Mr MITCHELL - 1995-05-16
Is the minister aware of the latest rise in the entry fees at Kakadu National Park? Is there any correlation between these fees and poor levels of growth in visitor numbers to that area?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the issue of entry fees at Kakadu National Park is definitely nobbling the growth that one of the world's premier natural attractions otherwise could be experiencing. I have stood in the Legislative Assembly before and argued against the introduction of entry fees at Kakadu, and I am happy to say that we were successful in discouraging the Jawoyn Association from introducing an entry fee to the Katherine Gorge. Mr Speaker, even I am staggered by this graph which I will table in a minute. It shows clearly the trend of visitation to Kakadu.
Honourable members can see the growth for Litchfield National Park, which is depicted in green, compared with Kakadu. Growth at Kakadu has been almost stagnant since 1989, yet members can see the growth for Litchfield National Park. I table that for the benefit of all members because it shows clearly what is happening there and the problems that are being experienced. The pattern that has emerged since the $5 fee was introduced in 1990 is quite clear.
I do not wish to pretend that Litchfield National Park has more visitors than Kakadu. If that were the case, I would be concerned because, of course, the Northern Territory Tourist Commission uses Kakadu in its advertising at every opportunity. However, the gap between Litchfield and Kakadu is closing rapidly. In fact, last year, 239 842 people went to Kakadu and, during the same period, 233 630 went to Litchfield. Those figures speak for themselves. As soon as members see a copy of that graph, I am sure that they will also be alarmed at what is happening at Kakadu.
Parks are for people. They are a natural asset and should not be seen as an excuse to whack on entry fees with gay abandon. I foreshadow that tomorrow I shall move a motion that asks for the unanimous support of this Assembly to ensure that the Northern Territory is fully involved in the new plan of management which is being designed for Kakadu. Submissions for that plan of management close on 30 June, and the Northern Territory government has been given no more courtesy of input than any citizen. In fact, an information kit was provided to us which was the same as those that can be picked up by anybody who wishes to have input to that plan of management process. It is not good enough.
We intend to involve the Commonwealth in the preparation of the Mary River plan of management because it is vital that it be involved with us. We are asking the same of it - that it allow us to be involved. We have extensive experience and a worldwide reputation as park managers and for our efforts in conservation. We have to be involved on this. This parliament cannot be ignored by Canberra any longer. I am confident that my motion tomorrow will gain the support of the opposition because it is a matter of public record that the Leader of the Opposition wants to see the parks returned to the Territory. Unfortunately, of course, his
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colleague in the federal Labor organisation, Warren Snowdon, opposes him on that and that became apparent when the Leader of the Opposition said that, if a Labor government were elected in the Territory, Kakadu would return to the Northern Territory.
When that motion is passed here tomorrow, I am hopeful that the Commonwealth will start to take notice and will stop ignoring us. They are our parks and we have a good reputation. It is my intention also to seek the support of the traditional owners for our closer involvement in the plan of management and park management there by the Conservation Commission. I hope I will receive the opposition's full support tomorrow on that motion to ensure that we are not overlooked and that one of the Territory's greatest assets, Kakadu National Park, is not run by a group of people from southern Australia who close it down when they go on holiday. I say that because I learnt that one of the reasons why the park is not open in the December/January/February period is because the staff take leave. They leave the Territory because the weather is too hot for them, and they return to the south. That is what happens, and that is why people are unable to visit the falls and witness them in all their magnificent glory in the wet season. It is because those staff are not there; they have all gone home. It is not good enough, and members of this parliament should stand up and say so tomorrow.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the issue of entry fees at Kakadu National Park is definitely nobbling the growth that one of the world's premier natural attractions otherwise could be experiencing. I have stood in the Legislative Assembly before and argued against the introduction of entry fees at Kakadu, and I am happy to say that we were successful in discouraging the Jawoyn Association from introducing an entry fee to the Katherine Gorge. Mr Speaker, even I am staggered by this graph which I will table in a minute. It shows clearly the trend of visitation to Kakadu.
Honourable members can see the growth for Litchfield National Park, which is depicted in green, compared with Kakadu. Growth at Kakadu has been almost stagnant since 1989, yet members can see the growth for Litchfield National Park. I table that for the benefit of all members because it shows clearly what is happening there and the problems that are being experienced. The pattern that has emerged since the $5 fee was introduced in 1990 is quite clear.
I do not wish to pretend that Litchfield National Park has more visitors than Kakadu. If that were the case, I would be concerned because, of course, the Northern Territory Tourist Commission uses Kakadu in its advertising at every opportunity. However, the gap between Litchfield and Kakadu is closing rapidly. In fact, last year, 239 842 people went to Kakadu and, during the same period, 233 630 went to Litchfield. Those figures speak for themselves. As soon as members see a copy of that graph, I am sure that they will also be alarmed at what is happening at Kakadu.
Parks are for people. They are a natural asset and should not be seen as an excuse to whack on entry fees with gay abandon. I foreshadow that tomorrow I shall move a motion that asks for the unanimous support of this Assembly to ensure that the Northern Territory is fully involved in the new plan of management which is being designed for Kakadu. Submissions for that plan of management close on 30 June, and the Northern Territory government has been given no more courtesy of input than any citizen. In fact, an information kit was provided to us which was the same as those that can be picked up by anybody who wishes to have input to that plan of management process. It is not good enough.
We intend to involve the Commonwealth in the preparation of the Mary River plan of management because it is vital that it be involved with us. We are asking the same of it - that it allow us to be involved. We have extensive experience and a worldwide reputation as park managers and for our efforts in conservation. We have to be involved on this. This parliament cannot be ignored by Canberra any longer. I am confident that my motion tomorrow will gain the support of the opposition because it is a matter of public record that the Leader of the Opposition wants to see the parks returned to the Territory. Unfortunately, of course, his
Page 530
colleague in the federal Labor organisation, Warren Snowdon, opposes him on that and that became apparent when the Leader of the Opposition said that, if a Labor government were elected in the Territory, Kakadu would return to the Northern Territory.
When that motion is passed here tomorrow, I am hopeful that the Commonwealth will start to take notice and will stop ignoring us. They are our parks and we have a good reputation. It is my intention also to seek the support of the traditional owners for our closer involvement in the plan of management and park management there by the Conservation Commission. I hope I will receive the opposition's full support tomorrow on that motion to ensure that we are not overlooked and that one of the Territory's greatest assets, Kakadu National Park, is not run by a group of people from southern Australia who close it down when they go on holiday. I say that because I learnt that one of the reasons why the park is not open in the December/January/February period is because the staff take leave. They leave the Territory because the weather is too hot for them, and they return to the south. That is what happens, and that is why people are unable to visit the falls and witness them in all their magnificent glory in the wet season. It is because those staff are not there; they have all gone home. It is not good enough, and members of this parliament should stand up and say so tomorrow.
Page 531
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016