Union power broker puts Tony Burke on the spot : Will Labor’s Environment Minister be bullied on Tarkine National Heritage Listing?

Photo: Rob Blakers - A 10 m cascade on the Venture Minerals proposed open cut tin mine site, Mt Lindsay, Tarkine.

The Australian Greens note that today, at the AWU rally in Burnie, Labor power broker Paul Howes sent a clear message to Environment Minister Tony Burke.

“The message to Minister Burke today from Paul Howes was that Labor as a party should be putting short-term corporate profits and short-term jobs ahead of both the environment and long-term prosperity for Tasmanian communities,” Senator Peter Whish-Wilson stated.

“The Greens have always been concerned that Labor can’t be trusted with the environment.

“The acid test is now on Tony Burke to do the right thing by protecting one of the world’s most significant remaining tracts of temperate rainforest, and the only disease free home of the critically endangered Tasmanian devil.

“The Greens are also concerned about misleading information over the National Heritage Listing for the Tarkine and dispute the listing will have any impact on existing mines or mining communities.

“We strongly support everyone’s right to voice an opinion, even if we don’t agree with it, however we cannot support the deliberate spreading of inaccurate information intended to promote conflict in Tasmania.

“There is no ‘anti-everything brigade’ -  we support expanding the existing Tarkine tourism industry, we support mining proposals such as re-working tailings from Luina – a conflict free shovel ready development that would employ the same number of workers as Venture Minerals.

“Most importantly the Greens support the community groups who want long-term economic and environmental solutions to the North West Coast’s problems,” Senator Whish-Wilson concluded.