Ms O’CONNOR question to MINISTER for PARKS, Mr DUIGAN
The expiry of the lease on Halls Island is two weeks away. Presumably there has been some advice to you from your departmental advisers about the pending expiry of the lease despite its extension.
What due diligence have you or the agency exercised to assure yourself the proponent of the Halls Island heli‑tourism venture is doing all they can to meet the requirements of the request for further information made by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment? Given the history so far and all these failings that were listed in our original question, why would you choose to renew a lease to a proponent who has refused to pay his lease fees in the past?
ANSWER
Madam Deputy President, I would say that EPBC process is a matter for the Commonwealth government. I have nothing in front of me at the moment.
