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Kempton labels Wilderness Society claims ‘nonsense’ supplied by Cook Minister’s office 18 February 2014
D
avid Kempton, Member for Cook (pictured), has slammed claims by The Wilderness Society that the reported outcomes from his forum on the draft Cape York regional plan were “misrepresented.” “I am very disappointed TWS has tried to derail the recommendations that came out of the forum,” he said. “Allegations the forum was stacked against the environment and the outcomes misrepresented are utter nonsense and an in insult to the 150 plus people who took part on the day.” Mr Kempton said representatives from TWS attended the forum and actively participated in formulating the outcomes. “They claim indigenous groups have not been consulted. “I am confident the department has been very thorough in its engagement process and the indigenous councils are well represented on the Deputy Premier’s working group. “TWS do not represent the indigenous people of Cape York and they are just scaremongering because the call for balance by the Cape people does not sit with their
view of the world.” Mr Kempton said no Cape York landscape was under immediate threat and the plan would “get the balance right”. “Wild Rivers couldn’t have been more divisive, whereas the final Cape York Regional Plan will have broad scale community support,” he said. “All TWS have to offer is more National Parks.” Mr Kempton said while he believed the landscape needed to be protected the scope of the conservation economy only offers limited opportunities. “I want to see Cape York investing in the real economy not relying on handouts,” he said. “I have said it before and I will
say it again, my forum was a huge success, now it is important everyone in the Cape put in individual submission by the March 25 deadline. “In essence miners want to know that their mining tenements are secured, indigenous communities want to know the economic potential of their lands will not be locked up in national parks and pastoralists want to know they can plan well into the future without their properties being hamstrung by wild rivers and other totally inappropriate environmental schemes,” he said. Meanwhile, the draft alcohol management review plan for Napranum is still very much a “work in progress”. “The document made public is a survey circulated within the community to gauge interest and opinion on the gradual lifting of alcohol restrictions with an emphasis on greater community responsibility,” he said. “The existing Alcohol Management Plans have run their course and failed to deliver. “Prohibition has never been successful anywhere in the world and generally has only three outcomes, shifting the problem elsewhere, creating fertile ground for sly grogging and making criminals of innocent people. “Government imposed bans have definitely raised awareness
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Assistant Minister for DATSIMA David Kempton with Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor, Philomen Mene (left) and CEO Amos Njaramba. Image supplied
around alcohol abuse and resulted in a falloff in drunken violence, but they have failed to stem the tide of alcoholism and its impacts.” Mr Kempton said he was one hundred per cent behind communities taking more responsibility and commended Napranum Mayor Philemon Mene for having the courage to tackle the issue head on. “Mayor Mene and his council recognised some time ago that alcoholism and violence were symptoms of deeper community
issues,” he said. “His council embarked upon a program to promote community growth and economic development as the basis for lasting change. “Napranum has powered ahead as a result with people working in construction apprentices and pursuing careers of their choice as a direct result of these programs. Mr Kempton said there was a growing “buzz” of optimism within the community. “I have been working very closely with the Napranum people
on this draft and am confident the Mayor and his council will succeed with their bold proposal,” he said. “If we hand the community an opportunity with the responsibility of achieving the best social and economic outcomes and offer a hand along the way then we have the formula for success. “Big government and big schemes have all had a go and failed, it’s time to move over and let the elected leaders steer the boat for the next challenging leg of this journey,” he concluded.
National NAIDOC Poster Competition and nominations for the National NAIDOC Awards are now open. Forms are available online at www.naidoc.org.au or at your nearest Indigenous Coordination Centre. Poster competition entries close Friday 28 March. Award nominations close Wednesday 23 April.
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