A second takayna/Tarkine petition has been launched but this one asks the Legislative Council to reject any proposal to expand Tasmania’s World Heritage Area.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Invermay resident Brett Lucas started the online petition on November 20, with MLC the Honourable Ivan Dean sponsoring it.
It responds in part to the 270,000 signature petition tabled by Greens Senator Nick McKim in the Senate on Wednesday, asking Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman to protect the takayna/Tarkine as a World Heritage Area.
Read more
The Senate petition was supported by the Bob Brown Foundation and Patagonia, and included some 90,000 signatures from people outside Australia.
Mr Dean’s petition asks the Legislative Council to hold an inquiry into the validity of calling the current or proposed area a wilderness.
“In 1981, environmental and heritage experts identified only 926,934 hectares of the State as wilderness,” it said.
As background to the request, the petition said the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area covered about 1,584,000 hectares or 24 per cent of the state.
It then detailed the history of how the World Heritage Area became the size it is now.
“Activists associated with the green political party are now demanding a further 495,000 hectare region in north western Tasmania be added to the wilderness World Heritage Area,” it said.
“This would mean a total area of 2,079,000 hectares or 31 per cent of the state.”
Responding to news of Mr Dean’s petition, Senator McKim said Tasmanians, including many from the North-West Coast, wanted to see the area protected.
“The Greens will continue fighting for takayna/Tarkine to be protected in a National Park and as part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.”
No plans to propose heritage listing
He invited Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and federal Environment Minister Melissa Price to visit takayna/Tarkine to experience the beauty of the area.
“I hope they do the right thing by the people of Tasmania and the world, and commit to protect takayna/Tarkine.”
Responding earlier this week to the Senate petition, Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the government had no plans to propose heritage listing the Tarkine, or any other parts of Tasmania.
Broad support needed
“In line with our election commitment, we have no plans to lock up more of Tasmania,” Mr Rockliff said.
Braddon Labor MP Justine Keay said any further protection for that part of the state had to have broad community support, including from North-West Coast residents.
Mr Dean’s petition closes on January 15, 2019. By Thursday December 6, 456 people had signed it.
Leah McBey
As a southern New Zealander I love island life. So Tassie was an obvious choice after living in North America, Europe and the Pacific Islands. I've done a bit of everything but communication is the motif threading through my life.
As a southern New Zealander I love island life. So Tassie was an obvious choice after living in North America, Europe and the Pacific Islands. I've done a bit of everything but communication is the motif threading through my life.
