Plibersek oversteps the mark

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has forgotten the golden rule that when you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. Facing intense criticism over her decision to knock back a $1bn goldmine development in NSW on contested Aboriginal heritage grounds that must remain secret, Ms Plibersek said she was protecting local goat farmers and beekeepers as well. If true, Ms Plibersek should have made these reasons clear in her rejection. It is more likely the minister has let slip that she has overstepped her powers.

Ms Plibersek told the Seven Network’s Sunrise program the “council was invited to make a submission on the section 10 applications, 2500 pages of advice and evidence from different people, including a lot of local farmers who don’t want this tailings dam built at the headwaters of the river because they are worried about their sheep and goat and honey businesses down the river”. The difficulty is that section 10 allows the Environment Minister to make a declaration for the protection and preservation of significant Aboriginal areas and objects from injury or desecration. There is no mention of environmental or commercial harm.

The minister’s responsibilities under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act are restricted to matters of national environmental significance. These include World Heritage areas, Commonwealth Heritage places, listed wetlands, listed threatened and migratory species, commonwealth marine areas, the Great Barrier Reef, nuclear actions and the impact of coal-seam gas mining on water resources. No mention of goats or bees. It is a sticky situation for Ms Plibersek and an excuse that sounds a lot like “a goat ate my homework”.