Too Precious To Lose – The Tarkine
The Tarkine is now seriously threatened by mining. To take action go to greensmps.org.au/Tarkine
The Australia’s largest intact rainforest, the second largest temperate rainforest in the world. It is recognized as being of world heritage value.
Since 2004, governments have passed the buck. They have refused to act to protect the Tarkine, as a national park, or to nominate it for National or World Heritage. Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke let the Emergency National Heritage listing lapse and deferred the decision on permanent listing.
Now, there are 10 new mines proposed for the Tarkine, nine of them open cut pits. Four of these including three huge open cut mines proposed by Venture Minerals are being considered for approval right now.
From March 2013, Minister Burke won’t even have a say on whether they go ahead, because the Government has done a deal with big business – backed by the Coalition – to palm off responsibility for most nationally important environmental issues to state governments.
The Tasmanian Government is opposed to protecting the Tarkine. The Tasmanian Premier and Environment Minister publicly lobbied Minister Burke in favour of mining, and are opposed to National Heritage listing. They cannot be trusted to protect it.