Thursday, 14 November 2024

Mount Arapiles rock climbing

Emma KEALY (Lowan) (14:17): My question is to the Premier. The Premier promised not to padlock public land. Why has she broken this promise and locked out rock climbers from the best climbs in the world at Mount Arapiles?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:18): I thank the member for Lowan for her question. The assertion that she made is incorrect, and I will provide information to the house as to why that is the case. I am very, very, very committed to providing more opportunities for more Victorians to enjoy the great outdoors. That is why we are investing in providing more certainty for more Victorians to have access to the great outdoors. In regard to supporting activities around Mount Arapiles, I want to acknowledge that the Minister for Environment has met with a range of representatives from the local community in the local community. Further to that, we understand, and I understand keenly, the importance of providing certainty but also the importance of providing access to our great outdoors. That is why the minister has instructed Parks Victoria to work with the local community on how we can provide that certainty of access. When you look at how we can provide certainty of access, the minister has already announced that we are investing in additional facilities and support to facilitate that access – new tracks, car parking, campgrounds and –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Polwarth can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Polwarth withdrew from chamber.

Emma Kealy: On a point of order, Speaker, this question is quite narrow. It is around locking out climbers from the best climbs in the world at Arapiles. On a further point of order, the Premier must be factual in regard to the best climbs in the world having been closed by the government, and climbers want to continue –

The SPEAKER: Order! I ask members who are raising points of order to be succinct with their points of order. Two things: the Premier was being relevant to the question that was asked, and I ask members not to repeat the question in their points of order.

Jacinta ALLAN: Indeed I am sure the member would want to be factual in how she is representing the process and be factual in how she is providing information on this. Of course the member would know that there are draft plans out for consultation right now, and I encourage every Victorian to participate in this process. I know that the minister has instructed Parks Victoria to do further work with the local communities to understand where there are opportunities. I say this in terms of evidence of how we are committed to supporting access to our great outdoors. There are Victorians today who can continue to hunt ducks in this state because we have backed in that recreation activity. There are more fish being stocked in this state –

Emma Kealy: On a point of order, Speaker, regarding relevance, rock climbers do not hunt ducks, they climb mountains. Can you bring her back to the question.

The SPEAKER: The Premier to come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: The question was about providing access to the great outdoors, and that is exactly what I was outlining to the member for Lowan. We continue to provide access whether you are a fisher or a hunter or you want to enjoy the great outdoors. We will provide you with that support, and that is why the minister has made that instruction to Parks Victoria for further consultation.

Emma KEALY (Lowan) (14:22): Wayne Webb owns the Climbing Shop, a local small business in Natimuk. He has said that Labor’s decision to lock out rock climbers from the best climbs in the world at Mount Arapiles will:

… ruin the town. It’s going to destroy the town. It’s going to kill the town.

Why is the Premier killing the town of Natimuk?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:23): Natimuk are a great, strong local community, and they deserve better than being represented like that in this place. They deserve better. I will say to the member for Lowan –

Emma Kealy: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is debating the question and unfairly criticising a local champion. I ask you to bring her back to the question.

The SPEAKER: Again I request that members raise points of order succinctly. I ask the Premier to come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: I know how great the community of Natimuk is, and I know the Minister for Environment does as well because he actually met with Wayne Webb recently in Natimuk. My expectation, whether it is ministers or Parks Victoria, is that we consult and engage with local communities. That is what we will continue to do as we support the great community of Natimuk. I will tell you what we will also do: we will treat them with respect and provide them with factual information, in stark contrast to the member for Lowan.