Renewed push for Tarkine protection dismissed by resource industry
THE Greens have embarked on another campaign to heritage list the Tarkine, despite overwhelming public support for the mining opportunities made available after a similar campaign failed earlier this year.
The Greens’ endeavour comes as part of a policy document noting they want the Tarkine National Park listed as a World Heritage site within 16 years.
In a statement released yesterday, Greens leader Christine Milne indicated that although ten new mines are planned for the region, the Tarkine offered no long-term benefits to employment or economy in the state.
The Tasmanian Minerals Council have disputed the claims, with chief executive Terry Long saying the campaign counters Greens’ submissions that they supported the state’s resource industry.
“The federal government refused to heritage list the north-west once before, and the public rallies have proven support of the state’s mining industry in the future,” Mr Long said.
“People have had enough of the green agenda in the State.”
A rally held last month attracted over 2,000 attendants in support of a resource agenda in Tasmania, where the unemployment rate is the highest in the country at 7.3%.
