Ms BADGER question to ACTING MINISTER for PARKS, Ms OGILVIE
[11.05 a.m.]
This question is on behalf of Liz McQuilkin, who asks:
My father, Reg Hall, was a Tasmanian wilderness identity known as the Father of the Walls of Jerusalem, having mapped and named this special area and constructed the heritage-listed hut on Halls Island.
Before my father died, he passed the Halls Island lease to me. Years later, in good faith, I transferred this lease to Mr Daniel Hackett on the strict provision that he looks after the hut and honour my father’s wishes that Halls Island be kept away from developers and open to all. Mr Hackett betrayed our understanding by proposing a helicopter tourism development for the island and the hut is rapidly deteriorating.
By 31 March, Mr Hackett must have all project approvals in place to satisfy the lease requirements. It’s impossible Mr Hackett meets this deadline.
Minister, on behalf of the Hall family and the Tasmanian bushwalking and fly-fishing communities, will you use your power to cancel the lease?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the member very much for the question which, obviously, is a serious one. I have some information that I can provide to you. The Halls Island Lake Malbena proposal remains subject to all relevant local, state and Australian government planning and approval processes. At this time, it is a matter with the Australian government to progress and Senator Murray Watt, the Minister for the Environment and Water, has carriage of this matter. As for an extension, I’ll take advice in relation to the lease and licence arrangements for Halls Island.
The deed of variation is clear. The Minister for Parks should not under unreasonably withhold consent to an extension if the operator is responding to requests from the Commonwealth within a reasonable timeframe. I am aware, following a review of that advice and in consideration of the time and resources the proponent has expended to date on the EPBC referral, that the Minister for Parks granted an extension to 31 March this year. As previously stated, the lease and deed of variation are publicly available –
Ms Badger – Actually, they’re not.
The SPEAKER – Order.
Ms OGILVIE – on the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania’s website as an active disclosure for some years. The extension instrument is also available on the website.
As I’ve said, I’ll take advice in relation to the lease and licence arrangements for Halls Island. The Australian government’s assessment is underway. The deed of variation is clear that the Minister for Parks should not unreasonably withhold consent to an extension if the operator is responding to requests from the Commonwealth within a reasonable time.
In relation to the condition of the hut, I am aware recent images of the hut have been supplied by those with an interest in its future. As a result, I understand Heritage Tasmania is seeking a condition update from the leaseholder and will determine further actions based on the response. I have asked the Parks and Wildlife Service to keep me updated on this matter and provide further advice to me. However, I understand Heritage Tasmania reviewed the condition of the hut in 2024 following correspondence from a number of parties and reported that an examination of images in 2024 showed little decline from those at the time of Heritage listing in 2021.
Dr Woodruff – They should go and have a look in person.
The SPEAKER – Order.
Ms OGILVIE – Heritage Tasmania has not raised any concerns regarding the hut condition since its listing in 2021. As I’ve said, I am awaiting further advice from PWS in relation to the most recent images.
Supplementary Question
Ms BADGER – You said the minister would not ‘unreasonably’ be able to withdraw that lease. I’m sure we can all agree in this place that someone who is not paying for that lease and is thousands of dollars in arrears to the department is quite unreasonable. The fact that they are in a court-ordered liquidation and haven’t overturned that is quite unreasonable. The fact that they are withholding cultural heritage landscape assessments from the Aboriginal community is quite unreasonable.
The SPEAKER – Ms Badger, it’s not time –
Ms BADGER – Therefore, minister, this is in your hands. This is not for the federal department. This is your lease with your signature that will go on it as acting Parks minister. Will you exercise your powers –
The SPEAKER – The member’s time has expired. I remind members that a supplementary is not time for a speech or a debate, it is to ask a question.
Ms OGILVIE – May I seek some clarification? I don’t think she actually got the question in in in time.
The SPEAKER – There was an element of a question. Does the minister have anything further to add?
Ms OGILVIE – Thank you, yes, I do. I was actually listening and waiting for the question. You have to watch your clock.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER – Order.
Ms OGILVIE – I can give you a little additional information. I understand that when the federal minister makes a final decision, this will be published by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water on the EPBC Public Portal.
Dr Woodruff – About the lease.
The SPEAKER – Order.
Ms OGILVIE – In relation to the current process which is being undertaken by the proponent and at the direction of the Australian government, I can’t be making further comment while the process is under assessment. A decision on whether the proposal will proceed has not been made by the Parks and Wildlife Service at this time.
Ms BADGER – Point of order, Speaker, Standing Order 44, relevance. I didn’t ask about the federal process, I’m asking about the lease.
The SPEAKER – Standing order 44 is about you, the questioner, which actually states you shouldn’t be –
Ms BADGER – Didn’t I say 45?
The SPEAKER – The Standing Order is 45.
