Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to—

Michael Forshaw (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Forshaw interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Wait a minute, Senator Brown. Senator Forshaw!

Bill Heffernan (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Heffernan interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And Senator Heffernan!

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We’ve got the new senators here, Michael.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you for your help, Senator Abetz.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And four of them are Greens senators. I put my question to the Minister representing—

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Wait a minute, Senator Brown. I cannot hear you.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Senator Conroy. I refer to the statement of 11 August from the former minister, Peter Garrett, committing to expanding the Kakadu National Park to include the 1,200 hectares of the Koongarra Indigenous lands. What action has the government taken or will the government take to fulfil that promise?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Brown, for that question. I have some information for you. Koongarra is Aboriginal land, so to become part of Kakadu it will first need to be leased to the Director of National Parks. The proclamation that created Kakadu National Park will need to be amended with another proclamation by the Governor-General covering the Koongarra area. It is fitting that this spectacular area become part of the Kakadu World Heritage area, and the Gillard government will be applying to the World Heritage Committee for this to occur shortly. World Heritage listing recognises places of outstanding heritage value, the conservation of which is important for current and future generations. Sites that are nominated for World Heritage listing are placed on the list only after they have been assessed as representing the best examples of the world’s cultural and natural heritage.

Australia currently has 18 properties on the World Heritage List. Recent studies show that our 18 World Heritage properties generate $12 billion annually and support over 120,000 jobs across the country. Before making a decision about the future of Koongarra, the government consulted with the mining company, based in France, in accordance with the requirements of procedural fairness. The government took the company’s dues into account when making its decision. Notwithstanding the company’s commercial interest in exploiting the resources at the site, Koongarra could never have been mined without the permission of its Aboriginal owners and they have been very clear that they would not allow this to happen. As there has been no exploration activity in the Koongarra area for over two decades and no mining has ever occurred there, no jobs will be lost as a result of this decision. The Australian government is committed to comprehensive environmental assessment and stringent environmental controls on all uranium mines based on world’s best practice standards. (Time expired)

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Dorothy dixer questions don’t suit you, Bob.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask the minister if he is aware—in response to interjections from the opposition—that the opposition spokesperson on the environment, Greg Hunt, also supported this inclusion in the national park and World Heritage area, with the agreement of the traditional owners. Could the minister say what support the opposition has given to ensuring that this timetable is on track and that by Christmas we may see Koongarra become part of the Kakadu World Heritage area?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We would welcome their support, Senator Brown. I am sure that my colleague Mr Burke will be, if he has not already, taking up this issue with those opposite. We do believe it is absolutely right to honour the wishes of the land’s traditional owners. Some, perhaps, are not aware that Koongarra has—I am sure Senator Brown does understand this—spectacular views over to Lightning Dreaming, home of the path of creation ancestor Lightning Man, who local Indigenous people believe is responsible for the dramatic electrical storms on the Arnhem plateau. So this is a very significant area, Senator Brandis, as I am sure you understand. Notwithstanding some of the mocking we are hearing from some of those opposite, I am sure ultimately they will be willing to support it. (Time expired)