Mining

20 March 2002

Labor backflips on mining policy – no National Park is safe

The Environment Centre NT was outraged to learn this week that the Labor party has completely backed down on it's strong pre-election promise to ban mining and mineral exploration in National Parks.

Prior to last year's Territory election, the Environment Centre surveyed all parties on a range of environmental policy questions. The following is extracted from the Labor Party response which came from Clare Martin's office:

Q. In Government will your party ban mineral exploration and mining in all National Parks and conservation reserves?
A. Labor will ban mining in National Parks and assess conservation reserves on a case-by-case basis.

ECNT received a letter from Paul Henderson which completely contradicts this position:
"Exploration and mining in Northern Territory National Parks and reserves would only be permitted under strict conditions and where the proposed activity did not significantly impact on the purpose for which the park or reserve was created."

Environment Centre coordinator Kirsten Blair said today "We are furious about this backdown by the Labor Party. It shows that the current Government has a 'develop at all costs' attitude which short-changes Territorians and the NT environment."

"With only about 5% of the Territory currently within the National Parks system, it appears that nothing is safe. This decision is completely out of step with community opinion as well national and international conservation policies"

"Keeping this promise would not have cost the Government any money, the budget black-hole excuse does not apply this time. This calls into question the Government's commitment to all the pro-environment promises it made before last year's election. What is clear is that the only supporters of this extraordinary position are the ALP the CLP and the mining industry"

"Regardless of the minister's supposed reassurances, the fact remains that prior to the election we had an unambiguous guarantee and now the door has been opened to mining in National Parks. Paul Henderson's refusal to rule out the option equates to a broken promise and this is completely unaceptable."

For more information on mining issues contact ECNT:
Phone: 08 8981 1984
Email: ecnt@octa4.net.au

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