Tarkine campaign steps up

By Brendan Kays HOBART — For the last two weeks, the Wilderness Society and the Tarkine Tigers have been holding vigils at Parliament House lawns to protest against the destruction fo the Tarkine wilderness. On November 22, 40 people held a "wake" and two days later the same number gathered outside federal member for Denison Duncan Kerr's office to remind the federal government of their commitment to phase-out woodchip exports. The Tarkine road, which was due to be opened on November 24, has not yet been completed. A bridge, which is yet to be built across the Donaldson River, will destroy some of the ancient forests that line it. Even after the road is completed the battle to save the Tarkine will continue. Tasmanian premier Ray Groom has stated that the road is to "provide infrastructure for forestry and mining". This is more a threat to the Tarkine wilderness than the road itself. There is also a risk of fire given the current dry spell. If the road is opened, vehicles may bring in die back, a tree-killing disease spread by dirt carried in from infected areas. This will almost certainly wipe out the seven plant species that only grow in the Tarkine. The road is being frequently blockaded by the Tarkine Tigers conservation group. Almost every blockade is broken up by police. In one case police from Smithton used violence against the peaceful protesters, one of whom fell 20 feet from a tripod. Some protesters, who had chained themselves to metal pipes cemented into the road, were pulled by the police until they released themselves.