Mr WOOD - 2008-05-01
This question relates to a question I asked in February 2004, then in March 2006, and again in May 2007. It is about a memorial recognising the history of the East Arm Leprosarium and the people who lived and worked there, as well as preserving part of the original entrance to that facility. It seems that this has taken so long, that the process involved in just trying to erect a memorial will go down as an historical event that that might need a commemorative plaque as well.
Can you give the House an update on when we can expect to see the completion of the East Arm Leprosarium Memorial?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. There is little doubt of the member for Nelson’s keen desire to see heritage protected within the Territory. This is a feeling that I have as well, and I commend him for his stance on heritage in many ways.
In regard to the time lines that the member for Nelson mentioned, I will not argue the toss over those. He is pretty well right, it has been a long, drawn-out situation. In February 2004, the government announced its intention to construct a memorial at the East Arm Leprosarium. Design work on the memorial commenced soon after this announcement; however, there have been substantial delays, as the member for Nelson has pointed out.
I am pleased to say that we are over those delays. There had to be a little redesign, but it will go ahead, and quite soon. The memorial for the leprosarium is a fitting memorial that we should have because the heritage of that place goes back quite some time. It is a reminder of what our community was. I am delighted to inform the House today, particularly the member for Nelson who has taken such a keen interest, that on 29 May, the Deputy Chief Minister and I will have the honour of opening the Leprosarium Memorial.
Let me extend to you and members and your family, member for Nelson - because I know of your personal connections - a personal invitation for you to be there; I would be quite honoured. The leprosarium does mean a great deal to many people in the Top End. Many staff and patients associated with the leprosarium still live in Darwin and still enjoy a special bond. I know that there are two members at least in this House today who have direct links with the leprosarium through family members and different connections.
The history in the Territory is one that we live and breathe. I am aware that some people make light of it, and a lot of people down south do not really understand how we feel about these contemporary issues when they come up in the paper. However, these are all part of the living history that we have. I am very pleased and proud that we in the Territory are creating these memorials to these people.
Madam Speaker, the story of the leprosarium goes back a fair way. It started in Mud Island in Darwin Harbour where leprosy sufferers were abandoned in the late 19th century and they lived in appalling conditions. I was having a look at the history of the leprosarium and where they …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! In many ways this is the opposition Question Time, and we are now hearing the history of the leprosarium, which was not a part of the question. It is nice, no extra cost, but there are other questions to be asked.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, I am sure you are nearing the end of the answer.
Mr KIELY: Madam Speaker, I will wind it up. I can see that some members opposite do not want to hear the full answer; but it is a story worth telling. I am a bit upset that you should want to gag the story as such.
It is the heart of the question; the member for Nelson has asked a very good question. It is something that means a lot to the people of the Territory, Western Australia, and to the people out in the community. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the tireless work of all those who got together to get this going because, as you said, it has been followed up since 2004. There have been a lot of people working on this. We will be opening it on 29 May. I will wind it up there. However, Leader of the Opposition, it is a story the people of the Territory would like to know. This is what Question Time is about: a question about the leprosarium, and what it means to the families today, and people in this Chamber. This is a story we should tell. I will sit down, but I do not think you are doing the people of the Territory one favour by having things like this stopped.
Can you give the House an update on when we can expect to see the completion of the East Arm Leprosarium Memorial?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. There is little doubt of the member for Nelson’s keen desire to see heritage protected within the Territory. This is a feeling that I have as well, and I commend him for his stance on heritage in many ways.
In regard to the time lines that the member for Nelson mentioned, I will not argue the toss over those. He is pretty well right, it has been a long, drawn-out situation. In February 2004, the government announced its intention to construct a memorial at the East Arm Leprosarium. Design work on the memorial commenced soon after this announcement; however, there have been substantial delays, as the member for Nelson has pointed out.
I am pleased to say that we are over those delays. There had to be a little redesign, but it will go ahead, and quite soon. The memorial for the leprosarium is a fitting memorial that we should have because the heritage of that place goes back quite some time. It is a reminder of what our community was. I am delighted to inform the House today, particularly the member for Nelson who has taken such a keen interest, that on 29 May, the Deputy Chief Minister and I will have the honour of opening the Leprosarium Memorial.
Let me extend to you and members and your family, member for Nelson - because I know of your personal connections - a personal invitation for you to be there; I would be quite honoured. The leprosarium does mean a great deal to many people in the Top End. Many staff and patients associated with the leprosarium still live in Darwin and still enjoy a special bond. I know that there are two members at least in this House today who have direct links with the leprosarium through family members and different connections.
The history in the Territory is one that we live and breathe. I am aware that some people make light of it, and a lot of people down south do not really understand how we feel about these contemporary issues when they come up in the paper. However, these are all part of the living history that we have. I am very pleased and proud that we in the Territory are creating these memorials to these people.
Madam Speaker, the story of the leprosarium goes back a fair way. It started in Mud Island in Darwin Harbour where leprosy sufferers were abandoned in the late 19th century and they lived in appalling conditions. I was having a look at the history of the leprosarium and where they …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! In many ways this is the opposition Question Time, and we are now hearing the history of the leprosarium, which was not a part of the question. It is nice, no extra cost, but there are other questions to be asked.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, I am sure you are nearing the end of the answer.
Mr KIELY: Madam Speaker, I will wind it up. I can see that some members opposite do not want to hear the full answer; but it is a story worth telling. I am a bit upset that you should want to gag the story as such.
It is the heart of the question; the member for Nelson has asked a very good question. It is something that means a lot to the people of the Territory, Western Australia, and to the people out in the community. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the tireless work of all those who got together to get this going because, as you said, it has been followed up since 2004. There have been a lot of people working on this. We will be opening it on 29 May. I will wind it up there. However, Leader of the Opposition, it is a story the people of the Territory would like to know. This is what Question Time is about: a question about the leprosarium, and what it means to the families today, and people in this Chamber. This is a story we should tell. I will sit down, but I do not think you are doing the people of the Territory one favour by having things like this stopped.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016