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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-06-21 Daily Xml
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ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (15:11): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Leader of the Government representing the Minister for Environment and Conservation a question about the Department of Environment and Natural Resources budget cuts impacting on Friends of Parks volunteers.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: I understand that an increasing number of concerns are being expressed by Friends of Parks groups about a decline in the availability of liaison rangers and the continuing reduction in district budgets. The groups are well aware that the government is imposing serious budget restrictions across the board and that DENR is by no means exempt. It has been their clear understanding, however, that national park regional services and on-ground ranger resources would be quarantined from such cuts. This assurance apparently came two years ago from the then minister.

They now understand that voluntary separation packages have been offered to, and accepted by, a number of rangers, many with significant experience. Staffing and budget reductions are imposing more demands on Friends of Parks groups and their volunteers and in some cases are requiring groups to fund materials previously supplied by the agency. There has also not been any great improvement in on-ground resourcing flowing from the integration process with NRM boards.

This is all in a context where DENR is seeking to formulate a number of far-reaching strategies, including a visitor strategy, Linking Adelaide with Nature and NatureLinks, that will impose further resource requirements upon regional staff. I am advised that Friends of Parks groups are becoming increasingly disillusioned about the situation. My questions are:

1. Will the minister ensure that the commitment made by his predecessor that national park regional services and on-ground ranger resources will be quarantined from funding cuts will be met?

2. Will he also recognise the unique and valuable work that Friends of Parks groups dedicate to parks across South Australia by ensuring that departmental budget cuts do not impact adversely on those extraordinary volunteers?

3. Will the minister also explain what the reference to cooperative management arrangements for the Flinders Ranges, Gawler Ranges and Lake Gairdner national parks in this year's budget statement targets actually means?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (15:14): I thank the honourable member for his important questions and will refer those to the Minister for Environment and Conservation in another place and bring back a response.

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