CLC | About Us

CLC Press Releases

14 Augyust 2008 2008: Communities have their say on intervention ›› more
31 July 2008 2008: Fairfax news in bad taste ›› more
24 July 2008 2008: election: accountability needed ›› more
17 July 2008 2008: Royal commission needed into NT funding ›› more
11 July 2008 2008: Simpson Desert: the last land rights claim under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act ›› more
8 July 2008 2008: Sacred site damage at Wilora ›› more
30 May 2008: Seal the Mereenie Loop Road Now ›› more
27 May 2008: Angela Pamela Negotiations ›› more
9 May 2008: Angela Pamela and the native title process ›› more
18 February 2008: Coalition should support permit system ›› more
15 February 2008: Politicians threaten to derail fresh start ›› more
22 January 2008: Police ignorance upsets Lajamanu community ›› more
26 November 2007: Optimism for a fresh consensual approach on Aboriginal affairs ›› more
21 November 2007: Concerns over Central Petroleum tactics ›› more

New Parks deal - significant boost to the NT

"Expanding and enhancing the parks estate in Central Australia - one the of last pristine areas of the world - is one of the most exciting and significant boosts to the Northern Territory for years," CLC director David Ross said today.

Mr Ross was speaking as the Parks and Reserves (Framework for the Future) Bill was due to be passed in the Northern Territory Parliament.

"The CLC conducted numerous consultations with traditional landowners of parks and at the end of the day every group accepted the proposed deal," Mr Ross said.

This means that of the 27 parks included in the deal, 20 are in Central Australia .

"It is a tribute to the landowners that they had the foresight to make some tough compromises in the interests of seeing joint management become a reality," Mr Ross said.

"For the first time there will be public recognition of the cultural heritage of our parks and the crucial role that Aboriginal people play in managing country," he said.

"I urge parliamentarians of all stripes to back this. I assure the wider community that they have nothing to lose and everything to gain by embracing a balanced solution to a potentially complicated, costly and divisive situation in regard to outstanding land claims.

"This is a fair and equitable solution whereby Aboriginal people get a path forward through joint management, employment, cultural protection and in a few cases Aboriginal freehold title over land they have had under claim for years." said CLC director David Ross.

"The wider community will continue to enjoy parks with no fees or permits for entry and be able to be proud of a world class parks estate which will remain in the public domain for future generations."

"This will undoubtedly deliver some solid and enduring benefits to the tourism industry and conservation interests. Statistics tell us that a cultural experience is important to many visitors to Territory parks" he said.

"We are looking forward to getting to work on this arrangement and we will be putting extra effort into park related Aboriginal tourism initiatives and getting Aboriginal people out and working in parks as soon as possible," Mr Ross said.

16 February 2005

Contact Jane Hodson 0417877579

BACK

2003

Coniston an opportunity to acknowledge our past September 22

NT Government Bungles Cyanide Prosecution September 18

Mereenie Oil and Gas Agreement March 6 2003

Traditional owners welcome Mereenie Loop Road upgrade April 28 2003

2002

Yorta Yorta heritage survives despite dispossession December 12

NT Parks: victory for negotiation over litigation October 25

A Road Swap Win for All 4 April 2002