Step to reconciliation

A 4WD-track standoff will not further split Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Tasmanians, the instigator of the state’s Reconciliation Council says.

Bill Lawson, who was behind the launch of the first Reconciliation Council of Tasmania last month, says Aboriginal opposition to major party positions on the ArthurPieman Conservation Area tracks won’t derail his organisation’s mission.

“It’s the current challenge,” Mr Lawson told the Mercury.

“I don’t see it as an obstacle though. I wouldn’t see us entering into that debate at all.

“It will unfold with the various viewpoints and protagonists and that’s for them to do.”

Political leaders were among those to speak at the launch of the new council at Macquarie Point.

But Aboriginal leaders have since slammed a decision by the Liberal State Government to seek Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg’s ap- proval to reopen three tracks.

Labor has said it will abide by Mr Frydenberg’s decision and announced a $3 million protection package contingent on state and federal election wins.

The State Opposition’s position has been criticised by former Aboriginal Heritage Council chair Rocky Sainty and the Tasmanian Aboriginal Council’s Michael Mansell.

“You can’t have reconciliation with the people whose cultural heritage is threatened with destruction by people outside that community,” Mr Mansell said.

The Reconciliation Council’s inaugural 12-person board has been announced, with six Aboriginal and six non-Aboriginal members.

They include co-chairs of the Tasmanian Regional Aboriginal Communities Alliance co-chairs Patsy Cameron and Rodney Dillon, and members with ties to the influential TAC.

Mr Lawson said all groups and regions had been considered in the make-up of the board.

“It’s been difficult but the only balance we didn’t achieve was the age balance, which I regret, but it’s just too hard,” Mr Lawson said.

“We’ll have to move to redress that as soon as we can.

“It’s been an earnest endeavour to get a good and fair balance.”

Mr Mansell said the board was “loaded” with individuals opposed to the TAC.

“It does sound to me like there’s a group who have already taken over the Reconciliation Council and it will be an anti-TAC body,” he said.

The board will meet for the first time in October, when a chair will be elected.