Just in time for Anzac Day, the Australian government has signed a ‘Joint Understanding’ with the government of Papua New Guinea to protect the Kokoda Track from a planned mine [link].
The statement from Environment Minister Peter Garrett says:
“Through that agreement, Australia and PNG have agreed to preserve the historic values of the Kokoda Track, maintain the integrity of the Track and the special qualities of the trekking experience, which has become an important rite of passage for many Australians.”
This is a victory for opponents of a plan by Australian company Frontier Resources to build a copper mine on an iconic site of Australian military history. It also seems to address the concerns of local New Guineans who hoped to benefit from the project. But it again raises the question. Why is the government going to such lengths to protect this site while, in Australia itself, places of outstanding natural and cultural importance are unquestioningly sacrificed to big industry?
Tags: Anzac Day, Frontier Resources, heritage, Kokoda track, Peter Garrett
