Environment groups have criticised federal environment minister Tony Burke for ignoring a recommendation to make Tasmania鈥檚 Tarkine rainforest a protected heritage area.
The Tarkine National Coalition has accused Burke of suppressing a report by the Australian Heritage Council, which said the government should create a Tarkine National Heritage Area. The report has since been leaked.
Tarkine National Coalition鈥檚 Campaign coordinator Scott Jordan told the March 9 Tasmanian Times: 鈥淭he minister has ignored and hidden the Australian Heritage [Council鈥檚] recommendation, and this leaked copy of the report makes it clear that he has betrayed the legitimate protection of the Tarkine to mining development.鈥
The Tarkine, which covers about 430,000 hectares in Tasmania鈥檚 northwest, is Australia鈥檚 largest temperate rainforest.
Tasmanian Greens MP Paul O鈥橦alloran said state and federal governments must 鈥渟top procrastinating on this issue and enshrine the world-class Tarkine region on the National Heritage Register and protect it as a National Park, to protect the unique sanctuary that it is鈥.
But Tasmanian Labor ministers have backed Burke鈥檚 decision. State resources minister Bryan Green told the Tasmanian parliament he would not rule out allowing mining in the Tarkine, ABC Online said on March 9.
鈥淭he [Tasmanian] government will continue to work with these proponents from the mining sector to ensure we give those projects the best opportunity,鈥 Green said.