INNAMINCKA REGIONAL RESERVE

Adjourned debate on motion of the Minister for State/Local Government Relations:

That this council requests His Excellency the Governor to make a proclamation under section 34A(2) of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 excluding the following land from the Innamincka Regional Reserve: sections 791, 1081-1084, Out of Hundreds (Innamincka); allotments 41, 44, 48, 63-72, 77-82, 84-100, 115-118, 127-132, 135, 136, 151-164, 168-175, 179-186, 188-194, 196, 198-201, Township of Innamincka, Out of Hundreds (Innamincka); allotments 51 and 52, Deposited Plan 84007, Out of Hundreds (Innamincka); Allotment 54, Deposited Plan 84009, Out of Hundreds (Innamincka).

(Continued from 23 November 2010.)

The Hon. M. PARNELL (15:29): I rise to conclude my remarks on this motion, and in so doing take the opportunity to thank the minister for providing me with answers to a number of questions that I raised. I understand the minister will read those answers into the Hansard record. This motion provides for some important improvements in relation to the ability of traditional owners to undertake activities with some autonomy, including providing them with freehold title to some parcels of land. I understand, from the minister's response, that we do not yet know exactly which parcels of land will be transferred to the traditional owners, but I would hope that the government will be generous in its dealings with these people.

Lest any members think that I have made a bit of a mountain out of a molehill, given that this is a relatively small area that we are talking about, I remind members that we have had lodged today, just before question time, a ministerial statement from the Premier referring to considerable economic development proposed in the north-east corner of our state in relation to the Cooper Basin gas project, which the Premier describes as one that will create more than 1,000 jobs during its construction phase and hundreds of jobs during the operation of this proposed liquefied natural gas project.

It has also come to my attention that the Queensland government proposes to seal the road to the Queensland border which, as I understand it, is some 50 kilometres from Innamincka. So I feel that the pressure for development on this remote area will only increase; hence the importance of making sure that we have proper planning rules in place to ensure that development is appropriate, sensitive to the local environment and, in relation to traditional owners, sensitive to their wishes as well. With those few words in conclusion, I advise that the Greens support the motion, and I look forward to the minister reading into Hansard answers to some of the questions I posed earlier.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon S.G. Wade.