Newsletter date: 27 February 2013
Contents:
* Alex Bainbridge, Green Left: 20,000 turn out to save the Kimberley
* The Wilderness Society: Concert for the Kimberley - A concert and march in the heart of Fremantle
* The West Australian: Stars fire up gas hub protest
* ABC: Greens demand gas hub management plan details
* Hands off Country: Tony Burke is called upon to call a Public Inquiry
* The Stringer: Fifteen thousand call on Burke to stop the destruction of Aboriginal burial grounds at James Price Point
* ABC Radio National: Red Dirt Dreaming Part One - The Kimberley
* Background to the Save The Kimberley Campaign - James Price Point, north of Broome, WA
* Other articles
* ALEX BAINBRIDGE, GREEN LEFT: 20,000 TURN OUT TO SAVE THE KIMBERLEY
- Video
Green Left: 20,000 turn out to save the Kimberley
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/53428
25 Feb 13: "20,000 people turned out to hear the John Butler Trio, Missy Higgins and Bob Brown among others in a concert and rally and march for the Kimberley in Fremantle on February 24, 2013. It was a massive outpouring of community opposition to the Barnett government's blatant attempts to steal Aboriginal land, ride roughshod over local community opposition to the project and to trash the environmental qualities of the area around James Price Point." By Alex Bainbridge, Fremantle
* THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY: CONCERT FOR THE KIMBERLEY - A CONCERT AND MARCH IN THE HEART OF FREMANTLE
- Past Event
Event: Sun 24 February 2013: Fremantle, Perth, WA
Concert for the Kimberley:
A concert and march in the heart of Fremantle
The Wilderness Society WA
"Join us in Fremantle on Sunday 24 February 2013
for a free, open-air concert featuring the
John Butler Trio, Missy Higgins, Ball Park Music,
special guest Dr Bob Brown, and others."
"This concert and rally is a call to arms for
all West Australians to stand up and protect
one of our finest national treasures,
The Kimberley," says John Butler
Event details: http://www.wilderness.org.au/campaigns/kimberley/concert-for-the-kimberl...
Event details: http://www.greenleft.org.au/events/53255
Flyer: http://www.wilderness.org.au/images/concert-for-kimberley-freo
WGAR Background to the Save The Kimberley Campaign: http://indymedia.org.au/2012/11/22/wgar-news-background-to-the-save-the-...
* THE WEST AUSTRALIAN: STARS FIRE UP GAS HUB PROTEST
- News
The West Australian: Stars fire up gas hub protest
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/16220805/stars-fire-up-gas...
25 Feb 13: "More than 10,000 people marched through Fremantle yesterday in a pre-election protest over the planned Kimberley gas hub. The Concert for the Kimberley event starred Fremantle-raised roots star John Butler. He was joined on stage by fellow gas hub opponent Missy Higgins and other protesters against the James Price Point development near Broome. Butler said the strong turnout indicated the anti-hub campaign remained a key State and Federal election issue. "The last thing any of us want is the world's largest gas plant being built on that site," the singer said." Sam Tomlin, The West Australian
See also this video on the Fremantle concert and march: http://handsoffcountry.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/stars-fire-up-gas-hub-pro...
* ABC: GREENS DEMAND GAS HUB MANAGEMENT PLAN DETAILS
- News
ABC: Greens demand gas hub management plan details
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-25/greens-demand-details-of-gas-hub-m...
25 Feb 13: "Greens' candidate Chris Maher has slammed the decision to keep Woodside's plans to manage the social impacts of the proposed Kimberley gas hub under wraps. The company has developed draft management plans that detail, amongst other things, how much its thousands of workers would be able to move around the Dampier Peninsula and Broome. They have been forwarded to the local shire for comment but the Department of State Development has decided they do not have to be made public until they are finalised. Mr Maher says the community has a right to know what is being planned."
- Related News
Australian: Woodside boss Peter Coleman upbeat about Browse LNG plant
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/woodside-boss-pet...
