Ms BADGER question to MINISTER for PARKS, Mr DUIGAN
Tasmanians have deep concerns for the current and future management and planning in our parks. They have seen you go to extreme lengths to facilitate exclusive development, including changing the TWWHA management plan, renewing a private lease over a World Heritage island to a company under court-ordered administration, overseeing the land-banking operation of the EOI process, and the reforms to the RAA that you did commit to are now three years overdue with no timeframe for implementation.
Good planning for our universally outstanding wild places is crucial to making sure they are properly protected in perpetuity. Can you confirm that NRE Tasmania has been consulted on the government’s agenda to undermine Tasmania’s planning system and what was NRE’s response? Can you explain how any new planning processes will coexist with the separate independent assessment panels that are being proposed by NRE?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the member for the question because it is an important matter to all Tasmanians. Our parks and reserves systems are a point of pride for all of Tasmania and all Tasmanians. More than 50 per cent of our state is held in parks and reserves and there is a great deal of work involved in the looking after, the attendance and the maintenance of that. There is a great deal of thought and consideration given to providing appropriate access into those special places in Tasmania.
I note the reference you made to our EOI process, which I would back in as a way that we can triage sensitive tourist developments and visitor access to our parks and reserves estate. It is a particularly important aspect of what we seek to do.
The SPEAKER – Come to the question, minister.
Mr DUIGAN – As to planning and aspects of that regard – which after a reasonable preamble was the central tenet of your question – I would refer those matters of planning to the Planning minister responsible. Parks will continue to –
Ms Badger – You are responsible for NRE, you know that, right?
The SPEAKER – Thank you.
Mr DUIGAN – Indeed, I am responsible.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER – All members will stop interjecting. The minister for Planning can help answer the question if he wants but only by taking the call. Members will stop interjecting and the minister will address the question he was asked.
Mr DUIGAN – As I say, planning is a matter for the minister for Planning and Parks, of course, are a matter for me. I am very pleased at the way NRE is administrating its support to our Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service. I congratulate and thank the people out there today participating in fire management and things of that nature as we prepare for the summer ahead. I hope all those people who are out on the Three Capes Track today or the Overland Track have a great day. It is a great offering that we have here in Australia.
Ms BADGER – Speaker, point of order, Standing Order 45, relevance. The question was around the NRE’s separate independent assessment panels to planning under NRE, under the Parks minister, and how NRE was consulted in relation to that separate process.
The SPEAKER – I will take the point of order on relevance and call the minister back to the lectern to answer and draw him to the question, otherwise he will get a supplementary question.
Mr DUIGAN – Was that the supplementary?
Dr Woodruff – No, you were not listening?
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER – No. In this House we have points of order and I will ask you not to waste the time of the House and actually address the question, minister.
Mr DUIGAN – In terms of DAPs, NRE has absolutely been consulted through that process. They have been one of the key stakeholders through the development of that process.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Ms BADGER – A supplementary question, Speaker?
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary question.
Ms BADGER – Back to the original question. In that case, what was NRE’s response as how the new planning processes will coexist with the separate independent assessment panels that have also been recommended by NRE?
The SPEAKER – That was the original question so the supplementary is in order.
Mr DUIGAN – I will need to take that one on notice to provide some detail for you.
Ms Badger – When will that be?
The SPEAKER – First of all, you do not get to yell out another question. The minister can resume his seat. I will confirm with the government that that question has been taken on notice and we will expect an answer by the end of the day.
