Senior Coalition MPs have co-signed ‘The Arapiles Declaration’ in protest at Parks Victoria’s rock-climbing bans on Mount Arapiles in the Mallee electorate, declaring they want public land to remain accessible to all in light of the Arapiles, Uluru, Mount Warning and Lake Eyre decisions.

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud, Shadow Ministers for Indigenous Australians Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and the Environment Jono Duniam, with fellow Shadow Ministers Dan Tehan, Bridget McKenzie and Michael McCormack and the Members for Mallee,  Gippsland and Nicholls have so far signed the declaration which states “closing public access to land or waters on cultural heritage grounds is only to be used in the most exceptional circumstances” and “conserving cultural heritage always starts from the first principle of retaining public access …”

“I met with rock-climbing advocates in Canberra today including Tim McCartney-Snape, the first Australian to climb Mount Everest and they were thrilled with this declaration,” Dr Webster said.

The Declaration comes on the same day that the CEO of Parks Victoria departed his position in the wake of the organisation’s decision to close almost half the rock-climbing routes at the international mountaineering hotspot.  

Dr Webster also moved a motion in Canberra on Monday calling on the Victorian government to ensure all climbing routes remain in force until proper consultation has occurred.  Ministers Nampijinpa Price and Duniam also moved a Senate motion in response to the Mount Arapiles closures.

“My speech on my motion quoted multiple local health sources who attest to the huge connection between rock-climbing and the local health workforce. The bans will drive doctors, nurses and other health professionals away from the region, in their own words that I read in the House.  As Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health and the local Member, the Victorian Government’s mishandling of this ban is highly alarming,” Dr Webster said.

“The departure of the Parks Victoria CEO is no coincidence after the shockwaves the Mount Arapiles decision, without consultation, sent across international climbing and my electorate. My inbox has been inundated by people from all walks of life astonished at this howler of a decision.”

The motion reads in full:

We the undersigned declare that:

1. Australia’s natural wonders are for the marvel and enjoyment of all Australians,

2. Parks Victoria’s closure of rock-climbing options at Mount Arapiles (Djurrite) in the Grampians of western Victoria marks a line-in-the-sand moment for our nation, after closures of Mount Warning (Wollumbin) in New South Wales, Ayers Rock (Uluru) in the Northern Territory and restrictions on access to Lake Eyre (Kati Thanda) in South Australia, to name a few

3. Australians comprehensively rejected creating racial division in our community at the 2023 national referendum,

4. As policy makers we pledge:

a. To ensure all stakeholders are properly and genuinely consulted on the potential closure of public access to land or waters on cultural heritage grounds,

b. That closing public access to land or waters on cultural heritage grounds is only to be used in the most exceptional circumstances,

c. That conserving cultural heritage always starts from the first principle of retaining public access and managing interactions with the land or waters to prevent or minimise adverse impacts on cultural heritage,

d. That all claims used to justify restriction or closure of public access to land or waters on cultural heritage grounds is independently, transparently, forensically and respectfully examined for factual accuracy and veracity,

e. That the Australian public will be informed in the maximum detail of the cultural heritage grounds why restriction or closure of public access to land or waters is proposed or maintained,

f. To review all previous closures of public access to land or waters to ensure they comply with the foregoing commitments

g. That development on private land the subject of cultural heritage claims be able to proceed if conditions can be imposed using the foregoing processes to preserve verified cultural heritage,

h. That decisions on cultural matters are made in a timely fashion, with deadlines for Ministers and agencies to make determinations and assumptions that a failure to decide within a timeframe equates to a refusal,

i. That laws on cultural heritage will be uniform nationwide and not duplicated, thereby preventing inconsistencies, forum-shopping, lawfare and/or denial of natural justice

For further comment please contact Rikki Lambert on 0427 310 770

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