Parliamentary record : Part I debates (11 November 1986)
Debates for 4th Assembly 1983 - 1987; ParliamentNT; Parliamentary Record; 4th Assembly 1983 - 1987
1986-11-11
Made available by the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
English
Debates
Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
Darwin
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Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
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https://hdl.handle.net/10070/220605
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/698931
DEBATES - Tuesday 11 November 1986 these leases other than the Coronation Hill deposit will be opened up to mining should the exploration reveal worthwhile deposits of minerals. The Kakadu region is one of the most richly mineralised zones in the world and there is every likelihood that significant mineral deposits other than Coronation Hill will be located on the Gimbat and Goodparla leases. Given the Commonwealth's blemished record in such matters, we are naturally cautious about any promises the Commonwealth makes about access to exploration and mining. The final part of the motion aims to give some strength to the jelly-kneed members of the Labor Party who may feel inclined to back down on another act of faith with the Northern Territory on the Kakadu region. In conclusion, I wish to reiterate what I said at the beginning about the duty which faces members of this Assembly. Today we all have to make a personal choice about our duty to stand up for the interests of the Territory. Are we true Territorians who have the backbone to put the interests of the Northern Territory first? The vote on this motion will reveal who is for the Territory and who is against it. I hope we can be unanimous. I commend the motion to the Assembly. Mr B. COLLINS (Arafura): Mr Speaker, I move that the motion be amended by omitting all words after 'that' and inserting in their stead: all consideration by this Assembly of matters relating to the listing of stage 2 of Kakadu National Park on the World Heritage List be pos tponed unt il : (1) the Minister for Conservation tables in the Assembly: (a) the UNESCO documents detailing the stringent criteria for World Heritage listing; (b) a detailed brief relating to the presence or otherwise of these criteria in stage 2 of the park; and (c) the submission, together with attached documents, including videos, which it is intended to present to UNESCO in opposition to the listing of stage 2 of the park on the World Heritage List; and 2) all members of this Assembly have undertaken detailed inspections of stage 2 of the park. Mr Speaker, this amendment has been drawn up hastily because of the complete lack of notice given to the opposition that such a substantive debate would be conducted today. It exemplifies the reason why this current government should never get its hands on Kakadu National Park. I think that the Northern Territory government should control Kakadu National Park, and eventually will, but it will never do so while this kind of debate is brought on. The total pig ignorance of this government cannot be better demonstrated than by what it is trying to do in this Assembly this morning and I refer all honourable members to ... Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for Arafura will withdraw the remarks relating to the government. 754