG’s plans would harm the endangered Tasmanian Masked Owl, they continue to pursue their plan that will destroy 142 Melbourne Cricket Grounds of rainforest and melaleuca forest in an area of verified World Heritage significance,” said Bob Brown Foundation takayna / Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.

“Under MMG’s farcical undertakings accepted by the court, drilling rigs producing noise levels equivalent to an aircraft at take-off would be allowed to operate just fifteen metres from a Masked Owl nest. We will stand up for the owls.”

“As we have done for the last 15 months, we will stand with citizens to prevent MMG from entering this site.”

This morning, MMG has been met by retired veterinary surgeon Andrew Browne (69) blocking the road and tree sitter Kevin Vaughan (73) suspended by a line attached to the roadway.”

“I am here to stop MMG putting a toxic tailings dam in takayna / Tarkine”, said Mr Browne.

“I am protecting takayna for future generations to enjoy, by helping to prevent the construction of this toxic tailings dam,” said Mr Vaughan.

The Tasmanian Government’s continued destruction of native forests, including the appalling air pollution last week from post-logging burns, will continue to face protests as they attempt to cover-up their illegal logging that has been wiping out huge tracts of wildlife-rich carbon storehouses for decades.

“This is new Liberal Premier Rockliff showing he has no brain of his own when it comes to Tasmania’s forests, wildlife and wilderness. No change from Gutwein or Hodgman. No new idea. No consultation. Dancing on the corporate lobbyists’ strings. It will simply lead to bigger peaceful defence efforts by environmental protectors,” Bob Brown said.

“Tasmania’s government has been forced to admit that native forest logging in Tasmania has been illegal since the mid-1980s. Hundreds of thousands of hectares of ancient forests and their wildlife have been bulldozed and burnt under this corrupt system. Logging of Tasmania’s wildlife-filled forests without proper authorisation is a crime. The minister is proposing to backdate laws to cover up criminal behaviour by Forestry Tasmania,” Bob Brown Foundation’s Jenny Weber said.

The Federal Court has declined Bob Brown Foundation’s application for a stay of execution for the Pieman River rainforest in southern takayna, and the breeding Masked Owls that rely on this precious habitat for hollows and hunting grounds.

“This finding reminds us that the EPBC Act is a farce. If a Masked Owl is not safe from this proposal in takayna / Tarkine, and it is not, then it is not safe anywhere,” Campaign Manager Jenny Weber said.

“If these new roads and forest destruction go ahead in the coming months it is because Australia’s Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley has backed a mining company to dump their heavy metals tailings waste in Australia’s largest temperate rainforests, when the company has a viable alternative that doesn’t cost the rainforests or Masked Owl habitat,” Jenny Weber said.

“We are now left with the protest option to continue to hold MMG out of takayna’s forests and Tasmanian Masked Owl habitat at an inconvenience to hundreds of citizens who will take a stand for this ancient pocket of takayna.”

“With MMG’s ‘undertakings’ to the court, we cannot see how they can ever build the new heavy metals waste dump.”

While an appeal against the Commonwealth approvals will not be heard until 19 July, today’s judgement dealt with an application from Bob Brown Foundation for an injunction to prevent Chinese state-owned miner MMG from pushing ahead with roading, clearing and drilling for its proposed toxic, acid-producing heavy metals tailings dam.

“While we wait for the Federal court to hear our case in July, MMG continues to pursue access to the threatened forests which are habitat for the endangered Masked Owl, Wedge-tailed Eagle and Tasmanian Devil.”

“This company has an excellent alternative and the Tasmanian Masked Owl has none. Every day MMG are in takayna’s forests is one day closer to destruction of these forests.”

“If we fail to stop them, MMG will level 285 hectares of rainforest and melaleuca forest to flood it with 25 million cubic metres of toxic, acid-producing heavy metals tailings. We are all that stand in the way of this senseless destruction. We urgently need people on the ground to hold our blockade and critical habitat intact,” Jenny Weber said.

29 April 2022

The Federal Court has reserved its decision on a stay of execution for the Pieman River rainforest in southern takayna and the breeding Masked Owls that rely on this precious habitat for hollows and hunting grounds. The Federal Court today heard Bob Brown Foundation’s application for an injunction in their case against the Federal Environment Minister.

19 April 2022

Despite Tasmania Police arriving at Bob Brown Foundation’s ongoing blockade of MMG’s proposed tailings dam this morning, 13 protesters remain in place.

UTAS must rule out native forest logging in Prime Minister’s ‘Innovation’ hub

“PM Morrison’s backing of wholesale ongoing native forest destruction across Australia is far to the right of John Howard, who at least promised to protect the Tarkine rainforest in Tasmania,” Brown said today.

“Morrison’s policy is driving a range of Australian iconic species to extinction including Koalas, Swift Parrots, Masked Owls and Leadbeater’s Possum, Greater Gliders and Black Cockatoos,” Bob Brown said.

“There is nothing innovative about logging native forests in a climate and biodiversity crises. Native forests are a critical solution to mitigating these crises, as Australians face increasing bushfires and floods,” Jenny Weber said.

Bob Brown Foundation is calling on University of Tasmania (UTAS) to rule out native forest logging in their federal government-funded logging ‘innovation’ hub.

