Ms CARNEY - 2005-08-24
I again refer to the letter from Mr Tyrrell regarding the wish list from CLC and NLC. Despite your assurances to the contrary, the NLC is now indicating that they may well withhold consent for the Northern Territory Parks Estate handover to go ahead because it would, ‘… seriously diminish the traditional owners’ rights to directly develop their lands …’. You have already broken several promises in relation to the time lines and conditions for the parks handover. Will you now give a guarantee that you will not renegotiate the arrangements for the parks estate beyond what you have promised?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the implication that we would renegotiate something that is in legislation without any reference to the legislation is absurd. When we passed the Parks and Reserves (Framework for the Future) Act in this parliament in February of this year, it was clearly stated that what was in that legislation was what we would be acting upon. That is what has been signed off by the two land councils involved, the Central Land Council and the Northern Land Council.
I cannot give you the details of where each of those elements areis at. However, as we have worked through the requirements following passage of that act, we have put together Indigenous Land Use Agreements, we have worked with traditional owners on those areas of land that will come under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act and the land to be scheduled is with the federal minister at the moment. We are moving progressively through the opportunities created by the Parks and Reserves (Framework for the Future) Act, the new parks estate that will be opened up and the new employment opportunities that will be there for indigenous people, both within the Northern and Central Land Council areas.
From my point of view, this is an opportunity for indigenous Territorians to have their relationship with the land recognised in this formal way, through legislation. It is an opportunity for job creation, for ongoing jobs in remote areas where many indigenous Territorians live and, as Tourism minister, I am delighted at the opportunity that the new parks and reserves estate will bring for tourism.
We are also working on the master plan for our parks estate. A lot of activity is happening. I assure members opposite that the agreement incorporated in that legislation we passed in February is what we are acting upon.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the implication that we would renegotiate something that is in legislation without any reference to the legislation is absurd. When we passed the Parks and Reserves (Framework for the Future) Act in this parliament in February of this year, it was clearly stated that what was in that legislation was what we would be acting upon. That is what has been signed off by the two land councils involved, the Central Land Council and the Northern Land Council.
I cannot give you the details of where each of those elements areis at. However, as we have worked through the requirements following passage of that act, we have put together Indigenous Land Use Agreements, we have worked with traditional owners on those areas of land that will come under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act and the land to be scheduled is with the federal minister at the moment. We are moving progressively through the opportunities created by the Parks and Reserves (Framework for the Future) Act, the new parks estate that will be opened up and the new employment opportunities that will be there for indigenous people, both within the Northern and Central Land Council areas.
From my point of view, this is an opportunity for indigenous Territorians to have their relationship with the land recognised in this formal way, through legislation. It is an opportunity for job creation, for ongoing jobs in remote areas where many indigenous Territorians live and, as Tourism minister, I am delighted at the opportunity that the new parks and reserves estate will bring for tourism.
We are also working on the master plan for our parks estate. A lot of activity is happening. I assure members opposite that the agreement incorporated in that legislation we passed in February is what we are acting upon.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016