Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I inform the Senate that Senator Whish-Wilson will also sponsor the motion. I, and also on behalf of Senator Whish-Wilson, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) national parks are public land held in trust on behalf of all Australians to protect their natural and cultural heritage values,

(ii) the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is managed by the Australian and Tasmanian governments on behalf of the world's people and protected for its incredible natural and cultural heritage values,

(iii) since 2014, the Tasmanian Government has run a secretive process to facilitate developments in national parks and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, overseen by the Coordinator-General,

(iv) there are around 30 developments that are now in the pipeline as a result of this opaque and corrupt process,

(v) this process has been developer driven and allowed for some completely inappropriate developments on public land, and

(vi) a potential development at Halls Island in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park and Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area has widespread community opposition because of the destruction of wilderness that will occur if it proceeds;

(b) condemns the privatisation of Tasmania's public spaces, including in national parks and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area; and

(c) calls on the Tasmanian Government to stop the sell-out of Tasmania's national parks and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.