Newsletter date: 27 June 2013
Contents:
* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: World Heritage push for world’s oldest rock art
* Greens Senator Scott Ludlam: Minister, Protect the Burrup with World Heritage Listing
* Saffron Howden, SMH: Population weighs heavily on ancient Aboriginal rock art
* Greens MLC Robin Chapple: Local Aboriginal Jobs Sacrificed in Shoddy Government Contract Deal
* Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation: New hope for the Yindjibarndi people
* Ben Leahy, Pilbara Echo: Yindjibarndi sign land access with Rio Tinto
* Tracker: Rio native title deal irks splinter group
* Background to the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation (YAC)
* ABC News: Barnett under pressure to abandon processing gas onshore
* Peter Kerr, The West: Premier renews attack on FLNG
* Offshore Energy Today: Australia: Premier Barnett Pushes for James Price Point Gas Precinct Development
* ABC News: Kimberley Land Council welcomes decision to continue compulsory acquisition of JPP
* Background to the Save The Kimberley Campaign - James Price Point, north of Broome, WA
* GERRY GEORGATOS, THE STRINGER: WORLD HERITAGE PUSH FOR WORLD'S OLDEST ROCK ART
- Analysis / Opinion
The Stringer: World Heritage push for world’s oldest rock art
http://thestringer.com.au/world-heritage-push-for-worlds-oldest-rock-art/
19 Jun 13: "Western Australia’s Burrup Peninsula is home to the world’s largest and oldest collection of rock art and petroglyphs, more than one million of them – tens of thousands of years of recorded Aboriginal culture. The Save the Burrup campaigners led by local Elder Wilfred Hicks have campaigned furiously for nearly a decade to have the coastline sites World Heritage listed. They had been hoping that the Australian Greens with the oft balance of power in the Senate could push through the heritage status." By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist
* GREENS SENATOR SCOTT LUDLAM: MINISTER, PROTECT THE BURRUP WITH WORLD HERITAGE LISTING
- Media Release
Greens Senator Scott Ludlam: Minister, Protect the Burrup with World Heritage Listing
http://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/minister-pro...
19 Jun 13: "Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam is proud to stand with Traditional Owners to protect the world's largest pre-Ice Age rock art precinct in the Pilbara, 1550 km north of Perth.
"The Burrup Peninsula is a place of unparalleled artistic, cultural, religious and historical significance, as well as a place of magnificent natural beauty," said Senator Ludlam.
"The Greens have long campaigned for its protection, mostly recently through the Too Precious To Lose campaign.
"A cofounder of the Friends of Australian Rock Art (FARA) and its global Stand Up for The Burrup campaign, Greens WA MLC Robin Chapple has campaigned for the protection of the Burrup for decades.
"Hundreds of applications approved by the WA government have badly damaged the area, which was placed on the National Heritage register in July 2007. The Burrup has become a worst-case scenario of inappropriate siting of heavy industry. ... " [said Senator Ludlam]"
- Related News
Herald Sun News: WA rock art should be protected: Greens
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/wa-rock-art-should-be-pro...
19 Jun 13: "THE Australian Greens want Aboriginal rock art in Western Australia's Burrup Peninsula to be protected and are pushing for the area to be given world heritage status. Speaking with indigenous representatives from the Burrup region, Greens senator Scott Ludlam said the area had been treated by successive governments with "profound contempt". "We think nothing less than world heritage standing for this extraordinary precinct is deserved," he told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday. "We will continue to fight for that for as long as it takes.""
* SAFFRON HOWDEN, SMH: POPULATION WEIGHS HEAVILY ON ANCIENT ABORIGINAL ROCK ART
- Analysis / Opinion
SMH: Population weighs heavily on ancient Aboriginal rock art
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/population-weighs-heavily-on-ancient-aborigina...
