Newsletter date: 17 February 2013
Contents:
* Gerry Georgatos, Indymedia Australia: Federal Court win by Yindjibarndi means Fortescue must negotiate with them
* CAAMA: Yindjibarndi 1 - Fortescue Metals Group 0 - court ruling favours the mob !
* YAC: Cause to come home - Yindjibarndi Federal Court win
* YAC: Truth is the Best Defense - Yindjibarndi Federal Court win
* ABC Indigenous: Yindjibarndi court decision brings 'tears of joy'
* NIRS: Former FMG employee allegedly threatens to sue National Indigenous Times
* Background to the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation (YAC)
* Other articles
* GERRY GEORGATOS, INDYMEDIA AUSTRALIA: FEDERAL COURT WIN BY YINDJIBARNDI MEANS FORTISCUE MUST NEGOTIATE WITH THEM
- Analysis / Opinion
Indymedia Australia: Federal Court win by Yindjibarndi means Fortescue must negotiate with them
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/02/13/federal-court-win-by-yindjibarndi-mea...
13 Feb 13: "On Tuesday February 12, the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation (YAC) won a huge outcome in the Federal Court with Justice Kerracher stating that only the YAC are authorised to negotiate with mining companies over certain Yindjibarndi Country. The claim area includes the vacant Crown land where Fortescue Metals Group is developing the Firetail mine site. This is a massive blow to Fortescue who have been securing access to the site through the controversial Wirlu-murra Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation (WMYAC) which is not a federally prescribed negotiating body and which was allegedly contrived into existence by Fortescue and who are funded by Fortescue, which Fortescue admits." Gerry Georgatos
* CAAMA: YINDJIBARNDI 1 - FORTESCUE METALS GROUP 0 - COURT RULING FAVOURS THE MOB !
- Audio Interview
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association: Yindjibarndi 1 - Fortescue Metals Group 0 - court ruling favours the mob !
http://caama.com.au/yindjibarndi-1-fortescue-metals-group-0-court-ruling...
15 Feb 13: "Traditional land owners in Western Australia’s Pilbara region have won a a major battle against mining giant FMG with the Federal court ruling the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation is now the only group legally permitted to represent local stakeholders. A breakaway Yindjibarndi group has moved to accept Fortescue Metals Group;s $4 million benefits package… which would allow the mining giant to develop the multi-billion dollar iron ore mine in but the court has overruled the powers of this group. ... Michael Woodley CEO of the Yindiijbarndi Aborignal Corporation says ... "
- Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/am-15-02.mp3
15 Feb 13: "Traditional land owners in Western Australia’s Pilbara region have won a a major battle against mining giant FMG with the Federal court ruling the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation is now the only group legally permitted to represent local stakeholders."
* YAC: CAUSE TO COME HOME - YINDJIBARNDI FEDERAL COURT WIN
- News
Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation: Cause to come home
Yindjibarndi Federal Court win
http://yindjibarndi.org.au/yindjibarndi/?p=3080
13 Feb 13: "On 12 February, Federal Court Justice, Neil McKerracher, handed down a decision that validated the vote of the Yindjibarndi people to authorise a new and unified Applicant group of twelve Yindjibarndi men and women to run the Yindjibarndi #1 Claim-this includes the Area of vacant crown land where Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) is developing the Solomon Hub and 'Firetail' mine. The conditions that were attached to the authorization means that these Applicants must also act in concert with the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation (YAC), and get YAC’s written consent for any agreement that affects the Claim Area. ... "
* YAC: TRUTH IS THE BEST DEFENSE - YINDJIBARNDI FEDERAL COURT WIN
- News
Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation: Truth is the Best Defense
Yindjibarndi Federal Court win - Bid to shut down voice of the National Indigenous Times
http://yindjibarndi.org.au/yindjibarndi/?p=3055
"Yesterday justice was served in the Federal Court when the voice of the majority of the Yindjibarndi People was affirmed. The court authorised a Yindjibarndi plebiscite, of 24 March 2012, which elected 12 Applicants who unequivocally support the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation (YAC); and who oppose Fortescue Metals Group’s (FMG) grossly inequitable land use agreement and aggressive intervention in the Yindjibarndi community. The decision means that YAC is now the only organisation entitled by law to speak for the Yindjibarndi country where FMG are mining."
