29 August 2024
Subjects: Plibersek’s decision to block the Regis goldmine in regional NSW
E&OE
Ben Fordham:
It keeps getting worse for Tanya Plibersek, the Environment Minister’s decision to block a $1 billion gold mine is continuing to cause issues and this hasn’t helped her cause. The NSW premier has revealed, Labor was warned about activists trying to cancel the gold mine. The Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council, which does not oppose the mine, warned that activists may hijack the project. But Tanya Plibersek didn’t listen to the Land Council. Instead, she listened to activists who were led by the self-proclaimed Wiradjuri Elder Nyree Reynolds, even though the local Indigenous people have never heard of Nyree. And this has now caused a split between state and federal Labor. Jonno Duniam is the Shadow Minister for the Environment. He joins us on the line. Jonno, good morning.
Senator Duniam:
Good morning, Ben. Good to be with you.
Ben Fordham:
So, the warning was there that this project may be hijacked by activists.
Senator Duniam:
Well, it’s not really a surprise. I mean, if Tanya Plibersek had have done her due diligence, she would have seen all of this. She would have heard from the state government that actually granted full approval to this project and worked with the Land Council to deal with their concerns. If she was actually genuinely concerned about the problems faced by traditional owners, she would have spoken to Roy Ah-See, who said who’s never heard of this Nyree Reynolds, the woman who has headed up the complaint of the Wiradjuri people. So, I think that Chris Minns is right to call this out, like most of the community are, and when you’ve got people suggesting that the Minister has been hoodwinked, it does rather draw into question her capacity to do this job. If she’s got this so wrong, can’t admit it, and is doubling down at great cost to the economy, to the Orange community and the 800 jobs they now won’t have, then why is she still in this portfolio? It is rather an odd situation for us all to be in.
Ben Fordham:
And this is not a one off. We’ve had Indigenous heritage being used by activists before to cancel projects they don’t like.
Senator Duniam:
Yes, this is a tried and true method. You know, ‘Green Lawfare’ is something that they’ve really honed their skills on. But they’ve now found this little part of the Aboriginal Torres Strait Heritage Islander Protection Act, which is a 40 year old piece of legislation, and anyone who claims to be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander from anywhere in the country can mount up some claims either in written form or orally, and complain about a project; make an application to stop it. And this is exactly what this crowd claiming to be from the Wiradjuri people have done, and at great costs. But the most alarming thing, Ben is, the Minister this morning and the Sydney Morning Herald says oh, of course, I’d expect the company to act in the way that would get the cheapest, most efficient outcome, that’s what companies do. Well, I frankly, after five years of trying to comply with federal and state approvals, and meet up with every obligation on them, I would not argue, having spent hundreds of millions of dollars, that this is the cheapest and easiest way, and that they should just accept what the Minister has said. She’s got it wrong and it’s come at a great cost and frankly, she needs to back down here and do the right thing by the community.
Ben Fordham:
It looks like she’s been left hanging because Chris Minns wants the mine to go ahead. Anthony Albanese wants the mine to go ahead, and now Tanya’s trying to rewrite history and say I haven’t cancelled the mine, but it’s hard to unscramble the egg.
Senator Duniam:
That is the most disingenuous fibbery I reckon I’ve come across. And even for the PM to say he wants the mine to go ahead, and all we’ve done is cancel the tailings dam, well, I’m sorry if there’s anyone who’s listening to your programme now that can point out to me a mine anywhere in the world that operates without a tailings dam, I’d love to know. As I’ve said before, it’s like saying, oh, I didn’t really kill them, I just cut their limbs off and let them bleed to death. This is what she’s done. She’s strangling off a necessary part of a mine, and then saying, no, no, no, they can go ahead, they’ve just got to find somewhere else to put their tailings dam, that’s all. Well, that’s a pretty central part of any mine. And the fact that she’s so flippant about it and not actually doing anything to protect the future of this community, factoring in economic and social considerations to her decision making, and of course, being hoodwinked by some people that claim to have traditional owner knowledge and authority, says she is doing a bad job.
Ben Fordham:
Jonno, we appreciate you jumping on the line. Have a good day.
Senator Duniam:
You too, Ben. Thanks for that.
Ben Fordham:
Jonno Duniam, the Shadow Minister for the Environment, and you can bet that, that will come up big time at the Bush Summit today.