Mr AH KIT - 1999-11-25
On Tuesday, he issued a 2-page press release headed: ‘Gas Alliance Welcome News for Northern Territory’. This press release welcomed the alliance between Phillips Petroleum and Epic Energy and the continuing progress being made towards the development of an onshore gas facility at Wickham Point. This extremely valuable and worthwhile project was boosted by a landmark native title agreement being reached between the Northern Land Council and Phillips Petroleum. The announcement of this negotiated agreement was made on 18 November. Why wasn’t there one word about this historic agreement in the minister’s press release? Is it because the CLP never wants to talk about successfully negotiated native title issues? Will the minister now join with members on this side of the House and congratulate both Phillips and the Larrakia on successfully negotiating a native title agreement which smooths the development path and provides jobs for Territorians?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I am very pleased to answer the question. In fact, I am quite pleased that there has been a solution with regard to native title reached in relation to establishing access onto the Wickham Point area. It is a process that has been going on for a couple of years, and it’s pleasing to see it has come to a conclusion.
The process involved the company and the Larrakia people, as should rightly be the case. Obviously, the government was not an active participant in that process.
Mr Ah Kit interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: I did listen to the question in silence. I think it’s appropriate that you listen to the answer, although that’s not your habit. It’s probably something that Territorians listening to this broadcast would appreciate.
It is interesting that this is one of only a few satisfactory results. We can’t dismiss the fact that there have been a couple of successful outcomes. The member for Arnhem asks why the government doesn’t pursue these sorts of activities and work into this system. The Leader of the Opposition yesterday made the statement that we were holding up 900 exploration licence applications because we won’t comply with the Commonwealth scheme that’s in place. I’ll tell you why we won’t comply with the Commonwealth scheme. There are now 11 000 development proposals in the Commonwealth system. Since 1993, when the Native Title Act commenced, fewer than 50 out of 11 000 have proceeded as a result of a determination by the Native Title Tribunal.
The Leader of the Opposition and the member for Arnhem have the gall to stand up and say this is the system that this government should comply with. Well, I am sorry. We don’t think that’s a satisfactory strike rate. We don’t think that’s a satisfactory way to proceed with these sorts of processes.
The Leader of the Opposition and Labor not only say that’s the way that we should go, they say that is the way they will carry out their business, if they’re in government. That’s one of the reasons they will never get into government. Industry knows that a strike rate of 50 out of 11 000 is really not what you’d call satisfactory. Industry knows a strike rate of 50 out of 11 000 is not the way to create an atmosphere for creating jobs.
If we get one or two wins which we all appreciate are good outcomes, that’s a good thing. But if you’re trying to say this is the perfect world that we should adopt, patently the evidence shows you are totally incorrect. I am very pleased that’s the system you advocate. I’m very pleased you like to stand up and tell Territorians and tell business people: ‘We want to introduce a system that has a success rate of 50 out of 11 000 since 1993’.
Opposition members know the system’s wrong. They supported the government’s legislation in this parliament. They voted for it! They said: ‘These are the changes we need to put in place to make sure business can keep going in the Territory. These are the changes we need to put in place to make sure we get to create jobs for Territorians’. But when the legislation gets to Canberra, what do they do? They bow to their political masters. Do you know why?
Members interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: The Leader of the Opposition, hunting and gathering ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order!! Would the minister please resume his seat? There is far too much interjection across the Chamber. I would appreciate less comment and would like to hear the minister in reasonable silence.
Mr MANZIE: When that bill got to Canberra, of course they changed sides. Straightaway they said: ‘Oops! We’d better not let our Labor masters support that’. We know why. Yesterday the Leader of the Opposition made it very clear in this House when she was speaking about Jabiluka. She said: ‘Of course, we’re a member of the Australian Labor Party and we’re forced to follow the federal policies’. She made that statement quite clearly. And that’s the reason why they turned over and lay down and let that very, very good legislation - legislation they supported - fall out so that Territory businesses and Territorians wanting to develop couldn’t have a system which would enable the processes of native title to be proceeded with. They want to stick with a system which delivered 50 out of 11 000 over the last 6 or 7 years.
