“Many people, including financial analysts, had warned that the iron ore market would drop, warned this project did not have a financially viable business case, yet both the Federal and state governments changed the rules to facilitate it, and now Tasmanians are at risk of having to pay the price.”
“Labor, cheered on by the Liberal Party at the time, provided a mining royalty holiday to Shree, both the Federal and State authorities watered down permit conditions to give Shree a leg up, yet apparently all to no avail.”
“Under the current permit conditions Shree is not required to submit rehabilitation and closure plans until one year after mining commenced.”
“Six months later and internal leaks indicate production will halt. We now have an open-cut hole in the Tarkine, a hole in the public purse, and a hole in any legal requirements for the company to rehabilitate.”
“Both Labor and Liberal should take responsibility for having pumped up this dodgy project, and for pumping up people’s expectations of local jobs.”
“The current uncertainty and anxiety that the Shree workforce now face, will keep being repeated and inflicted on local communities whenever governments interfere with the market and try and prop up unviable private sector pipe-dreams.”
“The local workers, and the Tasmanian taxpayer deserve an immediate clarification on the status of Shree’s Nelson Bay River mine.”
“Everyone knew that the amount of ore Shree would mine from this site is less than what mining magnates like Gina Rinehart would have for lunch. This was a cruel hoax perpetrated upon the Tasmanian community, and whether its production halts in June or later, the project’s ultimate failure is inevitable,” Mr Booth said.