Media release – Jacquie Petrusma, Minister for Parks, 7 August 2021
Surplus Crown land to be sold by public process
Today we are commencing the sale of surplus Crown land in Tasmania through a public land sales program, with the first parcels prepared for sale and listed with agents.
This delivers on a $400,000 commitment from the Tasmanian Liberal Government to identify, market and sell excess Crown Land.
The Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) will be facilitating the process, with any suitable Crown land that is surplus to the Government’s needs to be considered for sale.
Each land parcel will be assessed for both natural and cultural heritage values prior to release, and the PWS will liaise with local councils regarding development of the land in accordance with each municipality’s planning schemes.
The sale of the surplus Crown land through this program will be an open and public process, and any land selected for sale will be sold through local real estate agencies.
This is part of a larger funding boost for Crown Land programs of $2.1 million over two years which follows on from recommendations for the Premier’s Economic and Social Recovery Advisory Council, which identified the need for investment in this area to support timely approvals for development.
For further information visit: www.parks.tas.gov.au
Media release – Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania (ALCT), 9 August
‘SURPLUS’ CROWN LAND SALE AN EASY OPPORTUNITY FOR LAND RETURNS & ‘CLOSE THE GAP’
The Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania (ALCT) is calling on the Gutwein Government to ensure land returns are central to its recently announced ‘surplus Crown land’ disposal process, a $400,000 process where the Parks and Wildlife Service will identify ‘excess’ Crown land for sale, with commercial development an apparent objective.
As is well understood in the 21st Century, ALCT again points out that no land in Tasmania was ceded to the Crown. Any ‘excess’ or ‘surplus’ crown land is actually Aboriginal land and should logically and rightly be returned.
“If the Gutwein Government is to dispose of Crown land, the Aboriginal community must be front and centre because this is actually our land in the first place,” said Michael Mansell, Chair of ALCT.
Mr Mansell highlighted the many commitments of the Tasmanian Government to progress land returns, from invitations in the Premier’s State of the State speech, to endorsement of the national Closing the Gap strategy, complete with a goal of a 15% increase in Aboriginal land ownership in Australia by 2030.
“If Premier Gutwein is going to ‘identify, market and sell’ public land that is no longer required, justice for the original and rightful owners of that land must take priority.
“Returning ‘surplus’ Crown land to the Aboriginal Community would be a small instalment and demonstration of good faith as Premier Gutwein leads Tasmania into a process of truth telling and treaty with Aboriginal people.
“When Aboriginal interests are sidelined for a government fundraising scheme we are again left with nothing. No land, no justice and no real faith that anything will change despite formal commitments and Parliamentary promises.
Mr Mansell said he would again write to Premier Gutwein about the return of Crown land.
