Mr ELFERINK - 1999-10-20
This House has heard on many occasions how native title is disrupting development in the Territory, ultimately costing us jobs for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Territorians, as well as economic growth. Can the minister confirm that a major US petroleum company has withdrawn its onshore exploration applications as a result of native title delays?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, on 7 May 1997 my department received 2 applications for petroleum exploration from a US-based company. After a detailed assessment of the bids, my predecessor, the member for Araluen, made conditional offers of permits. These offers were subject to compliance with procedures prescribed under the Native Title Act, which remain unresolved now as they did 2 years ago. The company has now withdrawn its applications.
Members interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: The opposition, as the Chief Minister pointed out, supported and voted for native title legislation in this parliament, then deliberately became actively involved in ensuring that its party rejected that legislation. Now members have the audacity to sit there making frivolous comments about this matter, which is costing potential jobs and income for Territorians and other Australians.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Resource Development has the floor. I would appreciate hearing the answer in reasonable silence, thank you.
Mr MANZIE: This is a straight-out demonstration of what’s occurring as a result of their deliberate commitment to preventing this legislation being approved. This company is a major United States-based corporation with annual revenues of more than $500m. It employs 1200 people, with operations in many overseas countries. It was attracted to the NT as a result of visits to Houston, Texas, for conferences of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists by both the previous minister and the Deputy Chief Minister on 2 occasions. They were able to demonstrate the opportunity for people to come and invest in the Territory. The exploration bid for both areas was to drill 6 wells and acquire 1250 km of seismic lines, which amounted to approximately $25m to be spent in that exploration process.
The ongoing delays and uncertainties over the native title regime, exacerbated by the recent rejection of the Territory’s alternative procedures, clearly contributed to this loss of potential investment. The company actually wrote and notified us of that. They wish to remain anonymous. They don’t wish to have their ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MANZIE: I respect their ...
Ms Martin interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition!
Mr MANZIE: I didn’t make up the letter. I respect their request not to become involved in a political situation and a political fight. I think most members in this House and most clear-thinking Territorians would understand why a company would not wish to be identified. The fact is that they have withdrawn because of the native title...
Mr STIRLING: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The minister is making quite serious allegations here. He refers to the contents of a letter he has received. I ask him to table the letter so we can decide for ourselves.
Mr SPEAKER: There is no necessity to table the letter unless it is quoted from, and I do not believe it has been directly quoted from.
Mr MANZIE: Marvellous, isn’t it? These people actively get involved in preventing legislation which will create jobs and wealth for Territorians. Then they catcall when an example is brought to their attention. They work very hard to throw mud at the person who is bringing these facts to the attention of the Territory, or they try to prevent the information being presented.
I have drawn this example to the attention of the House to remind members that there is a real impact from the ALP’s rejection of the Territory’s alternative procedures - a real impact on jobs, a real impact on wealth creation. And in the same way there is an impact in all delays to the granting of an exploration title. Companies are spending their very scarce resources elsewhere - usually, as in this case, overseas, not elsewhere in Australia. Shame on the ALP!
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, on 7 May 1997 my department received 2 applications for petroleum exploration from a US-based company. After a detailed assessment of the bids, my predecessor, the member for Araluen, made conditional offers of permits. These offers were subject to compliance with procedures prescribed under the Native Title Act, which remain unresolved now as they did 2 years ago. The company has now withdrawn its applications.
Members interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: The opposition, as the Chief Minister pointed out, supported and voted for native title legislation in this parliament, then deliberately became actively involved in ensuring that its party rejected that legislation. Now members have the audacity to sit there making frivolous comments about this matter, which is costing potential jobs and income for Territorians and other Australians.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Resource Development has the floor. I would appreciate hearing the answer in reasonable silence, thank you.
Mr MANZIE: This is a straight-out demonstration of what’s occurring as a result of their deliberate commitment to preventing this legislation being approved. This company is a major United States-based corporation with annual revenues of more than $500m. It employs 1200 people, with operations in many overseas countries. It was attracted to the NT as a result of visits to Houston, Texas, for conferences of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists by both the previous minister and the Deputy Chief Minister on 2 occasions. They were able to demonstrate the opportunity for people to come and invest in the Territory. The exploration bid for both areas was to drill 6 wells and acquire 1250 km of seismic lines, which amounted to approximately $25m to be spent in that exploration process.
The ongoing delays and uncertainties over the native title regime, exacerbated by the recent rejection of the Territory’s alternative procedures, clearly contributed to this loss of potential investment. The company actually wrote and notified us of that. They wish to remain anonymous. They don’t wish to have their ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MANZIE: I respect their ...
Ms Martin interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition!
Mr MANZIE: I didn’t make up the letter. I respect their request not to become involved in a political situation and a political fight. I think most members in this House and most clear-thinking Territorians would understand why a company would not wish to be identified. The fact is that they have withdrawn because of the native title...
Mr STIRLING: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The minister is making quite serious allegations here. He refers to the contents of a letter he has received. I ask him to table the letter so we can decide for ourselves.
Mr SPEAKER: There is no necessity to table the letter unless it is quoted from, and I do not believe it has been directly quoted from.
Mr MANZIE: Marvellous, isn’t it? These people actively get involved in preventing legislation which will create jobs and wealth for Territorians. Then they catcall when an example is brought to their attention. They work very hard to throw mud at the person who is bringing these facts to the attention of the Territory, or they try to prevent the information being presented.
I have drawn this example to the attention of the House to remind members that there is a real impact from the ALP’s rejection of the Territory’s alternative procedures - a real impact on jobs, a real impact on wealth creation. And in the same way there is an impact in all delays to the granting of an exploration title. Companies are spending their very scarce resources elsewhere - usually, as in this case, overseas, not elsewhere in Australia. Shame on the ALP!
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016