Top End tourism industry backs call for changes to Kakadu management
THE Territory’s Top End tourism sector has backed the Kakadu board of management’s call for major changes in Parks Australia’s management of the dual world heritage listed Kakadu National Park.
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THE Territory’s Top End tourism sector has backed the Kakadu board of management’s call for major changes in Parks Australia’s management of the dual world heritage listed Kakadu National Park.
Tourism Top End general manager Glen Hingley said in the NT when traditional owners spoke, tourism listened.
“Tourism is at one with the Kakadu board of management, traditional owners and parks rangers as to the appalling communication, lack of resources and continued under investment by the Federal Government,” Mr Hingley said.
“The situation in Kakadu has now been brought to a head by the board of management of Kakadu National Park passing a motion of no confidence in Parks Australia.”
The traditional owners on the board have called on Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley to urgently intervene to remove several staff, which board members say they have “lost all faith, confidence and trust in their ability to effectively manage Kakadu”.
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Mr Hingley recently voiced his concerns over Parks Australia and its management of Kakadu in particular the park’s staged reopening during the coronavirus pandemic.
He was critical of the decision to keep Kakadu National Park closed until June 19 because it led to lost revenue for local tourism operators.
“Tourism operators in the Top End have done all we can to maintain open dialogue with Parks Australia,” Mr Hingley said.
He said in the lead-up to reopening they had been asking for as much advice as possible so that businesses could properly plan and be sustainable while able to deliver great experiences.
Northern Land Council chief executive Marion Scrymgour said she was expecting resignations to follow from Parks Australia over the Kakadu board of management’s calls for federal intervention.
Ms Scrymgour said she did not think Aboriginal traditional owners would return to the table unless the changes they were demanding were made.
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Tourism, Sport and Culture Minister Lauren Moss said the focus now needed to be on strengthening relationships and working together to ensure Kakadu remained a world-class asset for locals and visitors.
“Kakadu is one of the Territory’s most precious natural assets and a key tourism driver for the Top End,” she said.
“The NT Government is aware that traditional owners and tourism operators have been raising concerns for some time, seeking better communication and clarity around decision-making in the park.
“I have passed on these concerns to both the federal Parks Minister and the federal Tourism Minister.”
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