MEDIA RELEASE
NATIONAL PARKS ASSOCIATION OF NSW

5 May 2004

Carr’s Film Bill: Red Carpet, Green Light for National Parks, Wilderness

Filmmakers will be rubbing their hands with glee if special legislation prepared under instruction by Premier Carr and tabled in Parliament yesterday is passed. The draft legislation, the Filming Approval Bill 2004, is designed to overturn the Land and

Environment Court decision last week that saw approvals for filming of the war movie, Stealth, in the Grose Wilderness declared illegal. The judge ruled that ‘wilderness areas are sacrosanct’ But the ‘film friendly’ legislation is more far-reaching than imagined. “It turns off all protection offered by the National Parks and Wildlife Act, the Wilderness Act and the Marine Parks Act,” said Andrew Cox, National Parks Association of NSW Executive Officer. “If the Bill is passed, a national park, a wilderness area and a marine park will be irrelevant to a filmmaker. Park and wilderness rules will no longer apply, and filming can be approved regardless of the damage.” “It is clear that Carr is intent on offering ‘red carpet, green light’ treatment to film companies looking to operate in NSW.”

“Subverting laws that Carr helped shape is dangerous. National park, marine park and wilderness laws are necessary to protect our spectacular scenery and wildlife. Filming in New Zealand, Canadian and US parks is not this unrestricted ” “An environmental assessment will still be required for filming, but the Minister for the Environment will have total discretion in granting approval. As we have seen for the Stealth film approvals, when Government supports a film, no Minister, Government department or national parks ranger will be allowed to stand in the way of the approval.” “In a last minute concession achieved before the Bill was finalised, filming in wilderness areas was limited to education, scientific, research or tourism purposes. This is welcomed, but does not address the need for legally defined limits on impacts in wilderness areas.” “Bob Carr has overreacted to the Court case. The judge did not rule on the validity of filming in national parks outside wilderness. The ruling for filming in wilderness areas was the right ruling,” said Mr Cox.

“The Government should withdraw the Bill and work with environment groups if there is a problem with the current legislation. NPA supports filming in our unique national parks and marine parks, but not when it comes at any cost.”
Contact: Andrew Cox 9299 0000 or 0438 588 040
www.npansw.org.au/media