Parks director ‘committed’ to resolving Gunlom dispute, despite not guilty plea

Director of National Parks Jody Swirepik will plead not guilty to a charge of carrying out works on a sacred sight at Kakadu, but says she is committed to working with Traditional Owners to resolve the dispute.

Gunlom Falls in Kakadu National Park. Picture: Tourism NT/James Fisher

DIRECTOR of National Parks Jody Swirepik will plead not guilty to a charge of carrying out works on a sacred sight at Kakadu but says she is committed to working with Traditional Owners to resolve the dispute.

The court action centres around a walking track built at Gunlom Falls which the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority alleges was done without the TOs’ permission.

On Friday, Ms Swirepik’s lawyer, David Robinson SC, told the Darwin Local Court she would be pleading not guilty to the charge.

But in a statement, Ms Swirepik said the plea would be entered at the request of Commonwealth Attorney-General Michaelia Cash, to allow “significant constitutional issues, which do not turn on the particular facts of the Gunlom walking track matter” to be hashed out.

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“The matters before the court are now outside of my control while the applicability of the relevant offence to Commonwealth bodies is being determined by the court,” she said.

“Today’s plea was necessary and in fact, the result of directions from the Attorney-General to allow the constitutional law issues to be addressed.

“It does not diminish my commitment to working with Kakadu’s traditional owners to protect sacred sites and preserve the natural and cultural heritage of Kakadu National Park now and into the future.”

Ms Swirepik said she was “committed to rebuilding the relationship” with Kakadu’s TOs and addressing their concerns with the Gunlom walking track.

“I have expressed to traditional owners my wish to continue consultation to plan a suitable realignment of the Gunlom walking track,” she said.

“We have agreed to meet next month to progress these critical planning discussions and importantly, an authority certificate has already been obtained from the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority for this work.

“I acknowledge that the Gunlom walking track works caused significant distress to the traditional owners of the Gunlom region and other members of the community and express regret for the distress caused.”

The case returns to court next Thursday.