22 Jun 13: "Each day, Sydney wakes in an art gallery. Though the vast majority of residents are oblivious to the ancient works that surround them on their daily commute or shopping trip, many have been there for thousands of years and are hidden in plain sight. But a debate is raging in indigenous and political circles about how to protect and preserve the roughly 5000 known Aboriginal heritage sites – including rock engravings, cave paintings and stencils, middens, former homes, burial places and tools – that remain in various states of deterioration in a modern metropolis of more than 4.6 million." Saffron Howden, Rural and Indigenous Affairs Reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald
* GREENS MLC ROBIN CHAPPLE: LOCAL ABORIGINAL JOBS SACRIFICED IN SHODDY GOVERNMENT CONTRACT DEAL
- Media Release
Robin Chapple MLC: Local Aboriginal Jobs Sacrificed in Shoddy Government Contract Deal
http://www.robinchapple.com/local-aboriginal-jobs-sacrificed-shoddy-gove...
14 Jun 13: "Greens WA spokesperson on Aboriginal issues, Robin Chapple MLC, is outraged over the axing of aboriginal jobs in WA’s Mid West region, while Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert has also expressed her concern.
"I’m very concerned that the Federal Government’s new program maybe be undermining efforts to support Aboriginal people across WA, especially in regards to training and employment," Senator Rachel Siewert said today.
Mr Chapple continued - "In one fell swoop, the federal government has taken the axe to 31 aboriginal workers’ jobs across the Mid-West and Goldfields.
"They can dress this up however they like, but the fact remains that these people now face a very bleak future, thanks to the misguided decision to wind up the Community Development and Employment Program (CDEP). ... " said Mr Chapple."
* YINDJIBARNDI ABORIGINAL CORPORATION: NEW HOPE FOR THE YINDJIBARNDI PEOPLE
- News
Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation: New hope for the Yindjibarndi people
http://yindjibarndi.org.au/yindjibarndi/?p=3196
"The Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation has signed an ILUA (Indigenous Land Use Agreement) with mining company Rio Tinto. The authorisation meeting for YAC to sign this agreement on behalf of the Yindjibarndi People was held on Tuesday, and a public signing ceremony was held yesterday, Wednesday 19th June, 2013. Negotiations for this agreement have been in progress for the past three years and although the process has been tough one, it was marked by respect and a willingness to compromise by both sides. The result is an agreement that will give the Yindjibarndi People a measure of self-determination ... "
* BEN LEAHY, PILBARA ECHO: YINDJIBARNDI SIGN LAND ACCESS WITH RIO TINTO
- News
Pilbara Echo: Yindjibarndi sign land access with Rio Tinto
http://www.pilbaraecho.com.au/2013/06/14/yindjibarndi-sign-land-access-w...
14 Jun 13: "The Yindjibarndi traditional owners and Rio Tinto are set to sign a land use agreement at a ceremony attended by the Minister for Regional Development and Lands Brendon Grylls in Roebourne on June 19. Details of the land use agreement are not yet available, but it is set to give approval to Rio Tinto to use Yindjibarndi lands for their current and future mining operations.
Rio Tinto currently only operates railway lines between Tom Price and Dampier and Pannawonica and Cape Lambert on Yindjibarndi lands." By Ben Leahy
- Related News
Pilbara Echo: The Yindjibarndi say yes
http://www.pilbaraecho.com.au/2013/06/20/yindjibarndi-and-rio-tinto-agre...
20 Jun 13: "The Yindjibarndi traditional owners have signed a land use agreement with mining giant Rio Tinto as part of a festive ceremony, featuring popular elder Tootsie Daniels, in Roebourne on June 19. The agreement allows the traditional owners to work with Rio to manage the miner’s impact on cultural heritage sites throughout the 13,000 square kilometres of Yindjibarndi country between Tom Price and Karratha." By Ben Leahy
ABC Rural: Yindjibarndi agree to long-term land use by Rio
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-20/nrn-rio-land-deal/4768340
20 Jun 13: "Mining company Rio Tinto has sealed a land use agreement with Yindjibarndi native title holders, allowing the miner long-term access to all 13,000 square kilometres of Yindjibarndi country in the north-west of Western Australia. The deal offers compensation, training and employment opportunities in return for access to the land, allowing Rio to continue operating in the region for the life of its assets. Michael Woodley, CEO of the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation, says he's happy with the agreement." By Stephen Stockwell
The West Australian: Rio signs Pilbara land-use deal
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/business/a/-/national/17674504/rio-sign...
