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Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg. (Photo: Stock File)
Environment minister to release reasons for Tassal’s farm approval
AUSTRALIA
Saturday, September 16, 2017, 00:00 (GMT + 9)
Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg has agreed to make his reasons for approving Tassal's fish farm at Okehampton Bay public and the Federal Court proceedings by three groups opposing to the initiative have been put off.
One of the opposing parties, the Bob Brown Foundation, stated the matter had now been adjourned without a new date being set, after Minister Frydenberg agreed to publish his reasons, ABC News reported.
The foundation joined tourism businesses owned by millionaire environmentalist Graeme Wood to mount a legal challenge to the federal approval of the salmon farm near Triabunna.
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Its head, Bob Brown said the Minister had now agreed to make his reasons public, so it could be seen what factors he considered in giving his approval.
"He had 28 days to publish those reasons and when he didn't, my foundation, along with tourism operators Triabunna Investments and Spring Bay Mill, took action to have him make good that requirement," he said.
"With a preliminary hearing due in the Federal Court in Hobart, the Minister has now committed to publishing his reasons by Friday this week. We are glad to get this outcome and will wait to see those reasons before considering what further action we may take," Brown pointed out.
He also said no-one knew at present what Minister Frydenberg had taken into account for his decision.
"There are important issues like its [the fish farm's] impact on the whale migration each year, and its impact on the World Heritage site on Maria Island at Darlington, that he should have considered in detail, [but at the moment] we don't know what he considered," he said.
"As far as the public knows, he didn't consider anything, or he might have considered the lot," Brown stressed.
He said his foundation did not believe the right decision had been made, but it would consider what further action, if any, would be taken once the documents were seen on Friday.
Related articles:
- Tassal's Okehampton Bay salmon facing court challenge by Bob Brown Foundation, Graeme Wood
- Tassal wins back certification for two fish farm leases in waters of Macquarie Harbour
- Strong controversy generated by federal approval for Tassal’s aquaculture farm in Tasmania
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