Mr WOOD - 2002-10-17
I understand work has started, or is about to start on the Blackmore River Prawn Farm in the Darwin rural area. One of the last hurdles to the project was the hearing of native title objections to the government’s compulsory acquisition of land for the project by the Lands Tribunal. The tribunal’s decision shows that the native title claimants withdrew their objections, and that the government agreed to grant a portion of the land to a representative Aboriginal body. Could the minister please give details of the land grant, and to which Aboriginal organisation it went?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I must confess I am not up to date with that project. It has passed into the province of the Minister for Planning and it is not with me any more. The last time I had anything to do with it, there was such an arrangement being worked out but I have no recent information.
Ms Martin: We could pass it to the minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes. Minister?
Mr VATSKALIS (Transport and Infrastructure): Madam Speaker, all interests, including native title rights and interests, being approximately 756 hectares of land at Blackmore River, were acquired on 4 September 2002 following successful negotiation between the government and the Northern Land Council.
I cannot go any further because apparently there are legal proceedings in place at the moment, and I do not think it is very wise for me to comment on it because I do not want to prejudice the outcome of these legal proceedings. There were 756 hectares were acquired following successful negotiations between the government and the Northern Land Council, and that is as far as I can go.
Mr Burke: There is only a claim.
Mr Baldwin: Well, what was the deal?
Mr Burke: It was only a claim. They did not own the land; it is only a claim.
Mr VATSKALIS: Should the member wish to have a briefing, I am prepared to provide it to him as soon as he wants.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I must confess I am not up to date with that project. It has passed into the province of the Minister for Planning and it is not with me any more. The last time I had anything to do with it, there was such an arrangement being worked out but I have no recent information.
Ms Martin: We could pass it to the minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes. Minister?
Mr VATSKALIS (Transport and Infrastructure): Madam Speaker, all interests, including native title rights and interests, being approximately 756 hectares of land at Blackmore River, were acquired on 4 September 2002 following successful negotiation between the government and the Northern Land Council.
I cannot go any further because apparently there are legal proceedings in place at the moment, and I do not think it is very wise for me to comment on it because I do not want to prejudice the outcome of these legal proceedings. There were 756 hectares were acquired following successful negotiations between the government and the Northern Land Council, and that is as far as I can go.
Mr Burke: There is only a claim.
Mr Baldwin: Well, what was the deal?
Mr Burke: It was only a claim. They did not own the land; it is only a claim.
Mr VATSKALIS: Should the member wish to have a briefing, I am prepared to provide it to him as soon as he wants.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016