Tanya Plibersek has defended her decision to block a billion-dollar gold mine near the NSW town of Blayney despite a key justification being debunked.
Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has defended her 11th-hour decision to block construction of a billion-dollar gold mine despite experts debunking key aboriginal heritage claims.
The Minister’s decision was based on the Wiradyuri Traditional Owners Central West Aboriginal Corporation’s claims that the headwaters and springs of the Belubula River were"sacred" to the Wiradjuri people and their blue-banded bee dreaming tradition. Dr Clarke’s views were backed up by Wiradjuri elder Uncle Neil Ingram who said he has “never heard of this story, never seen any ochre artworks, rock engravings or traditional dances symbolising the blue-banded bee story.”“I think there's a very strong case there, and I stand by the decision,” she told Sky News Australia.
The Environment Minister said that while she had considered “thousands of pages of information” when making her decision, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton had already pledged to overturn the decision without looking at any of the evidence.
Blayney Plibersek Resources Mining Plibersek Mcphilley's Gold Mine
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