Mrs BRAHAM - 2007-04-17
Currently, consultation is occurring between custodians over the site clearance for the Dalgety Road development. However, Senator Nigel Scullion said on talkback radio last Thursday:
As an indigenous member of this parliament, do you not respect the local custodians and their wishes? Have you already decided to override any consultation presently occurring? Have you already given your agreement that these sites go ahead? Are you aware that, this morning, the member for Macdonnell was asked by one of the custodians if she would allow her people to camp on this land, and she said: ‘No’? Is Senator Scullion correct; have you given your approval to override the wishes of the custodians? Will you, as an indigenous person, disregard the decisions and wishes of the custodians? Will you support a certificate of clearance or not?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, for future questions, I remind you and all honourable members that when you are referring to members, they are members and they do not need any qualification in relation to what type of member.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not believe I need to say much at all in respect of my background and heritage; I believe it has all been said in this House. The important point I wish to make is that I certainly do respect the rights of traditional owners. I respect the rights of all people who reside in the Northern Territory. As a minister of the Crown, that is my absolute and total responsibility.
There is some suggestion on the part of Nigel Scullion, as I understand it, on the Matt Conlan show regarding some suggestion that I, as the minister, have given some sort of approval in respect of the site in question, which is the Dalgety site. I state categorically that under no circumstances has Nigel Scullion contacted my office in respect of this matter. He certainly has not spoken to me, nor to any officers in my office in Darwin.
The important point is this: there is a process in respect of the Dalgety site. You would be aware that the NT government put in place some very stringent conditions in respect of management …
Mrs Braham: They do not even have a site clearance certificate yet.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr McADAM: Hold on a minute, member for Braitling. I am quite happy to address that. As I said, there were some very strict management conditions put in place. As part of those very strict conditions, there were also conditions with respect to the granting of a certificate in respect of the sacred site.
Of course, that process is presently under way. That is how it should be. Under no circumstances should I, as the minister, in any way interfere in the process. The Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority is a statutory body and I am not permitted to interfere in that process.
In conclusion, I want to make it very clear that I do respect the rights of indigenous people and, indeed, all people in the Northern Territory, as I said. There is a process and that is how it is going to be.
Mrs Braham: So when it is against the wishes of the people …
Mr McADAM: It is not! I do not wish to debate this with you. I make it very clear to you that there is a process in place that is presently being undertaken by the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority in respect of the sacred site. Of course, they will continue to carry out consultations and they will make a decision in due course. I hope that answers your question sufficiently, but the important point I want to make is that I respect the rights of all people who live in the Northern Territory and, more importantly, I have to respect the rights of agencies that are charged by this government …
Mrs Braham: So they have precedence over …
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Braitling! Cease interjecting.
Mr McADAM: Madam Speaker, I believe I have answered sufficiently.
- I did check with the minister’s office. We are informed by Elliot McAdam that, yes, there are some sacred sites in the area, but they are up on the ridge and in terms of the construction, the level of amenity that we are providing in that area will have no impact on it whatsoever, and the minister’s office … the advice is from the Northern Territory government that there is nothing to impede commencement of the construction, and that is exactly the way the Commonwealth are going.
As an indigenous member of this parliament, do you not respect the local custodians and their wishes? Have you already decided to override any consultation presently occurring? Have you already given your agreement that these sites go ahead? Are you aware that, this morning, the member for Macdonnell was asked by one of the custodians if she would allow her people to camp on this land, and she said: ‘No’? Is Senator Scullion correct; have you given your approval to override the wishes of the custodians? Will you, as an indigenous person, disregard the decisions and wishes of the custodians? Will you support a certificate of clearance or not?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, for future questions, I remind you and all honourable members that when you are referring to members, they are members and they do not need any qualification in relation to what type of member.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not believe I need to say much at all in respect of my background and heritage; I believe it has all been said in this House. The important point I wish to make is that I certainly do respect the rights of traditional owners. I respect the rights of all people who reside in the Northern Territory. As a minister of the Crown, that is my absolute and total responsibility.
There is some suggestion on the part of Nigel Scullion, as I understand it, on the Matt Conlan show regarding some suggestion that I, as the minister, have given some sort of approval in respect of the site in question, which is the Dalgety site. I state categorically that under no circumstances has Nigel Scullion contacted my office in respect of this matter. He certainly has not spoken to me, nor to any officers in my office in Darwin.
The important point is this: there is a process in respect of the Dalgety site. You would be aware that the NT government put in place some very stringent conditions in respect of management …
Mrs Braham: They do not even have a site clearance certificate yet.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr McADAM: Hold on a minute, member for Braitling. I am quite happy to address that. As I said, there were some very strict management conditions put in place. As part of those very strict conditions, there were also conditions with respect to the granting of a certificate in respect of the sacred site.
Of course, that process is presently under way. That is how it should be. Under no circumstances should I, as the minister, in any way interfere in the process. The Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority is a statutory body and I am not permitted to interfere in that process.
In conclusion, I want to make it very clear that I do respect the rights of indigenous people and, indeed, all people in the Northern Territory, as I said. There is a process and that is how it is going to be.
Mrs Braham: So when it is against the wishes of the people …
Mr McADAM: It is not! I do not wish to debate this with you. I make it very clear to you that there is a process in place that is presently being undertaken by the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority in respect of the sacred site. Of course, they will continue to carry out consultations and they will make a decision in due course. I hope that answers your question sufficiently, but the important point I want to make is that I respect the rights of all people who live in the Northern Territory and, more importantly, I have to respect the rights of agencies that are charged by this government …
Mrs Braham: So they have precedence over …
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Braitling! Cease interjecting.
Mr McADAM: Madam Speaker, I believe I have answered sufficiently.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016