22 Feb 13: "WOODSIDE Petroleum boss Peter Coleman has made his most upbeat comments to date about the potential for a controversial $40 billion Browse LNG plant at James Price Point north of Broome. Mr Coleman says the heated West Australian construction sector is cooling and a technological breakthrough such as floating LNG is not needed to develop the project."
* HANDS OFF COUNTRY: TONY BURKE IS CALLED UPON TO CALL A PUBLIC INQUIRY
- Petition
Hands off Country: Tony Burke is called upon to call a PUBLIC INQUIRY
Hands off Country: http://handsoffcountry.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/tony-burke-is-called-upon...
Broome Community No Gas Campaign: http://www.broomenogas.org/pages/petitionfeb2013
22 Feb 13: "One more way for you to help the Broome Community 'no gas' Campaign: Help get signatures on the Petition to Tony Burke, Federal Minister for the Environment, which asks him to hold a Public Inquiry into the assessment of the LNG Precinct at James Price Point. The BCNG Campaign is extremely concerned about the State Government processes to date; we have not had an opportunity to express our views about this project, and we are really worried about the social, cultural, economic and environmental impacts on Broome. We need to tell Tony Burke to hold a PUBLIC INQUIRY into how this project has been assessed by the State Government."
Click here to open a PDF copy of the Petition ready to print: http://www.broomenogas.org/pages/petitionburke.pdf
'Broome Community No Gas Campaign' homepage: http://www.broomenogas.org/
* THE STRINGER: FIFTEEN THOUSAND CALL ON BURKE TO STOP THE DESTRUCTION OF ABORIGINAL BURIAL GROUNDS AT JAMES PRICE POINT
- News
The Stringer: Fifteen thousand call on Burke to stop the destruction of Aboriginal burial grounds at James Price Point
http://thestringer.com.au/fifteen-thousand-call-on-burke-to-stop-the-des...
12 Feb 13: "Traditional owners of Walmandany – the location for the proposed controversial $40 billion James Price Point gas hub – have called on the Federal Environment minister Tony Burke to respond immediately to an overwhelming call from their communities. They want him to intervene and protect the listed burial grounds and sacred sites of Walmadany which they said are set to be destroyed by Woodside’s exploratory works. ... Goolarabooloo family spokesman Errol Roe said that Mr Burke is obliged to act. "He must intervene to stop the destruction of ancient burial grounds and our cultures." ... "
* ABC RADIO NATIONAL: RED DIRT DREAMING PART ONE - THE KIMBERLEY
- Analysis / Opinion
ABC Radio National: Red Dirt Dreaming Part One - The Kimberley
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/360/red-dirt-dreaming-part-...
24 Feb 13: "The battle is on to decide the future of the Kimberley-a future of mining wealth or a future of pristine wilderness? WA’s Pilbara region might be driving the Australian economy, but the pressure is on to exploit the rich resources of the pristine Kimberley. James Price Point just north of Broome was infamously described by the WA Premier Colin Barnett as 'an unremarkable piece of coastline.' It is the proposed site of a precinct to process and ship the gas piped from the offshore Browse Basin. It’s also a site rich in natural beauty and Aboriginal cultural heritage."
* BACKGROUND TO THE SAVE THE KIMBERLEY CAMPAIGN - JAMES PRICE POINT, NORTH OF BROOME, WA
Last updated: 18 February 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/11/22/wgar-news-background-to-the-save-the-...
* OTHER ARTICLES:
- News
National Indigenous Radio Service: Anti-uranium radio campaign launched
http://www.nirs.org.au/news/latest-news/7877-anti-uranium-radio-campaign...
26 Feb 13: "The West Australian Nuclear Free Alliance has launched a state-wide radio campaign highlighting the risks posed by uranium mining in the state. The campaign features a series of advertisements to be played on Indigenous and other radio stations from the Kimberley to Kalgoorlie ahead of the March 9 state election. The campaign is backed by Kalgoorlie-based elder Geoffrey Stokes. Alliance spokesperson Mia Pepper says the ads condemn the use of Royalty for Regions subsidies to private uranium projects."
