Greens and Labor refuse to support Indigenous Land Rights

Ron Boswell discusses his (failed) motion yesterday in the Senate on conservation groups reneging on their  promise not not interfere in a deal to create wealth for indigenous communities:

The Greens and Labor have today (Ed: yesterday) decided not to support a motion that called on conservation groups in Western Australia to honour a signed agreement they made with the indigenous land owners of the Kimberley that promised Green groups would not interfere with the Woodside Gas Hub project at James Price Point.

In 2007 conservation groups such as, the World Wildlife Foundation, the Australian Conservation Foundation, the Conservation Council of Western Australia, and the Wilderness Society all signed an agreement that they would recognise the rights of the Indigenous owners of the Kimberley to work with Woodside Gas to create a gas processing plant at James Price Point.

The agreement entitled the Joint Position Statement on the Kimberley Liquefied Natural Gas Project promised, amongst other things, to support the project as long as it was in a single hub area. The agreement also recognises that the Indigenous peoples of the area should have the right to control and monitor the use of the land in relation to this project, as well as not interfering with its development.

However, conservation groups in the area have now reneged on their promise not to interfere with the deal and are actively campaigning against the gas hub despite the fact that the Indigenous people of that area have made it clear that it is their wish the project go ahead.

This plant would create jobs and wealth for the Indigenous members of the Kimberley for years to come and break the cycle of poverty which has plagued the Indigenous people of that region.

Today I moved a motion in the Senate that called on the conservation groups to honour their agreement with the local Indigenous peoples and to respect their rights, as the true land owners of the area, to use that land to help their communities –

The motion read:

On the next day of sitting I will move that the Senate-

(a)  calls on the greens and green groups, including the World Wildlife Foundation, the Australian Conservation Foundation, the Conservation  Council of Western Australia, and the Wilderness Society, to honour the promise they made in 2007 with the traditional land owners of the Kimberley, to respect the decision of the Indigenous community in its response to Woodside Gas’ proposal to process gas at James Price Point in the Kimberley;

(b)  recognises the right of the traditional land owners of the Kimberley to use that land to create economic prosperity and employment opportunities for the indigenous people of that region for generations to come; and

(c) expresses concern that indigenous people who have exercised this self-determination and accepted a single hub at James Price Point have been victimised, unfairly pressured by some green and conservation groups, and subjected to racial vilification through being referred to as ‘Toxic Coconuts’ in publicly distributed material. 

The Gillard Labor government and the Greens chose to side with the protesters and did not vote in favour of the motion".

This just shows that Labor and the Greens are hypocritical and inconsistent with their views on Indigenous land rights. They say they are for the rights of Indigenous land owners to have a say in how land is used".

If  the Indigenous communities indicate that they want to use that land to better the plight of their people for generations to come, then the Government and the Greens turn on them and try to sabotage their efforts to create a better future.

By voting against this motion Labor and the Greens have proven they don’t want the Indigenous people to prosper and build a real future for their children using the land that they were rightfully given after several hard fought legal campaigns.

Ron Boswell is a Senator from Queensland, and the Father of the Senate.

Comments

[terra]

1.

This plant would create jobs and wealth for the Indigenous members of the Kimberley for years to come and break the cycle of poverty which has plagued the Indigenous people of that region.

Yes, just look at how mining has benefited the indigenous people of the Pilbara region.

[Dallas Beaufort]

2.

Green Labor trample on another promise to honor signed agreements to protect property rights underlines their corruption and theft.

[Creason]

3.

do you think Terra that governments over decades haven't been able to change, 'the cycle of poverty' and resource companies will do what past governments couldn't? These resource companies that will cut corners to generate increasing profits for their shareholders?
I suppose you also believe in the tooth fairy...

[David Elson]

4.

by providing jobs yes.

[peter]

5.

Woodside have agreed to a total of one thousand five hundred million dollars over a thirty year period.Which will be managed by the local land owners,to improve their community and future generations health and education,they have given woodside use of 600 acres of land =1 sq mile.

[kraka]

6.

Terra-how about getting out of your ivory tower in inner city Melbourne or Syndey and heading up there and checking it out. In the Pilbura at BHP sites there is a mandatory 15% of the workforce is indigenous. This is being replicated acroos sites around Australia where indigenous land is being mined. Aboriginals have the right to a leg up-they don't have the right to full taxpayer support.Get over yourself-it's soft racists like you in green movement who are holding Aboriginals back-just ask Noel Pearson

[bluebell]

7.

Totally agree about Noel Pearson - he recognized years ago that welfare and well meaning paternalistic governments were killing his people. Aboriginal people should be telling governments to GET OUT of their lives. They are not children, they can make decisions for themselves, in the best interests of their people. This notion that we know best has got to stop if the aboriginal people are to have any chance....especially those living in remote areas. The one thing that has destroyed many communities is ALCOHOL - something that the do-gooder movement gave them access to in the name of equal rights.

[peter]

8.

bravo,Noel Pearson the voice of reason.

[Barry]

9.

Might be time someone trampled on the Greens and the Labor Elite ,,,for years the Aboriginal people have been tramped on and derided for living so-called wasted lives . As soon as they try to better themselves ,, here come the "So-called " Greens and the "So-called" Labor!!!!!!!
and prevent them from doing just that .
Two faced rubbish, Greens And Labor ,, time they left the country. They are nothing but wasted idiotic rubbish.
Surely no-one can call them "Human".
More like parasites living off the hard work of others.

[kraka]

10.

Bluebell, that last sentence is spot on. Speaking to a Wittenoom resident from the 60's and he said the aboriginals working on the properties in that era were the best workers, the best horseman and well respected-they weren't allowed alcohol and as such they walked,talked and acted as equals and were treated as such. As soon as the human rights lobby got there way it was all downhill from there. You only have to go to the "communities up there now to see why Noel Pearson is disheartened and why the "fair skinned" aboriginals despise him-upsetting the gravy train. The Greens and the Left are the real racists but tell themselves they aren't because they mean well.

[terra]

11.

As soon as the human rights lobby got there way it was all downhill from there

Or alternatively kraka you could say:

As soon as indigenous workers were granted equal pay in 1968 it was all downhill from there

[kraka]

12.

That pathetic response doesn't warrant anything except pity for the deluded fool who wrote it.

[Scott Root]

13.

Everyone has equal rights to the Land and resources of the Earth. Bravo! EVERY form of taxation is removed. 100% of the rental value of Land (based on current market value) is collected. 100% of the revenues from the Land rent are redistributed to every man, woman and child equally. EVERYONE receives a Land Dividend that exactly equals the Land rent on the average piece of Land . Infrastructure is funded by fair use fees - use it you pay, don't use it you don't pay. This places the monetary system within the boundaries of Life which ensures equal Freedom and Responsibility for ALL. Bravo!

[John Mc]

14.

Very exciting idea Scott. Firstly who pays the bureaucrats to redistribute the wealth if 100% of the wealth is redistributed? Since the rent is paid back wouldn't this mean that a lot of people are simply paying the rent on their land, having a bureaucrat take out their pay, then getting their rent back minus the bureaucrats share?