20 Jun 13: "Mining giant Rio Tinto has inked a major land use deal with traditional owners in Roebourne, in a move that has shone a light on a related messy native title dispute involving its rival Fortescue Metals Group. Rio and the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation (YAC) signed the deal yesterday covering 13,000sqkm of land between Tom Price and Karratha, including the mining giant's major rail lines and supporting infrastructure, and some deposits slated for future development." Peter Kerr, The West Australian
ABC News: Rio Tinto signs Pilbara Indigenous land access deal
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-20/rio-tinto-signs-pilbara-indigenous...
20 Jun 13: "Rio Tinto has signed an agreement with the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation for access to 13,000 square kilometres of land in the Pilbara. Yindjibarndi says the agreement encompasses all the significant Indigenous sites between Karratha and Tom Price. It clears the way for Rio to use the land to develop mine and transport projects. Yindjibarndi's chief executive, Michael Woodley, says in return, his people will benefit from compensation, training, job and business opportunities."
* TRACKER: RIO NATIVE TITLE DEAL IRKS SPLINTER GROUP
- News
newsTracker: Rio native title deal irks splinter group
http://tracker.org.au/2013/06/rio-native-title-deal-irks-splinter-group/
20 Jun 13: "A native title group in Western Australia’s Pilbara has inked a land use deal with Rio Tinto despite objections by rival claimants. On Wednesday, Rio Tinto and Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation (YAC) held a signing ceremony at Roebourne to celebrate the deal, covering 13,000 sq km of land between Tom Price and Karratha, including the mining giant’s major rail lines and supporting infrastructure, and some deposits slated for future development. But the breakaway Wirrlu-Murra Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation (WMYAC) said it did not receive adequate responses ... "
* BACKGROUND TO THE YINDJIBARNDI ABORIGINAL CORPORATION (YAC):
Last updated: 29 May 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/11/27/background-to-the-yindjibarndi-aborig...
* ABC NEWS: BARNETT UNDER PRESSURE TO ABANDON PROCESSING GAS ONSHORE
- News
ABC News: Barnett under pressure to abandon processing gas onshore
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-19/barnett-under-pressure-to-abandon-...
19 Jun 13: "The Premier Colin Barnett says the Federal Government has urged him to "roll over" and allow the development of gas reserves in the Browse Basin with no conditions attached. Woodside Petroleum shelved plans to develop a $45 billion onshore gas hub at James Price Point earlier this year and is now looking at using floating LNG technology. Mr Barnett says he is involved in negotiations with the Browse project's joint venture partners about the best way to handle the gas reserves. He has pushed for the gas to be processed onshore at the gas hub north of Broome and still wants the land used for that purpose."
* PETER KERR, THE WEST: PREMIER RENEWS ATTACK ON FLNG
- News
The West: Premier renews attack on FLNG
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/business/a/-/wa/17661018/premier-renews...
19 Jun 13: "Premier Colin Barnett has renewed his attack on Royal Dutch Shell's "unreliable" floating gas processing technology, claiming its susceptibility to cyclones is worrying customers in Asia. In a remarkable intervention during Parliament's Question Time yesterday, Mr Barnett also showed he had refused to accept the loss of a land-based LNG hub at James Price Point. He issued a veiled threat that he would strip Woodside Petroleum and its Browse Basin partners of their State-based gas retention leases next year if they pursued FLNG." Peter Kerr, The West Australian
* OFFSHORE ENERGY TODAY: AUSTRALIA: PREMIER BARNETT PUSHES FOR JAMES PRICE POINT GAS PRECINCT DEVELOPMENT
- News
Offshore Energy Today: Australia: Premier Barnett Pushes for James Price Point Gas Precinct Development
http://www.offshoreenergytoday.com/australia-premier-barnett-pushes-for-...
