THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 31 #16 Wednesday, September 28, 2016
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Mungo runs the Phillip Frazer Homely Get some of ruler over Malcolm’s grapples with a delights The Good Life security issues – p8 Trump win – p13 – p18–19 – p27–28
Small schools celebrate their day
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Minister admits to misleading parliament over Crown land Luis Feliu
Tilly and Alina getting tubed at the Valley of Small Schools day at Durrumbul School last Thursday. Hosted by the Durrumbul School, the picnic day of ball games, team sports and fun brought together students from The Pocket, Upper Main Arm, Coorabell, Newrybar, Wilsons Creek, Goonengerry and of course Durrumbul. Photo Jeff ‘Rapt In Plastic’ Dawson
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In a rare and embarrassing backdown for the NSW government, the minister for lands Niall Blair (Nationals) apologised to parliament for providing incorrect information on Crown land leases that have commenced since 2012. During debate last week on the auditor-general’s recent scathing report into the sale and leasing of Crown land, the minister advised the house that no lease had been directly negotiated by Crown Lands since 2012. It turns out there were 19 – involving leases to airports as well as transactions tied up with the privatisation of Newcastle Port and the NSW electricity generators. The report reflects also longtime concerns by campaigners against the takeover of public foreshore Crown land at Brunswick Heads by a government-appointed trust which runs three public holiday parks in the town.
Byron Shire Council recently renewed operating licences for the holiday parks amid a public outcry over the encroachments onto public foreshore land. The opposition says that Crown Lands was clearly dysfunctional and is now in crisis mode. Shadow lands minister Mick Veitch said Crown Lands’ staff numbers have been slashed by the Baird government, and a lot of corporate knowledge has walked out the door since 2011. ‘The auditor-general’s report said that the Crown Lands agency did not know what was occurring on Crown land,’ Mr Veitch said. ‘The minister’s false response actually affirms the auditor-general’s grave concerns for the management of public land in NSW. ‘Savage job cuts by the coalition mean that Crown Lands is no longer aware of many transactions taking place on public land. It has now provided incorrect information to continued on page 2
Rethink biodiversity law reforms, says land council The NSW government must postpone the introduction of proposed biodiversity laws until key concerns raised by the land rights network are met, the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) said last Friday. NSWALC chair Roy Ah-See said the land rights network had a number of concerns about the government’s biodiversity and land management reforms. He said the proposed reforms failed to adequately protect Aboriginal culture and heritage and largely overlooked the interests of Aboriginal people.
‘The NSW Aboriginal Land Council provided a detailed submission to the NSW government on the proposed reforms but the Land Rights network’s views haven’t been properly considered,’ he said. Cr Ah-See said that the proposed reforms would give the green light to self-regulated land management processes and allow for broad-scale clearing. ‘This poses massive risks to Aboriginal culture and heritage, especially scarred trees. The NSW Aboriginal Land Council is also seeking
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clarity on whether the proposed reforms will provide exemptions for Aboriginal traditional cultural activities such as hunting and the use of native plants. ‘The proposed reforms need to better recognise and promote the role of Aboriginal peoples in biodiversity conservation, including supporting the use of traditional ecological knowledge in biodiversity conservation programs. ‘The NSW Aboriginal Land Council is asking the NSW govcontinued on page 2
Nationals MP Niall Blair speaks to the media at Coogee beach in October 2015. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts
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