2025-10-08
Environment Minister Murray Watt is secretly negotiating with Chinese state-owned corporation MMG over its proposed tailings dam in Takayna rainforest, questions at Senate Estimates have shown.
The Environment Department confirmed that MMG has known since August about a proposed decision on “preliminary works” for its toxic tailings dam in the Takayna/Tarkine rainforest, but the public has been kept in the dark.
Greens Senator for Tasmania Nick McKim said the secrecy was unacceptable.
“Labor has quietly given a foreign-owned mining company the inside running on the Minister’s proposed decision, yet conservationists trying to protect the area get no such courtesy,” he said.
“The Takayna rainforest should be World Heritage listed, not bulldozed for a toxic waste dump.”
“Labor’s so-called Environment Minister should be protecting these forests, not secretly cutting deals to wipe out habitat for the endangered Tasmanian Masked Owl.”
The proposed MMG waste dam would clear ancient rainforest at McKimmie Creek, inside the Tarkine, to store acid mine waste from the Rosebery mine.
The ‘preliminary works’ would destroy rainforest for roads and drill sites.
“There are viable alternatives that would spare the forest entirely,” Senator McKim said.
“Labor’s cosy relationship with MMG shows its priorities lie with corporate profits, not with nature.”
“Minister Watt must at the very least immediately release the proposed decision publicly. Even better, he should halt the approval process, rule out any destruction of Takayna rainforest, and prepare a nomination for World Heritage status for this precious and globally significant place.”