I congratulate the Larrakia. Great stuff! But to say that the system they’re using is a perfect one is ridiculous. Processing 11 000 applications at that same rate, it would take 137 years to get through the list. I don’t think that’s satisfactory. The government doesn’t think it’s satisfactory. Let’s get back to some common sense on the bill you supported in here. How about standing with other Territorians? Say to your federal masters: ‘We’re fair dinkum. Make the changes that will enable this to operate to the benefit of Territorians, including Aboriginal Territorians, and all Australians’.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I am very pleased to answer the question. In fact, I am quite pleased that there has been a solution with regard to native title reached in relation to establishing access onto the Wickham Point area. It is a process that has been going on for a couple of years, and it’s pleasing to see it has come to a conclusion.
The process involved the company and the Larrakia people, as should rightly be the case. Obviously, the government was not an active participant in that process.
Mr Ah Kit interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: I did listen to the question in silence. I think it’s appropriate that you listen to the answer, although that’s not your habit. It’s probably something that Territorians listening to this broadcast would appreciate.
It is interesting that this is one of only a few satisfactory results. We can’t dismiss the fact that there have been a couple of successful outcomes. The member for Arnhem asks why the government doesn’t pursue these sorts of activities and work into this system. The Leader of the Opposition yesterday made the statement that we were holding up 900 exploration licence applications because we won’t comply with the Commonwealth scheme that’s in place. I’ll tell you why we won’t comply with the Commonwealth scheme. There are now 11 000 development proposals in the Commonwealth system. Since 1993, when the Native Title Act commenced, fewer than 50 out of 11 000 have proceeded as a result of a determination by the Native Title Tribunal.
The Leader of the Opposition and the member for Arnhem have the gall to stand up and say this is the system that this government should comply with. Well, I am sorry. We don’t think that’s a satisfactory strike rate. We don’t think that’s a satisfactory way to proceed with these sorts of processes.
The Leader of the Opposition and Labor not only say that’s the way that we should go, they say that is the way they will carry out their business, if they’re in government. That’s one of the reasons they will never get into government. Industry knows that a strike rate of 50 out of 11 000 is really not what you’d call satisfactory. Industry knows a strike rate of 50 out of 11 000 is not the way to create an atmosphere for creating jobs.
If we get one or two wins which we all appreciate are good outcomes, that’s a good thing. But if you’re trying to say this is the perfect world that we should adopt, patently the evidence shows you are totally incorrect. I am very pleased that’s the system you advocate. I’m very pleased you like to stand up and tell Territorians and tell business people: ‘We want to introduce a system that has a success rate of 50 out of 11 000 since 1993’.
Opposition members know the system’s wrong. They supported the government’s legislation in this parliament. They voted for it! They said: ‘These are the changes we need to put in place to make sure business can keep going in the Territory. These are the changes we need to put in place to make sure we get to create jobs for Territorians’. But when the legislation gets to Canberra, what do they do? They bow to their political masters. Do you know why?
Members interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: The Leader of the Opposition, hunting and gathering ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order!! Would the minister please resume his seat? There is far too much interjection across the Chamber. I would appreciate less comment and would like to hear the minister in reasonable silence.
Mr MANZIE: When that bill got to Canberra, of course they changed sides. Straightaway they said: ‘Oops! We’d better not let our Labor masters support that’. We know why. Yesterday the Leader of the Opposition made it very clear in this House when she was speaking about Jabiluka. She said: ‘Of course, we’re a member of the Australian Labor Party and we’re forced to follow the federal policies’. She made that statement quite clearly. And that’s the reason why they turned over and lay down and let that very, very good legislation - legislation they supported - fall out so that Territory businesses and Territorians wanting to develop couldn’t have a system which would enable the processes of native title to be proceeded with. They want to stick with a system which delivered 50 out of 11 000 over the last 6 or 7 years.
I congratulate the Larrakia. Great stuff! But to say that the system they’re using is a perfect one is ridiculous. Processing 11 000 applications at that same rate, it would take 137 years to get through the list. I don’t think that’s satisfactory. The government doesn’t think it’s satisfactory. Let’s get back to some common sense on the bill you supported in here. How about standing with other Territorians? Say to your federal masters: ‘We’re fair dinkum. Make the changes that will enable this to operate to the benefit of Territorians, including Aboriginal Territorians, and all Australians’.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016