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 Mr Speaker Vale took the Chair at 10 am. MOTION Kakadu National Park Mr HATTON (Chief Minister)(by leave): Mr Speaker, I move that: (1) this Assembly, being of the view that Stage 2 of Kakadu National Park does not meet stringent criteria adopted by UNESCO for the inscription of areas on the World Heritage List, unanimously: (a) condemns the Commonwealth government's efforts to secure World Heritage listing of Stage 2 of Kakadu National Park; (b) calls on the Commonwealth government to withdraw immediately its nomination to the World Heritage Committee; and (c) calls on the consultation meeting of conservation procedures. Commonwealth government to adhere to the provisions of the resolution of the 1984 the Commonwealth, state and territory ministers on World Heritage Convention (2) this Assembly is further of the view that the mineral wealth of the Gimbat and Goodparla pastoral leases is a significant national asset; (3) this Assembly therefore strongly supports the Commonwealth government's announced intention to permit exploration and mining on the Gimbat and Goodparla pastoral leases and calls on the Commonwealth to ensure that the whole of these leases are open to exploration immediately; and (4) the terms of this resolution be transmitted to the Prime Minister forthwith. Mr Speaker~ it is fitting that this debate is taking place today which, after all, is Remembrance Day. This is the 11th day of the 11th month. It is the day on which Australians remember the fallen in war and we reflect upon our nationhood. It is truly symbolic that this Assembly has seen fit to debate this motion now because it is of crucial importance to our nation, its people and to the next generation of citizens of the seventh state of the federation', the Northern Territory of Australia. The motion is more important than the mere empire-building exercises of certain Canberra bureaucrats. It is more important than the gullibility of certain ministers in another government. It is certainly of greater significance than the lame attempts of a discredited national government to win back the votes of extremist conservationists and it is more significant than the publicity-seeking habits of our Prime Minister. What is happening, what has already happened and what is about to happen at Kakadu is of such importance that it demands a clear expression of our 749