* ABC INDIGENOUS: YINDJIBARNDI COURT DECISION BRINGS 'TEARS OF JOY'
- News
ABC Indigenous: Yindjibarndi court decision brings 'tears of joy'
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-14/yindjibarndi-court-decision-brings...
14 Feb 13: "The Federal Court has ruled the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation the only group legally permitted to represent traditional landowners in an ongoing Pilbara mining dispute. ... Yindjibarndi's CEO, Michael Woodley, says the door is always open for FMG to negotiate a new deal. "What is also open as well is for the Yindjibarndi people who moved away from the YAC and formed the breakaway group, are also willing to come back into the fold and start moving towards a positive part that gives Yindjibarndi people best outcomes that we all deserve," he said."
* NIRS: FORMER FMG EMPLOYEE ALLEGEDLY THREATENS TO SUE NATIONAL INDIGENOUS TIMES
- News
National Indigenous Radio Service: Former FMG employee allegedly threatens to sue National Indigenous Times
http://www.nirs.org.au/news/latest-news/7841-former-fmg-employee-alleged...
13 Feb 13: "The chief executive of the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation in Western Australia's Pilbara has criticised a former Fortescue Metals Group worker for allegedly threatening to sue the National Indigenous Times. Times reporter Gerry Georgatos has published articles containing allegations Michael Gallagher, when working for FMG, had a conflict of interest when dealing with the Yindjibarndi people for a mining agreement. Yindjibarndi boss Michael Woodley says Mr. Gallagher doesn't want certain articles published because the allegations are damning. ... "
* BACKGROUND TO THE YINDJIBARNDI ABORIGINAL CORPORATION (YAC):
Last updated: 13 February 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/11/27/background-to-the-yindjibarndi-aborig...
* OTHER ARTICLES:
- Analysis / Opinion
arena: Opportunity Lost
Marcia Langton’s Boyer Lectures
http://www.arena.org.au/2013/02/opportunity-lost/
February 2013: "It is possible that Langton’s five lectures will rank as a particularly shameful episode in the ABC’s history. For five weeks, audiences were subjected to the kind of vitriol and empirically unfounded claims against the Left and environmentalists usually confined to Andrew Bolt’s columns or Alan Jones’ broadcasts. Where was the so-called 'balance' that ABC management invokes usually to placate the Right, but never the Left? ... "
- Audio
SBS Living Black: NAIDOC 2013 Theme Announced
By Marc Tong
http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/aboriginal/highlight/page/id/254298/t...
15 Feb 13: "This year's NAIDOC theme honours the 50th anniversary of the Yirrkala Bark Petitions of 1963. One of the most courageous acts of self-determination, but one of the least well known, will be celebrated as the focal point of NAIDOC 2013. ... "We Value the Vision: Yirrkala Bark Petitions 1963", honours the fight for recognition by the Yolgnu people that also served as an important catalyst leading up to the 1967 referendum. ... Co-Chair of the National NAIDOC committee is Torres Striat Islander man Ben Mitchell. He shares with Marc Tong his views on recognition, past, present and future."
SBS Living Black: 'Good Faith' in Native Title
By Michelle Lovegrove
http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/aboriginal/highlight/page/id/254294/t...
15 Feb 13: "Proposed changes to Native Title Legislation sees its stakeholders discuss the issue of 'good faith' in the negotiation process. Some of the major players in the business of Native Title gathered in Redfern to discuss proposed government amendments to the way it operates. The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs is holding an inquiry into the Native Title Amendment Bill 2012. The current Bill aims to streamline the processes for Indigenous Land Use agreements, and requires stakeholders to "negotiate in good faith" on Native Title outcomes. ... "
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