Anne Webster (Mallee, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) under the cover of the United States of America's elections and the Melbourne Cup, the Victorian Government through Parks Victoria have declared they will close certain areas of Mount Arapiles in the Wimmera region for rock climbing due to cultural heritage concerns;

(b) local residents and rock climbing enthusiasts from around the nation are outraged by the decision, particularly as a prime Australian rock climbing destination and the potential devastating impact on the small community of Natimuk;

(c) on Monday, 18 November 2024, Parks Victoria Chief Executive Officer, Matthew Jackson told an inquiry that Parks Victoria does not consult on cultural heritage laws and had no obligation to consider its decision's economic impact on local communities; and

(d) doctors, nurses and allied health practitioners have been attracted to the region, including nearby Horsham, due to the availability of rock climbing and are now reconsidering whether to settle or remain in the region; and

(2) calls upon the:

(a) Commonwealth Government to explain its position on cultural heritage matters that are delivering gross inequities for the majority of Australians; and

(b) Victorian State Government to:

(i) genuinely consult with all stakeholders on the decision; and

(ii) ensure all established climbing routes at Mount Arapiles remain in force until such consultation has occurred; and

(3) reminds all levels of Government that on 14 October 2023 regional Victorians and Australians united and conclusively voted 'no' to this form of division in the Australian community.

Earlier today in my constituency statement I shared excerpts of the views of Natimuk locals on the Victorian government's proposal to ban rock climbing on a large portion of Mount Arapiles, near Natimuk in my electorate of Mallee. Locals fear the ban spells the death of Natimuk, and tragically many that live there will now leave the area if the bans stand.

Mount Arapiles is considered an international mecca for rock climbers. Some even profess a spiritual bond with the mountain. It is where rock climbers have developed techniques to protect the rock face that have been adopted throughout the world to preserve the surface for future generations. The Allan Labor government would have known this if they had consulted with the rock-climbing community. This is where the federal minister would do well to establish protocols on cultural heritage, so we don't see more public land in Australia locked up for the enjoyment, or even profit, of a select few.

As shadow assistant minister for regional health, I want to speak to paragraph 1(d) of this motion on the health impacts. First, I'll quote Dr Felix Ritson from Natimuk. He said to me:

I am a GP registrar employed at Lister House Clinic focusing on mental health (including youth mental health), addiction and chronic pain.

[There are] 3 GPs employed at Lister House Clinic, another GP at Goolum Goolum and the only local medical specialist (a Neurologist) moved to the Wimmera for its climbing access.

I know of 3 medical officers that were planning to move to the Wimmera to work as General Practitioners for its climbing, and have spoken to several other doctors who have expressed similar interest. After discussions with them this week I am doubtful they will still choose to move here.

2 of the local clinical psychologists are rock climbers. I know of a clinical psychologist who was planning to move to the Wimmera due to the climbing.

There are several nurses that moved to the area for climbing, and I know of an experienced mental health nurse and a new trainee registered nurse that were planning on likewise moving here for the climbing access.

Amanda Wilson, the CEO of Lister House Medical Clinic, echoed Dr Litson's concerns about losing their workforce, saying:

I point out Australian graduates because they are RARE to get into a rural community.

We also have a neurologist ([rare as] hens teeth to get to a rural area) here for the climbing, and MANY other professionals such as Nurses, Optometrists, physiotherapists, and allied health such as clinical psychologists.

These people have moved here BECAUSE of the climbing. I cannot implore you enough to stop this ban and create an inclusive space for everyone. We are going to lose a large portion of our medical community. It is hard enough to get a GP to a rural town, and to think we will have the MAIN reason they have come to this community, is going to be taken away.

Dr Alex MacAdam from Adelaide, wrote to me:

As a medical doctor, it has been my plan to move to the Wimmera in order to balance those two fields in which I have dedicated my life—medicine and climbing. I was in the market to buy a home in Natimuk, and work as an Emergency Department Doctor in Horsham, to dedicate my skills to the region. Unfortunately, I am now rethinking these plans, entirely due to the impending rock climbing bans at Mount Arapiles. I know of at least 20 other young professionals (doctors, teachers, and lawyers) who are in a similar situation to myself. These closures are not good for the region as a whole and will lead to a mass exodus of skilled professionals.

This is an absolute tragedy for the region of Wimmera and I urge federal and state Labor governments to save our health workforce and consult better with those who love Mount Arapiles.

See this speech in context