Parliament goes west to speak to traditional owners

AS PART of a Federal Parliament inquiry into economic engagement with Traditional Owners, Members of Parliament are travelling to Western Australia next week.

The Northern Australia Committee is holding public hearings in Broome, Karratha, Newman, Port Hedland and Perth, and will hear evidence from Land Councils, Native Title holders, Indigenous business leaders, mining companies and other stakeholders.

Committee Chair Warren Entsch said, "The northern Australia policy that we have will not succeed unless we bring the Indigenous population with us on this journey of economic empowerment.

"We've realised, as part of this Committee, that the one area where we are failing absolutely is in bringing the major landholders, our Indigenous population, with us on this journey," Mr Entsch said.

In its submission, the Kimberley Land Council stated, "The economic development in Northern Australia must place Indigenous people at its centre rather than on the periphery waiting for 'trickle down' benefits."

"Past experience proves that, when engaged by government and industry in good faith, Traditional Owners are empowered to identify commercial opportunities which use resources sustainably, thus protecting Indigenous-held core values of country and culture whilst building strong communities and capability."

The Government of Western Australia statment read: "An impediment to economic development opportunities for Traditional Owners is tenure options that allow for divestment and resulting economic development opportunities, without extinguishing native title.

"Appropriate tenure can be an enabler of new opportunities, but many communities hesitate to agree to native title being extinguished to enable the granting of new tenure."

he WA Government‘is exploring innovative ways of minimising the impact of tenure reform on the exercise of native title rights and interests, while enabling economic development opportunities.

The Committee will hold public hearings in Broome, Karratha, Newman, Port Hedland and Perth. Programs are available on the Committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Monday, 16 March 2020
Time: 8:30am to 2pm
Location: Broome Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Level 1, Unit 7 Woody’s Arcade, 15-17 Dampier Terrace’ Broome
Witnesses include: Kimberley Land Council, True Kimberley Tours, Nyamba Buru Yawuru, Djarindjin Aboriginal Corporation, NAAKPA, KALACC, Kimberley Development Commission.

Date: Tuesday, 17 March 2020
Time: 9am to 12pm
Location: Council Chambers Karratha, Lot 1083 Welcome Road, Karratha
Witnesses include: Yara Pilbara, Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation, Pilbara Development Commission, Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Foundation.

Date: Wednesday, 18 March 2020
Time: 8:30am to 9:30am
Location: Newman House, 15 Iron Ore Pde, Newman
Witnesses include: Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa.

Date: Wednesday, 18 March 2020
Time: 2pm to 3pm
Location: WEB Business Hub – Collaboration Space, 18 Edgar Street, Port Hedland
Witnesses include: IBN.

Date: Thursday, 19 March 2020
Time: 9am to 5pm
Location: Committee Room One, Legislative Council Committee Offices, 18-32 Parliament Place, Perth
Witnesses include: Government of Western Australia, Rio Tinto, Gumula Enterprises Pty Ltd, Vimy Resources Limited, Sheffield Resources Limited, Roy Hill, Desert Support Services, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd, Regional Implementation Committee, Western Desert Land Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC.

The hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

Further details of the inquiry, including expanded terms of reference, can be found on the Committee’s website

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