Gunner accuses NLC of blackmail over fishos’ access talks

Gunner says NLC threat to cut off access to coastal waters actually relates to ‘a whole different kettle of fish’

Chief Minister Michael Gunner says an NLC threat to lock fishos out of coastal waters is linked to separate, unrelated negotiations initiated in June. Picture: Justin Kennedy

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner has effectively accused the Northern Land Council of holding the Government to ransom in negotiations over entry to the majority of the Territory coastline.

The Government and NLC have failed to reach an agreement over fishos’ access to coastal waters handed over to traditional owners by the High Court in 2008 – known as the Blue Mud Bay decision – and the NLC has threatened to cut off all access to the waters on December 4 if the stalemate isn’t resolved.

But Mr Gunner said yesterday the Government had “had an offer on the table for a long time” and the threat actually related to separate negotiations initiated in June this year.

“The NCL want to negotiate around waters and licences unaffected by the Blue Mud Bay decision,” he said.

“The NLC are linking those two issues, we’re not.”

Mr Gunner said those negotiations involved commercial fisheries and Commonwealth waters and could not be resolved by the December 4 deadline.

“You cannot, in a five- month window, resolve a series of licences with the Seafood Council and a whole range of stakeholders that are unaffected by the Blue Mud Bay decision … it’s a whole different kettle of fish,” he said.

“We’re more than happy to work with them on that but that will be a conversation that will take years to get a resolution on.”

Amateur Fishermen’s Association executive director David Ciaravolo said there was “clear common ground” between TOs and anglers and called on the Government to work with the NLC to achieve an extension of the deadline.

“I think what’s happening right here is there’s an opportunity for the Government to try to break this deadlock to ensure that we’ve got more time to negotiate and I hope they’re doing everything to make sure that’s possible,” he said. An NLC spokeswoman declined to comment “until we have received a considered response from the NT Government”.