PARLIAMENT OF NEW SOUTH WALES

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  4. 27 June 2002

Menindee Lakes Park Trust Caravan Park Tenant Eviction

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SpeakersAquilina Mr John
BusinessQuestions Without Notice


    QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
    Supplementary Answer
    MENINDEE LAKES PARK TRUST CARAVAN PARK TENANT EVICTION

    Mr AQUILINA (Riverstone—Minister for Land and Water Conservation, and Minister for Fair Trading) [3.47 p.m.]: Yesterday the Leader of the National Party asked me a politically strategic question about a tenant in a caravan park administered by the Menindee Lakes Park Trust. I advise the House that within the Department of Land and Water portfolio more than 30,000 caravan park sites are controlled by State Government appointed trusts. Contrary to the claims made by the Leader of the National Party in his question, I have not interfered in any way with the operations of the Menindee Lakes Park Trust. The Department of Land and Water Conservation advises me that, to its knowledge, the tenant to whom the Leader of the National Party refers has not had his temporary licence reissued at this stage. I am advised that the trust had been seeking legal advice regarding the eviction of the tenant. The honourable member for Murray-Darling has, indeed, made representations. In fact, he often makes representations on behalf of his constituents. The Leader of the National Party should take note: the member for Murray-Darling is again listening to those who vote for him and will continue to vote for him.

    Mr Scully: A good member, a great member.

    Mr AQUILINA: As the Minister for Transport says, the honourable member for Murray-Darling is a good member, a great member. The Department of Land and Water Conservation does not intervene in the management of the trust unless there is a prima facie case established to warrant further investigation by departmental officers. However, I advise the House that there are wide-ranging concerns about the administration of the Menindee Lakes Park Trust and its chair, Mr John Brennan. The House should know that Mr Brennan is a former member of the Labor Party who attended the National Party conference and seems to have become a good friend of the Leader of the National Party.

    Mr Moss: Oh, he is a rat!

    Mr AQUILINA: He is a rat, as the honourable member for Canterbury says. Those concerned about the trust and its operations include fellow trust members and the local shire council. I, too, have concerns regarding the running of the Menindee Lakes Caravan Park. Central Darling Shire Council has advised the department that the park has a significant number of sites which do not comply with the Local Government Act. Those trust members have written to their excellent local member, the honourable member for Murray-Darling, outlining their concerns about other trust members. Naturally the honourable member for Murray-Darling forwarded those concerns to me. If this is the most telling piece of news that the National Party could get from holding its conference in Broken Hill, then the honourable member for Murray-Darling, Country Labor and the Government must be doing a top job in rural New South Wales.

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