Greens and indigenous leaders say it is time to ditch stalled election promise

The State Government has been told to scrap a “disrespectful and destructive” policy to reopen 4WD tracks in a heritage-rich region as it looks to rebuild its relationship with the Aboriginal community.

THE costly and stalled policy to reopen 4WD tracks in the Tarkine should be scrapped as part of the State Government’s new relationship with the Aboriginal community, the Tasmanian Greens and indigenous leaders say.

The push to reopen the tracks to recreational vehicles – closed by the Labor Government in 2012 due to concerns about damage to Aboriginal heritage – has already cost the government more than $500,000 in consultancy and court fees.

But the government, as late as November last year, was saying it was still committed to reopen the driving tracks despite the Federal Court halting the process after legal action initiated by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre.

Mr Gutwein said the issue of reopening the tracks was raised during his meetings this week.

It is now seven years since a heated rally in Smithton saw the Labor Government booed and the Liberal Opposition cheered as it promised to re-open the tracks to recreational vehicles if re-elected. It was but the election promise has been blocked at every turn.

RELATED: Aboriginal Centre offers ‘olive branch’ over 4WD tracks in the Tarkine

Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor said Premier Peter Gutwein’s first order of business, now he has opened up fresh dialogue with the Aboriginal community, should be abandoning its “disrespectful and destructive” push.

Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania chairman Michael Mansell agrees and said it was one of the points of discussion during his meeting with Mr Gutwein on Wednesday.

“There are already 84 tracks stretching 80km from Marrawah to Sandy Cape open that is enough access surely,” Mr Mansell said.

“Opening up the area further is completely at odds with the notion that Aboriginal cultural heritage needs to be protected. The State Government should, in fact, hand the area back to us to control but taking this policy off the agenda would be a good start.”

Mr Gutwein said the issue of reopening the tracks was raised during his meetings this week with Aboriginal community members and would be worked through over coming months.