Rod Kemp (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for the Arts and Sport) Share this | Hansard source

I am sorry, Senator, I did mean to respond to that question of yours. I got diverted by your reference to the UN rapporteur. Let me share with you the advice that I have received. The new township leasing arrangements are entirely voluntary, as has been noted, and no-one will be required to enter into a township lease in order to obtain essential services. There may be cases where a community is willing to enter into a township lease to obtain some particular or special benefits which would not otherwise be available. This is the case in the Tiwi Islands where the Aboriginal people have agreed to negotiate a township lease as part of a deal to build a private secondary boarding college. I think that issue was raised earlier on in this debate.