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MINISTER FERGUSON: |
The Kimberley Landscapes Program is very important to us because it's about promoting Australia.
When you look at the National Landscapes, Kimberley now is the 10th member of the Tourism Australia-Parks Australia Program. It's about how we promote the natural beauty of Australia overseas and in doing so also properly promote our cultural heritage.
The Kimberley represents a wonderful opportunity to actually sell the new Australian message, there's nothing like Australia, come on down to Australia, go to the Kimberley, travel through it, just see the natural beauty. Also experience the importance of Indigenous tourism and, in doing so, I might say, we create real jobs locally and attract further investment. |
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QUESTION: |
What's the time frame for that to happen though (Kimberley gas hub)? I mean, it was working towards a June deadline. |
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MINISTER FERGUSON: |
Look, the timeline will probably blow out. That's a matter of fact but we've got to get it right. If it takes a little bit longer then so be it but of course, we're talking about potentially multibillion dollar investments but the Indigenous considerations are only one part of the complex process. There are separate environmental processes to also be fully developed and explored. |
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QUESTION: |
There has been the suggestion made that it's - there's a conflict between promoting the beauty of the region and promoting fairly large industrial projects. Do you see any conflict there? |
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MINISTER FERGUSON: |
There's no conflict at all. Firstly, can I say all environmental matters are handled at arm's length to me by Peter Garrett, the Minister for Environment Protection.
Let's have a think about the size of the Kimberley. It is twice the size of the state of Victoria.
James Price Point represents about 2000 hectares of the Kimberley. That is, in essence, 0.0005 per cent of the Kimberley land mass and if a gas hub actually goes ahead it'll have to meet all the appropriate environmental considerations required by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. |
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QUESTION: |
Can I just bother you with one quick question on that score? You signed about a year ago, James Price Point, you signed the heads of agreement, meeting with Woodside, with the State Government and with the KLC and with traditional owners. They're going to pull their claim out. That means the KLC won't be representing anyone at that time. Does your heads of agreement still stand as a binding agreement? |
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MINISTER FERGUSON: |
The heads of agreement in terms of actually progressing consideration of James Price Point goes ahead. Any internal issues going to the operation of the Kimberley Land Council will be matters for the Kimberley Land Council and legal processes to determine. |
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QUESTION: |
Wayne Bergmann said this morning that he would prefer native title to be resolved once and for all in the Federal Court before ILUA is signed. He's saying six to nine months minimum. Is that a realistic time frame for industry, would you think? |
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MINISTER FERGUSON: |
Look, Indigenous negotiations are always complex and I must say they're being made more complex around Australia by outside organisations seeking now to intrude into Indigenous decision-making processes.
I'm comfortable with where the process is up to at the moment. There are clearly legal proceedings on foot. They're not of government - they are not in the hands of the Government to resolve, they'll be resolved by the courts but I simply say, in many ways the Indigenous community all around Australia is now saying they want economic development. Past processes have failed but they also have proper regard for environmental considerations and they see economic development as being central to the Australian Government's Closing the Gap strategy because it creates real jobs and economic opportunities at a local level. |
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QUESTION: |
You'd agree that that isn't a view shared unanimously by all traditional owners in the Kimberley. |
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MINISTER FERGUSON: |
Look, I'm in the centre of a number of disputed land claims at the moment but I must say I take this view: they are matters to be determined by an Indigenous community, there's no role for me and I will not seek to intrude into those processes. If it can't be resolved internally by proper discussion amongst the Indigenous community then legal proceedings will determine those issues. |
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QUESTION: |
You can't afford to ignore those Indigenous though. I mean, if there's two claims there and the KLC's running one and you're just dealing with the KLC doesn't that mean they decide pretty well what's going to happen? I mean, even if they're not representing someone you'll still deal with them? |
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MINISTER FERGUSON: |
In terms of the Indigenous negotiations, they have to be conducted through the Land Council. That's no different to what's going on, for example, in the Northern Territory and Queensland at this time with respect to a number of other issues I'm involved in but if they can't be resolved through the normal land council processes then every party has a right to actually pursue separate legal considerations. We'll await and see what the outcome of those considerations are. |
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QUESTION: |
You don't think they'll delay or... |
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MINISTER FERGUSON: |
No, I think the intent of all parties is to continue negotiations in good faith. That's what the Indigenous community wants, that's what the West Australian and the Australian government desire, it's also what Woodside and the joint venture parties desire and I'm confident that one way or another we'll get through these complex matters.
You've got to understand, there are always going to be disputed issues in the Indigenous community, in the same way in which there are in the local community here, and in Canberra and any state or local government process. |
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QUESTION: |
Just quickly while we've got you, Minister Ferguson, NT, the proposed nuclear waste dump. There's some protests occurring in Darwin today. Are you worried about the, you know, the views being forward by TOs that they've been ignored in this process? |
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MINISTER FERGUSON: |
Not at all. Every time I go to Darwin there's a protest so, you know, that's just the nature of my job, nature of Peter's job but, look, the Ngapa people have spoken. They have actually met and they've decided that as it's their land, they're prepared to volunteer it for scientific and environmental consideration to actually resolve the outstanding issue of where we store low and medium level nuclear waste in Australia.
Again, if there is any disputation as to the Land Council's decision-making process, then let it go to court but I'll say this: no one is disputing that the land in question is owned by the Ngapa people. |