20 Jun 13: "The Australian State Government will press ahead with the acquisition of the land for a gas precinct near James Price Point to encourage the development of nearby gas fields. Premier and State Development Minister Colin Barnett said the acquisition of the land was necessary to establish the precinct as a project-ready site to foster the efficient development of the offshore Browse Basin and onshore Canning Basin gas fields. ... the traditional owners of the site will receive payments of more than $30million from the State Government to benefit indigenous people across the Kimberley region."
- Related News
ABC News: Government moves forward with James Price Point
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-20/james-price-point/4768926
20 Jun 13: "The State Government will push ahead with plans for an LNG precinct at James Price Point in the Kimberley. Earlier this year, Woodside Petroleum shelved its plans to process Browse Basin gas at the site, north of Broome. But the Premier Colin Barnett says the precinct still has huge potential to support the development of the Browse Basin and Canning Basin gas fields."
Platts News: Western Australia to push ahead with purchase of Browse gas precinct site
http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/NaturalGas/27098390
20 Jun 13: "The Western Australian state government plans to press ahead with the acquisition of land for its proposed gas processing precinct near James Price Point in the Kimberley region, despite Woodside Petroleum's decision to abandon plans to construct its Browse LNG project there, Premier Colin Barnett said Thursday." Christine Forster
Upstream: WA government pushes ahead with gas precinct
http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article1330319.ece
20 Jun 13: "The West Australian government says it will still go ahead with a liquefied natural gas precinct, near Broome in the state's north-west, despite Woodside Petroleum pulling out of the proposed development. The government revealed on Thursday that it had moved ahead with the acquisition of 3414 hectares of land near James Price Point to encourage the development of nearby gas fields." Josh Lewis
WA Today: Government will acquire JPP land
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/government-will-acquire-jpp-land-20130...
20 Jun 13: "The WA Government has confirmed that it is pushing ahead with the acquisition of the land for a gas precinct near James Price Point to encourage the development of nearby gas fields. Many had predicted Premier Colin Barnett would still go ahead with the acquisition of the land despite Woodside shelving plans to develop a gas hub in the area." Aleisha Orr, Reporter
The West: Govt nod for gas hub acquisition
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/17678397/govt-nod-for-gas-...
20 Jun 13: "The State Government will press ahead with the acquisition of land for a gas processing precinct at James Price Point despite Woodside and its joint venture partners opting for floating LNG for its Browse project rather than onshore processing. In March, Woodside confirmed widespread market speculation that the James Price Point development concept was not economically viable, and it has since confirmed that the consortium partners would pursue a floating LNG solution instead. The move angered Premier Colin Barnett, ... "
Herald Sun News: Barnett digs in with his Browse gas vision
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/native-title-challenge-to...
20 Jun 13: "THE West Australian government is doggedly pressing ahead with land acquisition at James Price Point, setting space aside for future gas developments, despite Woodside axing its onshore Browse project plans. The government said the acquisition was necessary to establish the 3414ha parcel of unallocated Crown land, in the state's Kimberley, as a "project-ready" site for processing offshore Browse Basin and onshore Canning Basin gas."
* ABC NEWS: KIMBERLEY LAND COUNCIL WELCOMES DECISION TO CONTINUE COMPULSORY ACQUISITION OF JPP
- News
ABC News: Kimberley Land Council welcomes decision to continue compulsory acquisition of JPP
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-21/kimberley-land-council-welcomes-de...
21 Jun 13: "The Kimberley Land Council has welcomed the State Government's decision to continue the compulsory acquisition of land at James Price Point. The Government announced yesterday it was securing almost 3,500 hectares of land on the coast north of Broome, despite Woodside's decision not to invest in a gas hub there. The decision triggers the release of $30 million in benefits for local Aboriginal families and further benefits could come out of negotiations with a new proponent."
* BACKGROUND TO THE SAVE THE KIMBERLEY CAMPAIGN - JAMES PRICE POINT, NORTH OF BROOME, WA
Last updated: 11 June 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/11/22/wgar-news-background-to-the-save-the-...
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