WGAR News: Government concludes acquisition of controversial gas hub land north of Broome: ABC News

Newsletter date: 14 November 2013

Contents:

* Ben Collins, ABC The Drum: Indigenous empowerment is being able to say no

* Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: JPP acquisition brings Kimberley industrialisation closer
* Natalie Jones, ABC News: Government concludes acquisition of controversial gas hub land north of Broome
* Vanessa Mills, ABC Kimberley WA: James Price Point will be developed: Premier Barnett [Featuring Premier Colin Barnett]
* Daniel Mercer and Phoebe Wearne, The West Australian: Hub land bought
* The Courier-Mail: WA completes Kimberley gas purchase

* Background to the Walmadan Tent Embassy, James Price Point, north of Broome, Kimberley Region, WA

* BEN COLLINS, ABC THE DRUM: INDIGENOUS EMPOWERMENT IS BEING ABLE TO SAY NO

- Analysis / Opinion

ABC The Drum: Indigenous empowerment is being able to say no
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-11/collins-indigenous-empowerment-is-...
11 Oct 13: "The Kimberley gas precinct arguably demonstrates that by giving traditional owners the right to say 'no', there's a greater chance they may say 'yes', writes Ben Collins. ... There are lessons to be learnt in the Kimberley where a forceful approach to economic development for Aboriginal people has failed to produce favourable results for anyone. ... Even traditional owners who did eventually sign the agreement questioned the Premier's approach. "He calls it self-determination; we call it standing on our own feet with a gun to our head," Jabirr-Jabirr spokesman Wayne Barker said in May 2011." By Ben Collins, the Cross-Media Reporter for ABC Kimberley

* GREENS SENATOR RACHEL SIEWERT: JPP ACQUISITION BRINGS KIMBERLEY INDUSTRIALISATION CLOSER

- Media Release

Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: JPP acquisition brings Kimberley industrialisation closer
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/jpp-acquis...
12 Nov 13: ""WA Premier Colin Barnett has taken a step closer to realising his dream of opening up the Kimberley to industrialisation, after finalising the acquisition of the land at James Price Point." Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said today.
"From the very start of this flawed and drawn out process, the Premier's priorities have been skewed in favour of industrialisation, rather than supporting the WA community and a building a sustainable future for the Kimberley.
"Acquiring land to supply the Browse FLNG facility or for future onshore industrial projects clearly signals the Premier's intent to proceed with industrialisation at any cost.
"This decision comes after the WA Government has also introduced legislation to provide 25 year leases over the Canning Basin for the purpose of gas fracking, which is another significant threat to the Kimberley.
"It is concerning to see the Premier link important support for traditional owners in the region to his industrialisation and development agenda which jeopardises the region's culture, heritage and environment. ... ""

* NATALIE JONES, ABC NEWS: GOVERNMENT CONCLUDES ACQUISITION OF CONTROVERSIAL GAS HUB LAND NORTH OF BROOME

- News

ABC News: Government concludes acquisition of controversial gas hub land north of Broome
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-12/government-acquires-land-near-jame...
12 Nov 13: "The West Australian Government has finalised its acquisition of controversial gas hub land to supply projects in the Kimberley region. ... The site choice prompted numerous protests over a number of years. Environmentalists argued that the Kimberley should be kept free from industry and said James Price Point was not appropriate for LNG processing. The decision to give the go ahead for the hub was also the subject of a court battle. The court found that three board members of the Environmental Protection Authority had participated in the approval process despite declaring conflicts of interest." By Natalie Jones, a cross media reporter based in Broome in WA's Kimberley region

* VANESSA MILLS, ABC KIMBERLEY WA: JAMES PRICE POINT WILL BE DEVELOPED: PREMIER BARNETT [FEATURING PREMIER COLIN BARNETT]

- Audio Interview

ABC Kimberley WA: James Price Point will be developed: Premier Barnett
http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2013/11/12/3889395.htm?site=kimberley
12 Nov 13: "Compulsory acquisition of James Price Point has gone through and the State Government now owns it. ... "Whatever it takes," is Premier Colin Barnett's view on developing James Price Point into a supply base and a gas processing hub. The compulsory acquisition process has gone through, and now the State has ownership of 3,414 hectares. It will be managed by LandCorp and the Broome Port Authority. But Mr Barnett says exact plans, or even potential lessee's, have not been confirmed." By Vanessa Mills

ABC Kimberley WA: Vanessa Mills
http://www.abc.net.au/profiles/content/s1857313.htm?site=kimberley
"Vanessa Mills has had the Kimberley in her psyche since she was a child growing up on a rural property ("in a land far, far away") listening to family stories about their life in the region and other parts of outback Western Australia."

* DANIEL MERCER AND PHOEBE WEARNE, THE WEST AUSTRALIAN: HUB LAND BOUGHT

- News

The West Australian: Hub land bought
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/19803068/hub-land-bought/
13 Nov 13: "The State Government has ploughed ahead with controversial plans for a Kimberley gas hub, defying a string of setbacks to announce it has acquired land for the precinct north of Broome. Colin Barnett said yesterday the Government had completed the acquisition of more than 3000ha at James Price Point, which it wants as part of long-held plans to process the Kimberley's vast gas reserves." Daniel Mercer and Phoebe Wearne

- Related News

The West Australian: Land secured for Broome gas precinct
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/business/a/-/national/19788013/land-sec...
12 Nov 13: "Premier Colin Barnett has pushed ahead with the acquisition of land for a gas precinct at James Price Point near Broome despite Woodside and its joint venture partners deciding their Browse LNG project will be developed using floating technology. The State Government announced this morning it had completed the acquisition of 3414 hectares of land at James Price Point for a gas precinct."

* THE COURIER-MAIL: WA COMPLETES KIMBERLEY GAS PURCHASE

- News

The Courier-Mail: WA completes Kimberley gas purchase
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/breaking-news/wa-completes-kimberley-...
12 Nov 13: "INDIGENOUS communities in Western Australia's north will receive a $30 million windfall, after the state government completed the purchase of land for their push to develop gas fields in the Kimberley. Premier Colin Barnett confirmed the state government had acquired the land for a gas precinct near James Price Point, intended to support the development of nearby gas fields. Under native title agreements reached with the Goolarabooloo Jabirr Jabirr native title claimant group, the transaction triggers a $10 million economic development fund and $20 million for indigenous housing."

* BACKGROUND TO THE WALMADAN TENT EMBASSY, JAMES PRICE POINT, NORTH OF BROOME, KIMBERLEY REGION, WA

Last updated: 3 October 2013

http://indymedia.org.au/2013/01/02/walmadan-tent-embassy-james-price-poi...

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