National Indigenous Radio Service: NAIDOC Week 2013 to celebrate Yirrkala Bark Petition legacy
http://www.nirs.org.au/news/latest-news/7878-naidoc-week-2013-to-celebra...
26 Feb 13: "The Co-Chair of the National NAIDOC Committee says 2013 celebrations of the week in July will focus on the 50th anniversary of the Yirrkala Bark Petition. The 1963 petition, presented to Federal Parliament, saw Yolngu people of Arnhem Land call for recognition of their rights to traditional lands on the Gove Peninsula in the Top End. Ben Mitchell says it's important to celebrate the act as a foundation that paved the way for the land rights movement and the Committee wants more awareness of its legacy."
newsTracker: Aboriginal man denied fair treatment: PIC
http://tracker.org.au/2013/02/aboriginal-man-denied-fair-treatment-pic/
26 Feb 13: "NATIONAL: A senior officer of 25 years made a series of blunders over the custody of a young Aboriginal man who was beaten by police and wrongly accused of assaulting them. Robert McCubben was the custody sergeant in January 2011 when Corey Barker, 24, was brought to Ballina police station on the NSW north coast after being arrested for trying to intervene in a violent street confrontation between two of his friends and police."
newsTracker: Inquiry ticks native title changes
http://tracker.org.au/2013/02/inquiry-ticks-native-title-changes/
26 Feb 13: "NATIONAL: A parliamentary inquiry has given the nod to draft laws that give the Federal Court responsibility for mediation of native title claims. Previously, mediation was done in the Native Title Tribunal but the Federal Court has been more involved since 2009. The Senate Legal Affairs committee examined the Courts and Tribunals Legislation Amendment (Administration) Bill 2012 and tabled its report in the upper house on Monday night."
National Indigenous Radio Service: Allegations Langton's research funded by mining companies
http://www.nirs.org.au/news/latest-news/7875-allegations-langtons-resear...
25 Feb 13: "The head of the University of Melbourne's Australian Indigenous Studies department, Marcia Langton, has been criticised for not disclosing a possible conflict of interest. A recent article on independent news and opinion website Crickey has alleged Professor Langton had academic research on the impact of mining on Indigenous communities paid for by mining companies."
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/am-25-02.mp3
25 Feb 13: [Includes news about Marcia Langton and Michael Mansell]
- Media Release
SNAICC News: Media Release - SNAICC welcomes the appointment of Megan Mitchell as the first National Children's Commissioner
http://www.snaicc.org.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=1003
25 Feb 13: "SNAICC welcomes the appointment of Megan Mitchell as the first National Children’s Commissioner to promote the human rights, wellbeing and development of children and young people in Australia.
"We congratulate the Australian Government on its historic announcement and Megan Mitchell on her appointment," SNAICC Chairperson Sharron Williams said.
"This is a hugely positive step forward to protect and promote the rights of children and young people - including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children - and to give them a voice in the development of government policies and programs that impact them." ... "
- Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/AM-26-02-UPDATE.mp3
26 Feb 13: "The Northern Territory Minister for Indigenous Development says the Gillard Labor Government is not interested in listening to ideas from Aboriginal people about what might work in their own communities."
The Wire: 'Reading Blitz' fails to target Indigenous learners
Produced by Tim Bennett
http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=10065
25 Feb 13: "Will Julia Gillard's 'reading blitz' blow illiteracy out of the water? Or has the new policy failed to address the needs to Aboriginal students? The government has previous stated their committed to closing the gap between indigenous and non indigenous literacy, so is it really acceptable for the prime minister to announce a new literacy policy with little to no mention of aboriginal students? ...
Featured in story:
* John Guenther - Flinders University
* Beatrice Sheen - Principal Redfern Jarjum College"
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