Revealed: The questions Tanya Plibersek has finally answered on the Blayney gold mine decision

Tanya Plibersek has finally revealed the reasons behind her controversial decision to stall a gold mine in regional NSW. Read what she has to say.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek overruled the views of the local Aboriginal land council because information about the sacredness of the site of a contentious gold mine was passed down to specific custodians only.

In her highly anticipated Statement of Reasons over why she stalled a gold mine in regional NSW despite the correct Indigenous authority — the Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council — approving it, Ms Plibersek said only some custodians were aware of the significance of the site.

The Mine proposed by Regis Resources was proposed for the town of Blayney.

Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek at the Nature Matters launch

In her statement of reasons, Ms Plibersek said she gave weight to the evidence of Senior Wiradyuri Elder Dinawan Dyirribang Uncle Bill Allen who described the area as a “big university for our young fellas to come to get their learning”.

The statement also contradicts the minister’s claims that Regis would be able to go ahead with the mine as they had looked at other options outside of the area she has barred.

But the statement makes clear that Ms Plibersek was aware the project would face “time and resources implications” because of the section 10 order.

In a rebuke of NSW government, Ms Plibersek said the state government’s laws were not good enough for protecting indigenous heritage. I formed the view that NSW legislation does not provide effective protection of the declared area,“ she said.

Coalition environment spokesman Jonno Duniam said Ms Plibersek’s decision to go against the land council was ”staggering”.

“Minister Plibersek basing the rejection of the McPhillamys gold mine on a songline that the Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council says doesn’t exist is truly staggering,“ he said.

“Minister Plibersek has essentially said that the New South Wales Government was wrong in approving the mine and that its laws aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. “She has rubbished the claim by the Premier that the state’s assessment of the mine was “rigorous”, casting into doubt her state Labor counterparts’ ability to make the right decisions.”

Mr Duniam is currently pursuing a private members bill in federal parliament to reverse the mine decision.

Originally published as Revealed: The questions Tanya Plibersek has finally answered on the Blayney gold mine decision