Dr LIM - 1998-08-11
Recently, the Sessional Committee on the Environment went to Jabiluka for a site inspection. While a majority of Territorians support Jabiluka, it seems that many of the members opposite have no interest in accepting the views of those people or getting their message to Canberra. In financial terms, just how much is Jabiluka worth to the Territory when a Liberal government wins the next election and what would be the expected loss to Territorians if Labor gets in?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his question.
Members interjecting.
Mr POOLE: You may laugh over there.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr POOLE: Madam Speaker, it is good to see that the Leader of the Opposition is smiling. I remember the day when she returned from Hobart and achieved a headline in the NT News saying: ‘Hickey Triumphs in Hobart’, over her stance on the Labor Party’s opposition to uranium mining in the Northern Territory. She declared at that time, ‘Labor Drops Its 3 Mine Policy - Jabiluka okay’. Of course, that resulted in the Leader of the Opposition receiving a visit from the leader of the opposition in the federal parliament, Kim Beazley. He came here and passed a few comments, that put her right back in her box, with regard to Jabiluka and the uranium policy of the local branch of the Labor Party.
Of course, we have now the new Labor Senator, Trish Crossin, who is also at odds with the Territory Labor leader.
Mrs Hickey interjecting.
Mr POOLE: Not only will your federal colleagues not listen to you, or to Territorians, but you do not even have support of your new federal representative who is supposed to take the message to Territory Labor supporters in Canberra. However, I guess you would be used to lack of support, looking around you at the moment.
Trish Crossin, the Labor Senator, said on ABC Drive Time a few months ago: ‘It is quite clear, you know, 3 mines and no new mines are one and the same’. The Labor Senator made it quite clear that she does not approve of any uranium mining and that, if Labor were to win the next election, it would implement its no new mine policy.
It is clear to this government that the Leader of the Opposition and her federal pals have no interest in listening to Territorians or working for the benefit of the Territory. At least, Madam Speaker, our federal member, Hon Nick Dondas, is getting the Territory message across loud and clear in Canberra but, if the unlikely should happen …
Mr Ah Kit interjecting.
Mr POOLE: It amazes me that the member for Arnhem thinks this is humorous, because it mightily affects half of his constituents in Arnhem land. The amount of money that will not flow to Australia, let alone to Territorians and to Aboriginal people in that part of the country, it is quite staggering. It is estimated at the moment that Jabiluka and Ranger are worth $3700m to the Northern Territory. Ranger has only about another 10 years before the life of the mine expires and most of that money will come from Jabiluka. On top of that, Jabiluka is worth about $8000m more to the Australian economy over its 25-year lifespan.
Again, the member for Arnhem amazes me because he should know that Jabiluka will provide Aboriginal people with at least $219m in royalties and other benefits, including things that they need desperately – such as job training, housing and education and, in the broader Territory context, some hundreds of jobs should be created for other Territorians.
Madam Speaker, I put it to you, that that is the difference between us and them. We care about Territorians and we will not have a bar of this nonsense about the 3-mine policy. Jabiluka will start and it will continue as part of the Australian industrial scene for many years, bringing billions and billions of dollars, by way of exports, into Australia, and particularly to Territorians and to the constituents of the member for Arnhem. He should really hang his head in shame.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his question.
Members interjecting.
Mr POOLE: You may laugh over there.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr POOLE: Madam Speaker, it is good to see that the Leader of the Opposition is smiling. I remember the day when she returned from Hobart and achieved a headline in the NT News saying: ‘Hickey Triumphs in Hobart’, over her stance on the Labor Party’s opposition to uranium mining in the Northern Territory. She declared at that time, ‘Labor Drops Its 3 Mine Policy - Jabiluka okay’. Of course, that resulted in the Leader of the Opposition receiving a visit from the leader of the opposition in the federal parliament, Kim Beazley. He came here and passed a few comments, that put her right back in her box, with regard to Jabiluka and the uranium policy of the local branch of the Labor Party.
Of course, we have now the new Labor Senator, Trish Crossin, who is also at odds with the Territory Labor leader.
Mrs Hickey interjecting.
Mr POOLE: Not only will your federal colleagues not listen to you, or to Territorians, but you do not even have support of your new federal representative who is supposed to take the message to Territory Labor supporters in Canberra. However, I guess you would be used to lack of support, looking around you at the moment.
Trish Crossin, the Labor Senator, said on ABC Drive Time a few months ago: ‘It is quite clear, you know, 3 mines and no new mines are one and the same’. The Labor Senator made it quite clear that she does not approve of any uranium mining and that, if Labor were to win the next election, it would implement its no new mine policy.
It is clear to this government that the Leader of the Opposition and her federal pals have no interest in listening to Territorians or working for the benefit of the Territory. At least, Madam Speaker, our federal member, Hon Nick Dondas, is getting the Territory message across loud and clear in Canberra but, if the unlikely should happen …
Mr Ah Kit interjecting.
Mr POOLE: It amazes me that the member for Arnhem thinks this is humorous, because it mightily affects half of his constituents in Arnhem land. The amount of money that will not flow to Australia, let alone to Territorians and to Aboriginal people in that part of the country, it is quite staggering. It is estimated at the moment that Jabiluka and Ranger are worth $3700m to the Northern Territory. Ranger has only about another 10 years before the life of the mine expires and most of that money will come from Jabiluka. On top of that, Jabiluka is worth about $8000m more to the Australian economy over its 25-year lifespan.
Again, the member for Arnhem amazes me because he should know that Jabiluka will provide Aboriginal people with at least $219m in royalties and other benefits, including things that they need desperately – such as job training, housing and education and, in the broader Territory context, some hundreds of jobs should be created for other Territorians.
Madam Speaker, I put it to you, that that is the difference between us and them. We care about Territorians and we will not have a bar of this nonsense about the 3-mine policy. Jabiluka will start and it will continue as part of the Australian industrial scene for many years, bringing billions and billions of dollars, by way of exports, into Australia, and particularly to Territorians and to the constituents of the member for Arnhem. He should really hang his head in shame.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016