Ms O’CONNOR question to MINISTER for PARKS and ENVIRONMENT, Mr DUIGAN
Minister, when defending the Halls Island helicopter proposal, you tried out the line that you support sensitive developments. So did your predecessor and multiple Liberal premiers since the expressions of interest process was first launched in 2015. Did you realise that this one development, the proposed heli‑tourism project on Halls Island by an internationally recognised metric, will degrade over 5000 hectares of wilderness‑quality landscape? That is a point that your previous federal counterpart Sussan Ley made clear in her response under an EPBC assessment. That is a fact. Minister, how can you justify this as the minister entrusted to protect our wilderness and wild places?
ANSWER
Mr President, I thank the member for the question. I would note that the Halls Island, Lake Malbena process is still underway. There are no helicopters flying into our parks. A thrill for you. We are talking about 16 minutes a week. When we are striving to strike a balance, that is what this is about, 16 minutes a week. I think that could be looked at. I understand the metric that you are putting out and I am not sure it is universally accepted. What we need to do, as the government, is look for sensitive, sustainable ways to draw visitors into our parks and reserves who have every right to be there.
Supplementary Question
Ms O’CONNOR – Minister, are you telling the Council that you believe multiple helicopter flights into the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage area will not impact on wilderness values?
Mr DUIGAN – The proposal is being assessed.
