Ms O’CONNOR question to MINISTER for PARKS, Mr DUIGAN
Ms O’CONNOR – Back-country heritage is also a crucial value underpinning the social fabric of Tasmania’s national parks and world heritage area. It is really important, and I am sure that you would agree, that those who claim to speak on behalf of a place have the permission of those whose stories they plan to tell.
Liz McQuilkin is Reg Hall’s daughter and was the Halls Island leaseholder from 1979 when it was passed from her father to her, until she transferred the licence to Daniel Hackett. You may know this history, but she transferred the licence to Hackett on the understanding that he would take care of Halls hut. His proposal would be low impact and respectful of wilderness and that island and hut would remain accessible to everyone.
That is not where we are. Liz McQuilkin has been betrayed. She feels she has by Daniel Hackett and she has voiced this betrayal in a letter to the federal minister for the environment. She said she does not support the current proposal by Daniel Hackett. Minister, what are you doing to exercise due diligence to ensure that Mr Hackett consults the Hall family whose heritage he seeks to interpret?
ANSWER
Mr President, I will seek some advice.
I am advised that throughout the planning and approvals phases of the Lake Malbena project, there have been opportunities for public consultation and engagement. How the proponent would go about interpreting his offering is certainly not a matter for government. I will not be leaning into that.
Ms O’Connor – We are talking about the family who handed over the lease to it.
Mr DUIGAN – You can understand that, I, as the minister am not going to insert myself into that sort of argument.
Ms O’Connor – You can make some inquiries about his assumptions.
Mr DUIGAN – What we have is a proponent waiting for a determination under the Environment, Protection and Biodiversity Conversation Act. My role is providing the lease permit to continue.