Today’s announcement is delivering what Australian Forest Products Association and UTAS jointly asked for but the Vice-Chancellor and Prime Minister must tule out the use of native forest products in this hub. Bob Brown and Christine Milne wrote to the Vice-Chancellor earlier this year making clear our objection to propping up native forest logging through this hub.

“Australia’s logging is neither ecologically sustainable nor world’s best practice and contributes nothing to meeting the challenges of climate change or the protection of biodiversity. There is no such thing as a ‘sustainable timber or energy yield’ from Australia’s native forests. As a result of logging, fire and invasive species our native forests are already depleted, with habitats for critically endangered flora and fauna reduced to remnants,” Christine Milne said.

“A truly innovative forest is to protect Australia’s native forests from logging and mining. This is a recycled policy announcement in a state where there are fewer than 300 direct jobs in logging native forests and declining demand because the market does not want conflict timber anymore,” Jenny Weber said.

“Meanwhile, protests continue in takayna / Tarkine to protect its rainforests from Environment Minister Sussan Ley tick for destruction,” Jenny Weber said.

Letter to UTAS

Professor Rufus Black,
Vice Chancellor,
University of Tasmania,
Sandy Bay,
Tasmania 7005.

September 1st 2021.

Dear Vice Chancellor,

Re: Proposed National Institute for Forest Products Innovation

Earlier this year, in a meeting with you, I made clear the Bob Brown Foundation’s concerns about the University of Tasmania’s proposed National Institute for Forest Products Innovation. I indicated our complete opposition if it relied on access to native forests.

At the time I asked that the university confirm that the focus of the Institute would be farmed wood and that native forests would be excluded from this endeavour. I made clear that it is our view that native forest logging should end, that native forests should be protected and restored as a response to global warming and as part of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the United Nations Post 2020 Biodiversity Framework. This is a view shared by over sixty of Australia’s conservation groups.

We now write to restate our opposition to the University of Tasmania’s proposed NIFPI. Its name reveals its intent. It is a Forest Products Institute and by definition will be using wood from native forests. This is quite different from farmed wood in an agricultural framework.

The Australian Forest Products Association with which the University is partnering, supports ongoing native forest logging and the development of biofuels from native forest products. Neither of these activities is acceptable in biodiversity or climate terms. Contrary to all AFPA claims, Australia’s logging practices are not ecologically sustainable nor are they world’s best practice, nor do they contribute to meeting the challenges of climate change or the protection of biodiversity.

There is no such thing as a ‘sustainable timber or energy yield’ from Australia’s native forests. As a result of logging, fire and invasive species our native forests are already depleted with habitats for critically endangered flora and fauna reduced to remnants.

There is considerable reputational risk to UTAS to pursue an Institute designed to facilitate the ongoing logging of native forests. Students and communities in the 21st Century want to find solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises not make the problem worse.

Yours sincerely,

Christine Milne AO
Board Member Bob Brown

Bob Brown
Bob Brown Foundation Founder and Patron Bob Brown Foundation

Police have arrived at the Pieman River Blockade and issued move on orders to protestors defending ancient forests from Chinese state-owned MMG’s proposed toxic tailings dam in takayna /Tarkine.

Three arrests are underway as an intense Tasmania Police operation aims to remove the peaceful blockade to the proposed tailings site that is ancient rainforests.

“MMG are ignoring the community and scientific advice and pushing ahead with this toxic, acid producing tailings dam rather than a cleaner, safer paste fill option. They are preparing to destroy 285 hectares of verified National and World Heritage value rainforest and melaleuca forest to save a few dollars. That is the crime being perpetrated here”, said Bob Brown Foundation’s takayna / Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.

“We will not stand by and allow this. I am confident that the Tasmanian community will stand up and join the 72 people arrested last year halting MMG’s illegal construction. MMG need to understand that today’s arrests are merely a starting point, not an end to these protests”.

“People can reach out to Bob Brown Foundation to join our ongoing effort”.

The blockade has held for 102 days this year and hosted over 600 defenders since January 2.

Bob Brown Foundation is calling for urgent protection of ancient takayna / Tarkine rainforests after Tasmania Police’s recent visits to the 101-day long blockade site suggest an imminent eviction.

A tree-sitter remains high in an ancient eucalyptus in ancient takayna forests threatened by Chinese state-owned MMG’s proposed toxic tailings dam. The company has indicated to BBF that it intends to commence activities related to the proposed development from today.

“MMG is ignoring scientific advice and pushing ahead with this toxic, acid-producing tailings dam rather than a cleaner, safer paste fill option. They are preparing to destroy 285 hectares of verified National and World Heritage value rainforest and melaleuca forest to save a few dollars,” said Bob Brown Foundation’s takayna Campaigner Scott Jordan.

Bob Brown Foundation has two court challenges underway against the federal environmental approvals and the state government awarding of mine leases to MMG. Last year, MMG commenced roading works without EPBC approvals but MMG was not prosecuted.

“The Federal Minister is running interference for MMG. She has pushed to have the case against the approvals heard in July, after the election, but is happy to stand by and watch the company roll in before the court’s scrutiny.”

“Our blockade preventing the mining company from destroying this wild place has held for 101 days and more than 700 citizens from around Australia have participated in the frontline action to defend some of the last intact rainforests on the planet,” Scott Jordan said.