Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

None . . Page.. 650 ..

of the heritage value of that place to the Australian Capital Territory. So, it is “just look at the bottom line” time. Those are not the sorts of attitudes that Labor in opposition can sit idly by and tolerate.

But it turns out that the management of Namadgi by the ACT is cheaper than that offered by New South Wales - or it seems that way. So, the Liberals came up with a new plan within minutes, perhaps within half an hour or so - to flog it off to the private sector and to let the private sector manage it. But that caused so much of an outrage that they had to backtrack again.

Mr Humphries: It was a 360-degree backflip, was it?

MR BERRY: It is just backtracking all the time from these silly, straight-from-the-lip decisions. Now I hear that the private sector will run only the kiosk. It is very hard to work out - - -

Mr Humphries: They already do, you idiot.

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker - - -

Mr Humphries: I am sorry, Mr Speaker. I withdraw that.

MR BERRY: He knows that that is not true.

Mr Humphries: I could not help myself. I am sorry. But they do run it already.

MR BERRY: You need help but you could not help yourself. Yesterday the Minister for the Environment claimed that he just wanted to get some options on the table. I notice that also yesterday he said, “If you think this is a crock of poo, you can do what you like with it”. I know what I would like to do with it, and I am going to try to do it. It is something of considerable concern to me. At this point, Mr Speaker, I would like to circulate a motion which I intend to move at the conclusion of this MPI discussion. So, here we are, Mr Speaker, with an options worry. I want to rule out some of those options. That is why I have circulated the motion which members will receive shortly. I want to rule out giving away Namadgi National Park, or giving the impression that one is considering it or creating any angst at all about it. I want to rule out handing over the management to the private sector. This park is regarded by the community as precious, or priceless, and it has to be secured in a decisive way. That is why I have decided to go down the path of proposing a motion for consideration by this Assembly.

The management of national parks is not an entrepreneurial profit-making venture. It is about preserving our environment, our heritage, our culture and the culture of the Aboriginal people, ensuring that those things are not downgraded and ensuring that the sensitive balance is maintained. To understand what is involved means understanding what the park does, understanding what it contributes to the ACT, understanding what it means not only to the people of the ACT but to many other Australians, perhaps even all Australians, understanding its place in the wider environment and the surrounding region

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .