Hands off Country

The Mob Violence That Wasn't | newmatilda.com

2012-01-28T07:41:00.001+08:00

The Mob Violence That Wasn't | newmatilda.com: Police have laid no charges. No-one appears to have been hurt through the actions of protesters. The available footage, particularly from Channel 9, which can be seen here on the 3AW site, shows no violence from protesters. What it shows is confusion and panic from police and security, protestors milling about shouting, and rough handling of protesters by police.

In response to a question about yesterday’s violence from a journalist at today’s tent embassy press conference, a spokeswoman for the embassy, Selina Davey-Newry, said:

"There was no violence, we had the AFP and riot squad pushing at us in a line, and invited the politicians to come out and speak. The AFP came out against us with force, and we did not retaliatie with force, we did not instigate any wrong-doing or any violence".

Chinese likely to buy 25pc of Browse LNG project from Woodside | The Australian

2012-01-28T07:09:00.000+08:00

Chinese likely to buy 25pc of Browse LNG project from Woodside | The Australian: The news sparked hope among environmentalists that a selldown would kill off plans to build a major processing plant on the Kimberley coast, instead forcing the Browse gas to be piped south to existing facilities at the North West Shelf.

West Australian Premier Colin Barnett welcomed Woodside's move and revealed that his government was facilitating talks aimed at bringing China into the project as both an equity partner and gas customer.

The Kimberley Coast: Press Release: 2011 Kimberley Cetacean Report Released

2012-01-27T21:53:00.000+08:00

The Kimberley Coast: Press Release: 2011 Kimberley Cetacean Report Released

Kimberley Whale Watching has just released their 2011 Kimberley Cetacean Report 2011. The report highlights the importance of the Dampier Peninsula and the Kimberley's outer shoals and reefs to the Breeding Stock D population of Humpback whales.

ASX Announcement

2012-01-27T21:28:00.000+08:00

Friday, 27 January 2012

UPDATE ON WOODSIDE'S BROWSE EQUITY POSITION

In regards to media speculation that Woodside is seeking to divest equity in the Browse LNG Development, Woodside advises it has not made any decision to reduce its equity in the proposed development at this time.

In response to significant interest from a number of parties, Woodside is conducting a limited process to assess the potential sale of a minority portion of the company's equity in the development.

This process provides an opportunity to assess possible early value realisation. Woodside intends to retain operatorship of the development.

This approach is consistent with Woodside CEO Peter Coleman's comments from the 2011 Half-Year results presentation.

"Our tier-one LNG growth options include Pluto expansion, Browse and Sunrise. We have large equity stakes in these projects and this means we have additional options. Through a disciplined approach and robust processes we will deliver value from the LNG growth options over both the medium to longer term."

Woodside denies Browse LNG equity fire sale - Business (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

2012-01-27T19:13:00.000+08:00

Woodside denies Browse LNG equity fire sale - Business (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): "They are currently in a position where James Price Point looks like an incredibly difficult project," he said.

"And the alternatives that we have put forward and their joint venture partners have put forward look more and more palatable as every day goes by."

The Premier Colin Barnett says he believes Woodside would have trouble sustaining its 50 per cent stakeholding in the project.

He says Chinese investors have made it clear they would like to be involved in the venture and the State Government is actively encouraging Chinese involvement both as a customer and an investor.

Woodside is not revealing just who has expressed interest in the development but says it intends to retain most of its equity in the project.

Happy fortieth Tent Embassy - On Line Opinion - 26/1/2012

2012-01-27T11:43:00.001+08:00

Happy fortieth Tent Embassy - On Line Opinion - 26/1/2012

The grass-roots political struggle that began as the Aboriginal Tent Embassy successfully subverted the colonial narrative. It did so by placing the lived experiences of Aboriginal people; racism, disease, poverty and dispossession front and centre.

As with the Occupy Movement with protests in cities including New York, London and Sydney, it took on a life of its own and inspired other protest 'embassies' around Australia, most recently on the site of the proposed Kimberley gas hub.

Woodside kicks off $1bn Browse sale as plans for processing plant may be axed

2012-01-27T07:07:00.001+08:00

BY: ANDREW BURRELL From: The Australian January 27, 2012 12:00AM

WOODSIDE Petroleum has launched a $1 billion-plus auction of most of its 50 per cent stake in the huge Browse gas project in Western Australia, in a move that could kill off controversial plans to build a processing plant on the Kimberley coast.

Sources say the formal auction process began after Woodside was approached by scores of companies over the past 12 months over a potential selldown.

Although this is very promising news, everyone must please remember that it is the WA State Government who is the proponent for this project. Its the state government who want a deep water port on the Kimberley coast. Woodside have made no official statement and the so-called auction has not started. We do keep our fingers crossed that this is the start of the finish, but lets not hold our breath just yet.

Share issue aims to raise $6.5m for Tangiers

2012-01-25T15:57:00.000+08:00

Share issue aims to raise $6.5m for Tangiers:

The company holds large interests in speculative exploration projects in Morocco and Australia and is highly leveraged towards exploration success. Major oil companies are understood to interested in a possible joint venture partnership with Tangiers at its Nova prospect in Western Australia.

Fears for life as landslide hits PNG | The Australian

2012-01-25T08:56:00.001+08:00

Fears for life as landslide hits PNG | The Australian: RESCUE workers are attempting to reach a remote part of Papua New Guinea after a massive landslide which reports said may have left dozens of people buried.

The landslide struck near a huge ExxonMobil liquefied natural gas project in the country's rugged southern highlands yesterday, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said, leaving a trail of destruction.

Before it was aware of the disaster, Oil Search yesterday reported “good progress” at the construction of the huge PNG LNG venture, which chief executive Peter Botten said was on track to start production in 2014.

But the interruption to work at Hides could put the construction schedule under pressure and has highlighted the technical challenges facing the project and the difficult local conditions.

The region received up to 10 metres of rain a year and landslides were “unfortunately a regular feature”, an Oil Search spokeswoman said.

The project involves the development of several gas fields in the PNG Highlands, over 700 kilometres of pipelines and a 6.6 million tonnes per year liquefaction plant near Port Moresby.

LNG is due to be delivered to customers in Taiwan, Japan and China.

David Knox, chief executive of Santos, a partner in the venture, said the company shared ExxonMobil’s “concern for the workforce and the communities in the affected area”.

A Santos spokesman in Adelaide could provide no further details.

Radio New Zealand International noted that the area was geologically unstable and lay in the shadow of the ancient volcano of Bosavi.

New Gouldian finch population found in Kimberley - Australian Geographic

2012-01-25T07:00:00.001+08:00

New Gouldian finch population found in Kimberley - Australian Geographic

Correspondence with the Broome Shire about Woodside illeagy Road Works on Manari Road, in Dec 2012.

2012-01-20T10:35:00.007+08:00

A series of correspondence with the Broome Shire

To the Broome Shire
Good morning

You stated in your email that

" I am informed the job was done quickly with a front end loader and vehicles with flashing lights were stationed at either end of the work zone to manage traffic".

This is a total lie and no vehicles with flashing lights were present, as the video clearly shows.

You went on to state In your email you have advised there were no signs erected and that Woodside did this to "create a deep dangerous sandy pit, forcing people to slow down or spin out." An inspection of the site did not indicate any signs of such a sandy pit.

Once, handsoffcountry blogged the video evidence on the 19th, Dec 2012 this sand pit and the road had been again altered.
When and who from the Shire inspected this sight?

The only way that my email can be taken seriously is if Woodside are held accountable for this illegal action by the Law. If a private person was to undertake such works i am sure the Shire's approach would be considerable more than a letter of warning.

I would also like to remind you that these roads works took place the day following the Shire Council's Dec Meeting, where numerous complaints and irregularities by Woodside were raised. How long will the Shire continue to turn a blind eye to Woodside and their actions without real consequence ever been enforced?

Your correspondence went on to say that "It is considered, as this was the first such incident, that a warning such as that given, is appropriate."

If someone had had an accident during Woodside's roadwork, would the fact that it was the first time hold any relevance?

If public safety on Shire Roads is a high priority for the Shire of Broome, as you have stated, then I request that the Shire immediately take legal action, with the full extent of the law, and follow through with this claim priority.

Yours faithfully

RE: I120110-65845 - Woodside illegy road works on Manari Road Dec 2011Thursday, 19 January, 2012 12:41 PM
From: "Shire" View contact details

Thank you for the below email concerning actions by Woodside's contractors on Manari Road in Dec 2011.

Apparently, some of the heavy vehicles demobilising from a works program on Woodside's Site caused some damage to Manari Road near the entrance to the laydown area when turning left out of the laydown area and heading towards Broome. A decision was taken by Woodside staff to repair the road to make it safe. I am informed the job was done quickly with a front end loader and vehicles with flashing lights were stationed at either end of the work zone to manage traffic.

In your email you have advised there were no signs erected and that Woodside did this to "create a deep dangerous sandy pit, forcing people to slow down or spin out." An inspection of the site did not indicate any signs of such a sandy pit.

Your email has however, been taken seriously and action has been taken with a warning given to Woodside representatives of their obligations in relation to obtaining approval for work on Shire roads, having an approved Traffic Management Plan and accredited staff on site for all Works on Roads. It has been made very clear that they cannot carry out any works on Shire Roads without prior approval.

It is considered, as this was the first such incident, that a warning such as that given, is appropriate.

Should further instances occur then of course stronger measures would progressively be taken.

Please be assured that public safety on Shire Roads is a high priority for the Shire of Broome.

Yours faithfully

KR Donohoe
CEO
1/10/2012

Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2012 2:08 PM
To: Shire
Subject: I120110-65845 - Woodside illegy road works on Manari Road Dec 2011

Attention:
Broome Shire CEO

Dear Ken

Woodside had made arrangements with the Broome Shire for the Shire to carry out road maintenance works on Manari Road (a Shire Road) whenever trafficability or road safety risk reaches an unacceptable level. Woodside had recognised that increased traffic from their operations would result in the need for increased maintenance.

Therefore, why did Woodside carried out their own road maintenance work on this public road without appropriate authority from the Broome Shire Council and without any of the basic public safety procedures in place?

Please refer to http://youtu.be/iIjJvFbhBb0 for video evidence taken on the 15th of Dec 2011 at approximately 11am, on Manari Road.

The Broome Shire grader had just completed grading the road. What you are witnessing in this video is Woodside using their equipment and undertaking their own road works which is highly illegal, hazardous and wantons prosecution by the Broome Shire Council. This work was done in order to create a deep dangerous sandy pit, forcing people to slow down or spin out. This allows time for hostiles (Lockforce) Woodside corporate security enough time to record number plates and photograph people who in traveling in Country. Something they have been subjecting locals and visitors alike for well over a year.

Woodside are not in procession of a duly signed and sealed Instrument of Authorisation by the Commissioner of Main Roads to undertake roadwork's, on public roads in Western Australia. Therefore, what are the penalties these types of dangerous unauthorised illegal actions and how does the Broome Shire intend to legally respond to Woodside?

Any person or party intending to undertake an event or conduct works that may impact on traffic (including pedestrian traffic) within any part of the road reserve shall, as a condition of approval by Main Roads WA, Local Government or any other authority responsible for the road, ensure that the person performing the tasks contained in Table 4 - Main Roads' Traffic Management of Works on Roads Code of Practice hold the relevant and current traffic management certificate of accreditation.

Given the seriousness of this action on public safety when is the Broome Shire going to report the driver of the bulldozer to the police because he did not hold the necessary accreditation to carry out this work.

Main Roads WA certificate and proof of certification is provided in the form of a 'Photo ID' card is issued for each category of accreditation to individuals who successfully meet the pre-requisites applicable for each level of accreditation. This proof was not provided when requested.

Woodside did not have the necessary approvals to undertake these road works.This roadwork was not approved by an Authorised Body nor was a MRWA approval obtained.
· Woodside does not have a Traffic Management Plan for these road works.
· This particular section on Manari Road is not located safely with respect to horzontal and vertical alignment. There was no signing and delineation erected to cater for this?
· The transitions from the existing road to the roadworks were not safe or clearly laid out.
· No speed limits were established on-site consistent with the modified road environment.
· The worksite was not clearly defined or appropriately separate from passing traffic.
· The travel paths for both directions of traffic were not clearly defined.
· No "Reduce Speed" signs located in accordance with the TMR Code of Practice.
· No "repeater" speed limit signs that should be erected in accordance with AS 1742.3.
· No signs or devices were placed in such that they are clearly visible to approaching drivers and other.
· No sign of temporary hazard markers (T5-4 and T5-5) aligned and spaced to comply with the requirements of AS 1742.3
· No variable message signs (VMS) used compliant with the requirements of AS 1742.3
· The clearances from the worksite were not consistent with the requirements of AS 1742.3
· No Traffic Controllers on the worksite so no accredited, suitably attired and correctly positioned relative to sight distance and the "Prepare to Stop" signs.

How does the Shire intend to deal with this matter? .Under what legislation are serious matters of this nature dealt with and will there be a full investigation undertaken by the Shire? Given the facts that the Broome Shire has witnessed and forced to investigate numerous planning and development misdemeanors by Woodside over the last 12 months when will the Shire use the fully force of the law to ensure the Woodside does not continue to flaunt the law and so readily dismiss local governess.

Regards

Outlook cools for energy heavyweights

2012-01-20T09:58:00.003+08:00

Fitch Ratings has sounded a warning on the outlook for the Australian oil and gas industry as sector heavyweights announce falls in their quarterly production results.

Fitch issued a negative credit outlook for the sector this year, saying companies faced rising debt due to the large number of new liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects that were not yet generating revenue.

The agency also has forecast that strong prices for LNG will fall due to competition from North American gas fields.
Fitch Ratings director of energy and utilities Sajal Kishore says skilled labour shortages have contributed to cost blow-outs and project delays.

"What we're seeing more now is that companies are coming out more frequently with announcements of delays, which was not happening two years ago," Mr Kishore said.

Eight LNG plants should be enough, says Martin Ferguson · BY:MATT CHAMBERS · From:The Australian

2012-01-19T21:30:00.002+08:00

Eight LNG plants should be enough, says Martin Ferguson
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/eight-lng-plants-should-be-enough-says-ferguson/story-e6frg9df-1226246795339

THE Gillard government says it will discourage more onshore standalone liquefied natural gas plants, apart from the controversial Browse project planned near Broome and another potential Gladstone plant, with six LNG hubs in northern Australia seen as enough.

At the same time, Exxon Mobil has given a downbeat assessment of its Scarborough LNG joint venture with BHP Billiton - another potential west coast LNG development - flagging high potential development costs.

Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson said those hubs, along with Broome if the Woodside Petroleum-led joint venture decided a plant there was economic, were an "ideal end result".

Analysts are forecasting Browse will be developed at the existing North West Shelf site...

LNG total hits $175bn with Ichthys

2012-01-15T20:11:00.001+08:00

LNG total hits $175bn with Ichthys: The next real test for Australia’s LNG sector will be the progress at Woodside’s closely watched Browse LNG venture, which is targeting a 12 million-tonnes-per-year plant at the controversial James Price Point site on the Kimberley coast.

As another greenfield project, planned for a remote, undeveloped site near Broome, Browse LNG faces technical, environmental and economic challenges that have already seen its schedule pushed back by several years.

Woodside, as the project operator, in December pushed back the targeted timing for a go-ahead at Browse to the first half of 2013 from mid-2012.

But the more the project slips in timing, the more it comes up against strengthening competition from rivals, analysts point out.

“[This year] is a massive year for Browse,” says Wood Mackenzie’s McMahon. “It needs basically to sink or swim at James Price Point, and the next 18 months will dictate what happens.”

LNG projects face tougher times

2012-01-13T11:49:00.002+08:00

LNG projects face tougher times
Angela Macdonald-Smith
With yet another huge liquefied natural gas project now formally under construction, the signs are pointing to harder times ahead for sanctioning more new LNG projects in Australia.

Inpex’s $US34 billion ($32.89 billion) Ichthys project is the seventh to be approved in the Australian region in just two years, the most rapid rate of approvals ever. But with rising construction costs and mounting competition for lucrative Asian LNG sales contracts threatening to emerge from gas-rich North America, Russia and even eastern Africa, it is crunch time in particular for Woodside Petroleum’s Browse LNG project, which has already slipped down the development queue.

Should the technically and economically challenging venture slip further back, it risks coming into direct competition with inevitably cheaper sources of LNG emerging from other export ventures.

Australia still has a huge volume of gas not committed to one of the eight LNG projects now being built in the country and all the forecasts point to continuing robust demand for the fuel from Asia. The problem is more one of costs, which means the next wave of project approvals is likely to be one of more economical brown-field expansions rather than brand new plants on new sites.
Browse is one of the few green-field LNG ventures still in the wings in Australia. The Arrow Energy project owned by Royal Dutch Shell and PetroChina is another, but because it has an in-built customer in the shape of PetroChina, the pressure is off at least in terms of finding sales markets. (The same cannot be said about environmental approvals because of the storm clouds gathering around coal seam gas development in the eastern states.)

Otherwise, however, Australia is now looking towards a new, different period of LNG development. One that will still have a lot of growth, but will be reliant more on brown-field expansions and smaller, niche floating LNG projects rather than groundbreaking green-field projects.

Nine arrested at Qld anti-CSG protest

2012-01-12T17:10:00.000+08:00

Nine arrested at Qld anti-CSG protest:

"Landowners are really, really concerned about their water and concerned that they're not being listened to," he said.

"All of the people arrested, and I'm one of them, have never been arrested before.

"They are law-abiding citizens who have had to make this enormous step to let people know how important this issue is."

NOW THAT'S SOUNDS SO FAMILIAR.

What is coal seam gas (CSG)?

2012-01-12T16:24:00.002+08:00

Coal Seam Gas (CSG), or coal bed methane (CBM)
as it’s sometimes known, is a form of natural gas,
typically extracted from coal seams at depths of
300‑1000 metres. It is a colourless, odourless, mixture
of a number of gases, but is mostly made up of methane
- it’s usually more than 95 per cent pure methane.
CSG was made over 200 million years ago when coal
was being formed, and has been held in the coal since
then by water pressure. To get at the gas you first need
to remove the water. This reduces the pressure in the
coal seam enabling the gas to flow.

Kimberley oil find tipped to fuel exploration surge

2012-01-11T12:43:00.001+08:00

Kimberley oil find tipped to fuel exploration surge: The discovery of oil in Western Australia’s remote Kimberley region would usher in a new wave of exploration for oil and gas, including possible controversial coal seam gas fields, WA Resources Minister Norman Moore said.

The veteran Liberal MP said WA badly needed such onshore energy sources for power and industry.

But environmental groups warned that Buru Energy’s announcement last week that it would start trial production at its Ungani oil field next month was another sign, along with Woodside Petroleum’s planned $40 billion James Price Point gas site, of the “industrialisation” of the wilderness area. The groups also want tighter regulations to control the emerging unconventional shale and coal seam gas industry, which has sparked concern in Queensland and NSW.

Mr Moore said he expected Buru’s announcement to spark an exploration surge, with bidding for tenements in the Kimberley area already rising. “This is very encouraging news for us,” he told The Australian Financial Review yesterday. “Canning Basin in the Kimberley has long been thought of as a source of oil and gas, but has been quite disappointing.”

Woodside stokes fears of oil leak

2012-01-10T20:30:00.000+08:00

Woodside stokes fears of oil leak:
Woodside has taken its complaint over the WA government’s directive to the Federal Court in Perth, arguing the requirement would cost “in the order of $20 million or more”. Yet its legal complaint is based on whether the WA directive was issued correctly, rather than on the merits of using a surface plug.

Woodside noted in legal documents the state government relied partly on “expressions of concern” penned by Chevron without allowing Woodside to respond. (Woodside and Chevron are joint-venture partners in the North West Shelf gas project.)

The issue has arisen at an awkward time for Woodside, which is reliant on state government support to develop the controversial James Price Point gas processing hub.

The state government believes Woodside has reneged on a deal to plug the wells to its standards when it received permission to drill the gas wells. But a person close to the oil and gas company argued that Woodside gave no such precommitment.

Barnett keeps his foot on the gas

2012-01-10T20:20:00.001+08:00

Barnett keeps his foot on the gas: ” Barnett says in an interview with The Australian Financial Review. “I don’t think you will find a future premier, Liberal or Labor, who will be prepared to take on the issues in the Kimberley.”

Barnett concedes that opposition to Woodside’s project is a sore point, one which would be better dealt with before 2013.

Would he be disappointed though, after his efforts, if it fell over?

“Not personally, but I want it to happen because it is the right thing and I know as a Premier that it is the only way I can deliver genuine economic opportunity to that part of the country,” he says.

“Despite all the protests, it is a clean industry. It is not the smokestack industry everyone talks about.”

The Australian Financial Review

Sea Shepherd :: Our Sincere Apologies, Prime Minister

2012-01-10T14:58:00.001+08:00

Sea Shepherd :: Our Sincere Apologies, Prime Minister:

The suggestion by Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Attorney General Nicola Roxon that Sea Shepherd help foot the bill for the recovery of three Australian citizens from the Shonan Maru #2 is absurd.

They have of course taken a page out of Political Media Manipulation 101 where a politician seeks support by indirectly demonizing a non-governmental organization or individual for costing the taxpayer money. Their reasoning is that the public will lose sympathy if they perceive that an action is costly to the tax payer.

Pressure on government to help free activist trio

2012-01-08T23:18:00.001+08:00

Pressure on government to help free activist trio: The federal government is under pressure to take swift action to secure the release of three Australian activists detained aboard a Japanese whaling security ship.

But the Attorney-General, Nicola Roxon, has conceded the men could be taken to Japan to face legal action.

The West Australian men from the Forest Rescue environmental group boarded the Japanese security vessel Shonan Maru No.2 in waters off Bunbury overnight on Saturday. Their aim was to force the vessel to stop tailing the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's flagship, the Steve Irwin.

FWD: Statement from Forest Rescue Who Have Boarded The Japanese Whaling Ship In Australia's Waters ... In Protest

We have come from the forests of Australia to defend the whales being slaughtered in Australian territorial waters.

We are Australian citizens and we have boarded the Japanese flagged Shonan Maru #2 in Australian territorial waters at a position of (32 degrees zero minutes south and 115 degrees 21 minutes east) We have taken this action of boarding the Shonan Maru #2 to protest the fact that this vessel is part of a whaling fleet that is operating in contempt of the Australian Court and is in Australian waters in defiance of the Australian Federal court ruling and the will of the Australian people.

“We are onboard this ship because our government has failed to uphold its pre-election promise to end whaling in the Southern Ocean,” said Simon Peterffy.

Forest Rescue has decided to take action to prevent the Shonan Maru #2 from tailing the Steve Irwin back to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

Forest Rescue is making a stand to assist Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in their campaign to end illegal whale poaching in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

We are taking this action to remind the Australian government of their obligation to enforce existing laws pertaining to the prohibition of whaling ships in our waters.

We as Forest Rescue are insulted and disappointed in our government for allowing the transit of whale poaching vessels in Australian waters.

AFP spies targeting green activists | smh.com.au

2012-01-08T19:46:00.003+08:00

AFP spies targeting green activists | smh.com.au

Documents released to the Herald under freedom of information laws confirm the police are "continually monitoring" anti-coal mining and other environmental groups. Much of the intelligence collection is carried out for the federal police by a private contractor, the National Open Source Intelligence Centre, in Melbourne.

The documents reveal that Mr Ferguson, prompted by lobbying from energy companies, has urged stronger criminal penalties against protests that disrupt "critical energy infrastructure".

The Greens leader, Bob Brown, condemned the surveillance, saying it was "intolerable that the federal Labor government is spying on conservation groups" and wanting to "criminalise political protest".

http://brianwaltersmelbourne.blogspot.com/2012/01/spying-for-big-coal.html?spref=fb

This surveillance of community groups is one-sided: it is not directed at companies who break the law. There is no surveillance of board rooms to find out what other plans they might have to use their resources to alter the political debate in Australia. Nor is it being used to detect breaches of environmental laws by these companies. It is directed against the very community which should be sovereign in a democratic system.

You won't be able to find out if your group or your emails have been spied on. This would be exempted from disclosure under s 37 of the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act. This means that the community will not be able to challenge the use of these covert powers in any specific instance.

The latest news follows revelations in 2008 that police have been infiltrating community groups and spying on them.

Government in talks to free whaling activists from ship - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

2012-01-08T19:40:00.000+08:00

Government in talks to free whaling activists from ship - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Greens call on PM intervene over whaling hostages | Rachel Siewert

2012-01-08T18:52:00.000+08:00

Greens call on PM intervene over whaling hostages | Rachel Siewert

Communities angered by fly-in workers - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

2012-01-03T22:35:00.000+08:00

Communities angered by fly-in workers - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): Non-resident or fly-in, fly-out workforces are an increasing part of mining but many argue they are bad for communities.

Ollie Butterfield, a Kimberley Protector has died in a car accident in Vic

2011-12-31T14:20:00.013+08:00

In Victoria, a man died and a woman was seriously injured after a car hit a tree on the Hume Freeway near Wangaratta late on Thursday. A man in his 30s, believed to be the driver, died at the scene, a spokesman for Ambulance Victoria said.

A 34-year-old female passenger was flown to The Alfred hospital in a serious but stable condition with multiple injuries. The Australian.

Those who don't feel this Love
pulling them like a river,
those who don't drink dawn
like a cup of spring water
or take in sunset like supper,
those who don't want to change,

let them sleep.

This Love is beyond the study of theology,
that old trickery and hypocrisy.
I you want to improve your mind that way,

sleep on.

I've given up on my brain.
I've torn the cloth to shreds
and thrown it away.

If you're not completely naked,
wrap your beautiful robe of words
around you,

and sleep.

http://a3.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/102/d6c9c900b0f3b207758da2d4b6309825/l.jpg

Pamela Knox wrote

RIP Ollie - via via Walmadan Country is Calling "Ollie and Izzi were travelling in car which crashed in Wangaratta. ollie unfortunately died at the scene. Izzi in serious but stable condition at the Alfred hospital. Prayers and tributes for Ollie's family and friends tonight. He was a beautiful soul. The world will not be the same with out him." I am blessed to have met such a beautiful soul. Sincere condolences to family and friends alike - the world will miss Ollie dearly! xox "

Disabled hip hop artist joins protest
Updated October 26, 2011 17:03:25

PHOTO: East coast hip hop artist Ollie Butterfield has chained himself to Woodside machinery at James Price Point.

MAP: Broome 6725

A disabled hip-hop artist from the eastern states is the latest to join the ongoing protest against the Kimberley gas hub, chaining himself to a Woodside vehicle near the site.

Ollie Butterfield, 26, is usually wheelchair bound but has been able to climb under the vehicle where he has been sitting for several hours.

Broome police are on the scene and have issued the man with a move on notice but have not attempted to physically remove him.
http://www.myspace.com/oliverbutterfieldmusic/photos/4946906#%7B%22ImageId%22%3A4946906%7D

Woodside May Delay Decision on Browse LNG Project Until 2013

2011-12-29T16:33:00.000+08:00

“There’s a lot of work in front of us,” Coleman said today. “We’d rather not rush to the finish line and not have any breath left. These are big decisions.”

2011-12-26T04:51:00.000+08:00

Woodside wobbles at Christmas time and other mining dramas

2011-12-21T13:51:00.006+08:00

Shifting sands of the Browse Basin LNG hub

The future of a $35 billion liquefied natural gas hub - originally proposed to sit at James Price Point in the Kimberley - has been shifted so many times that it now looks set to be moved more than 1000 kilometres to Karratha.

The hub's Kimberley location has garnered heavy opposition from environmental groups and some members of Aboriginal communities, with protest scenes taking centre stage on news bulletins for several weeks in 2011.

Woodside this week requested an extension on its final investment decision for the project, pushing the deadline out by a year to the middle of 2013.

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/lowering-the-boom-on-was-biggest-2011-resources-bustups-20111219-1p24z.html#ixzz1hEAkfkqN http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/lowering-the-boom-on-was-biggest-2011-resources-bustups-20111219-1p24z.html

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/2011-scandals-will-stick-for-wa-miners-20111220-1p3tq.html

Woodside 'seeking alternatives' to James Price Point

2011-12-21T07:25:00.005+08:00

Woodside 'seeking alternatives' to James Price Point
By Luke Waters
World News Australia

There are major doubts surrounding one of Australia's largest resource ventures, with Woodside Petroleum seeking to delay its $30b Kimberley gas project

While the company insists the controversial proposals at James Price Point in Western Australia will go ahead in the longer term, a final decision for the project north of Broome may now be delayed until mid-2013.

SBS's Luke Waters has learned that some analysts believe alternative locations are already being canvassed.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1613621/Woodside-seeks-delay-to-Browse-LNG-project

Woodside never at Walmadan James Price Point

2011-12-19T20:22:00.009+08:00

Woodside Energy announcement to the Australian Stock Exchange today:

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:45:00 +1000 13 hours, 35 minutes ago
WOODSIDE SEEKS VARIATION TO BROWSE RETENTION LEASES

ASX Announcement Monday, 19 December 2011 WOODSIDE TO SEEK VARIATION TO BROWSE RETENTION LEASES Woodside advises that it intends to seek amendments to its Browse Basin retention leases, including a request to vary the condition relating to readiness for a final investment decision. The participants in the Browse Joint Venture are currently engaged in discussions on the final nature of this planned request for amendments. The request for amendments will be made to the Joint Authority and the WA Minister for Mines and Petroleum at the conclusion of these discussions.

The current Browse Basin retention leases require the lessees to be in a position to consider a final investment decision by mid 2012. Woodside believes an extension into the first half of 2013 may be required. While the joint venture has to date met the schedule imposed by the retention lease conditions, the variation would allow time to better evaluate the outcomes of front-end engineering and design work and the results of the tender processes for the development’s major contracts.

The revised timetable would also allow more time to complete necessary assurance activities. Contacts: MEDIA Laura Lunt W: +61 8 9348 6874 M: +61 418 917 609 E: laura.lunt@woodside.com.au INVESTORS Jeremy Hams W: +61 8 9348 6290 M: +61 412 288 781 E: investor@woodside.com.au.

ooo00ooo

As predicted by those on the money the Financial Investment Day has been adjourned to 2013, and for Western Australians, around about the time the State Government will go to the polls. The Opposition Leader Ripper got it completely wrong today about the delay in approvals. The protest has documented the lack of transparency and honesty by this State's Government on approvals, licences, permits, registrations,the dumbing down of previously creditable Government Departments and Authorities and the control that Mr Barnett has used to sell this project. If the State Government worked any faster the plant would already be built with NO approvals. Mr Ripper would do well to read the fine print of the Commonwealth State Strategic Assessment Agreement he signed with Peter Garrett in 2008. The community consultation, information and advice has been appalling and there has been no free prior informed Traditional Owner consent, proper research into alternative sites has not been completed and nor have the Social Impact Assessment criteria been developed. Mr Ripper might like to take up the argument about the quality of approvals and processes not their speed. And he's a numbers man, perhaps he should ask why the State has no business case for this project and why no economic modelling for business has been done for the economy/infrastructure of Broome and the region?

Also, as predicted, are delays associated with the Front End Engineering and Design. More from Redhand later on the engineering but suffice to say you can't build a gas plant on an old riverbed just like you can't build the new sports stadium on an old rubbish dump at Burswood.

Julia Gillard needs to do a bit of a probity test on the retention leases issue, how did Ferguson get away with this? An independent public inquiry into that must happen.

And that Woodside also "...complete necessary assurance activities." now the details of those and who provides them will be interesting?

Meanwhile,
14 September, 2011 - Blockade on Manari Road

Woodside will not get a social licence to operate.

Hands off country

Woodside's Illegal Road Works On Manari Road south of James Price Poin

2011-12-17T07:38:00.004+08:00

What needs to be made clear in this video is the fact that the Broome Shire grader had just completed grading the road. What you are witnessing is Woodside using their equipment and undertaking their own road works which is highly illegal, hazardous and they should be prosecuted either by the Broome Shire Council and or the Department of Main Roads. This work was done in order to create a deep dangerous sandy pit, forcing people to slow down or spin out. This allows time for hostiles (Lockforce) Woodside corporate security thugs enough time to record number plates and photograph people who in travelling in Country.

What needs to be made clear in this video is the fact that the Broome Shire grader had just completed grading the road. What you are witnessing is Woodside using their equipment and undertaking their own road works which is highly illegal and should be prosecution either by the Broome Shire Council and or the Department of Main Roads. This work was done in order to create a deep dangerous sandy pit, force people to slow down or spin out. This allows time for hostiles (Lockforce) Woodside coporate security thugs enough time to record number plates and photograph people who in travelling in Country.
Woodside are not in accordance with a duly signed and sealed Instrument of Authorisation by the Commissioner of Main Roads to undertake roadwork’s, on public roads in Western Australia,

Any person or party intending to undertake an event or conduct works that may impact on traffic (including pedestrian traffic) within any part of the road reserve shall, as a condition of approval by Main Roads WA, Local Government or any other authority responsible for the road, ensure that the person performing the tasks contained in Table 4 - Main Roads' Traffic Management of Works on Roads Code of Practice hold a relevant and current traffic management certificate of accreditation.

Main Roads WA certificate and proof of certification is provided in the form of a 'Photo ID' card is issued for each category of accreditation to individuals who successfully meet the pre-requisites applicable for each level of accreditation.

Woodside did not have the necessary approvals to undertake these road works.

This roadwork was not approved by an Authorised Body nor was a MRWA approval obtained.

Woodside does not have a Traffic Management Plan for these road works.

This particular section on Manari Road is not located safely with respect to horzontal and vertical alignment. There was no signing and delineation erected to cater for this?

The transitions from the existing road to the roadworks were not safe or clearly laid out.

No speed limits were established on-site consistent with the modified road environment
.
The worksite was not clearly defined or appropriately separate from passing traffic.

The travel paths for both directions of traffic were not clearly defined.

No “Reduce Speed” signs located in accordance with the TMR Code of Practice
.
No “repeater” speed limit signs that should be erected in accordance with AS 1742.3.

No signs or devices were placed in such that they are clearly visible to approaching drivers and other.

No sign of temporary hazard markers (T5-4 and T5-5) aligned and spaced to comply with the
requirements of AS 1742.3.

No variable message signs (VMS) used compliant with the requirements of AS 1742.3

The clearances from the worksite were not consistent with the requirements of AS 1742.3

No Traffic Controllers on the worksite so no accredited, suitably attired and correctly
positioned relative to sight distance and the “Prepare to Stop” signs.

Wet season drilling worries green group - ABC Kimberley WA - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

2011-12-16T12:36:00.000+08:00

Wet season drilling worries green group - ABC Kimberley WA - Australian Broadcasting Corporation: He says the proposal should be subject to public scrutiny.

"I'm hoping that these drilling proposals actually go to a public environmental review, so the public can actually get to have a look at what fluids are going to be used in the drilling in the Kimberley," he said.

"They'll get to look at the environmental management plan, so they can ascertain whether they believe Buru Energy is doing the right thing."

Aborigines block bid for gas refinery on 'Dreamtime' heritage site - Australasia - World - The Independent

2011-12-16T07:00:00.000+08:00

Aborigines block bid for gas refinery on 'Dreamtime' heritage site - Australasia - World - The Independent: Joseph Roe, a member of the Goolarabooloo group, told ABC Radio that James Price Point was "a special place... for me and my people" because a songline – a track followed by ancestral spirits during the "Dreamtime""creation era – passed through it. Mr Roe said initiations of young men and other cultural ceremonies, known as "secret men's business", took place there.

Andrew Chalk, one of the lawyers involved in the case, claimed Woodside had known for years about the site's significance.

Broome Shire up to their neck in it at James Price Point.

2011-12-16T06:46:00.005+08:00

All Planning and development applications, drilling permits and extensions approved and granted by the Broome Shire for Lot 259 for Woodside on behalf of the Minister of Lands or the Department of State Development are all illegal.

All the work that Woodside has undertaken over the last 12 months in Country is illegal. The shire had no jurisdiction to grant such approvals because Woodside are not the owners of the land in question. The compulsory acquisition process that was recently declared invalid means that the state is not the owner either
.
The approvals granted by the shire and the conditions placed on these original approvals granted have been either completely ignored or not implemented at all. Woodside has done everything but what they supposedly had approvals for.

Woodside can spend millions of dollars, carving up vast sways of land, clear hectares of native vegetation, establish toxic industrial lay down areas, erect permanent fencing, police locked illegal gates, establish a workers camp, site officers and install 50 bores without any appropriate and relevant Local Government Planning Approvals. The real dissolution for all their troubles will be a $500 fine and to add insult to injury they will then be issued with retrospective planning approvals.

Broome Shire and Woodside’s blatant ignorance and complete lack of respect for the Aboriginal Heritage Act or its legislation needs to be seriously questioned and passionately challenged at every opportunity. They will be held accountable.

All the planning controls for the site and the locality fall within the Shire of Broome Interim Development Order No 4. And according to this Order it states
4. Application for, and Grant of, Approval

(b) Application shall be made by or on behalf of the owner of the land and shall be accompanied by three copies of a plan or plans drawn to scale illustrating the proposed development and its location and indicating the type and construction or any buildings or works proposed.
So who is the owner of the land?

Given the fact that Lot 259 is unregulated Crown Land and the fact that either Woodside or the Minister of Lands is the owner of this land, how were any of these Shire planning approvals, drilling permits and extensions ever granted? There is still the matter of a registered native title claim over the land in question.

Who owns the land?
Given the decision handed down by the Supreme Court last week in regards to the Compulsory Acquisition Notices this question seems even more pertinent.

According to the Shire of Broome Interim Development Order NO 4
Where conditional approval to the carrying out of development is given under paragraph 4 of this Order states that no person shall commence, carry out, or complete that development otherwise than in accordance with the condition or conditions upon which the approval is given …….
Planning Approval issued by the Broome Shire on the 30th September 2010 to Woodside clearly stated that the proposal will obtain all the necessary approvals and clearance from all necessary Government Departments.

Every one of the Planning Approvals, Permits and Extensions issued to Woodside on behalf of the WA Department of State Development, by the Broome Shire had very clear Conditions placed on them in regards to the Aboriginal Heritage Act.

In November 2010 Woodside wrote to CEO of the Broome Shire seeking permission to undertake geophysical survey on Manari Road. In this correspondence Woodside clearly stated that they are aware that this survey fell within areas covered by the Aboriginal Heritage Sites Register and that they would consult with DIA.

In a Broome Shire Media release on Dec 7th 2010 it stated that Woodside is to obtain all Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Approvals prior to work being undertaken.

In January of 2011, Woodside sought an extension to this original geotechnical approval from the Shire which was also granted with the Condition 17, which stated Woodside are to obtain all necessary Aboriginal Cultural Heritage approvals prior to the work being undertaken.
Therefore, neither Woodside nor the Minister of Lands applied for, or to this date, been granted a Section 16, 17 & 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act to undertake these investigations and works. So what does the Broome shire intend to do about this?

Joseph Roe is the one and only registered Principle Informant with the Register for Aboriginal Heritage for the area concerned and has never been consulted about these works.
The Broome Shire Council has worked closely with the Goolarabooloo people for years and was one of many government agencies who sponsored the posting of signs throughout Country. These signs show the Songline in map form, with places named in proper language and even the stories of the dreaming are inscribed.

They were established in order to educate people about the presence of a highly significant and numerous Cultural Heritage Sites that stretch the entire length of the western side of the Damiper Peninsula and is commonly known as the Lurrujarri Song Cycle.

The Broome Shire logo is on every one of those signs, proudly sponsored by. How can the Shire now abandon this amazing living Songline and our precious cultural heritage and deny it now in the face of this great destructive adversity.

Out of respect why didn’t the Shire ensure or investigate when advised months ago that Woodside did not have the necessary and appropriate approvals under the Aboriginal Heritage Act.
And according to The Shire of Broome Interim Development Order NO 4
(b) Development to be carried out in accordance with approval plans
Where, pursuant to the provisions of the Order, plans indicating the form which development and other works shall take is approved by the Council, no development or other works shall be carried out otherwise than in strict accordance with the approved plans.

So like many other government agencies, who have been severely compromised and waived their legislated obligations during the whole corrupted process of getting Woodside into Country regardless of the rules and regulations, many court challenges are definitely on the drawing board for the coming new year. Many will be called to account and will be held accountable.
They will never return to Country.

2011-12-15T00:00:00.001+08:00

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/radio/episode/195209/
Andrew Chalk, one of the lawyers for the Goolarabooloo people, on SBS News talking about what is yet to come.
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/radio/episode/195209/...www.sbs.com.au

Third parties may get a say to stop warehousing of offshore oil discoveries | The Australian

2011-12-14T23:33:00.000+08:00

Third parties may get a say to stop warehousing of offshore oil discoveries | The Australian: This is designed to stop companies sitting on reserves while they develop other fields, in Australia or overseas.

Under the plans, the outcome after the government decided a project was economic, with the help of other interested parties, would be the same as it is now.

That is, the licence holder would get the chance to develop it now but if it declined, the licence would be forfeited and a production licence offered for sale by tender. The timing of the white paper and any new rules mean it is unlikely to have ramifications where the issue of "commerciality" could next arise; the assessment of Woodside's $30 billion-plus Browse LNG project planned for James Price Point, 60km north of Broome.

Woodside, which appears to be less enamoured in building at James Price Point under new chief executive Peter Coleman, has been told by the federal and West Australian governments that it needs to evaluate whether it is commercial to develop the Browse project there by the middle of next year.

Yesterday, Resources Minister Martin Ferguson said the government's position in relation to whether the project would be viable would be based on departmental analysis.

Fling Open The Doors & Let The Truth Come in, for James Price Point

2011-12-13T18:48:00.002+08:00

The latest weekly update from the darkside (attached) gives more cause for celebration, as do reports from Walmadan and Manari Road: "Geotechnical operations have ceased and crews are demobilising. Equipment is being removed and the site is being made safe for anticipated rain and high winds."

EK points out, interesting that this is happening before the geotechnical surveys have been completed. Even more delays - well done Protectors!

http://www.broome.wa.gov.au/council/pdf/agenda/2011/20111214.pdf
9.4.8 REPORT RELATING TO THE STATUS OF COMPLIANCE BY WOODSIDE ON LOT 259,
JAMES PRICE POINT, DAMPIER PENINSULA

This item will be discussion in section 14, Matters Behind Closed Doors.
Saturday's rally and celebration should have made it clear to the Shire that this is an issue of great interest and concern to the community. If the Shire is serious about it's "Priority Statement" that

“ Council will strive to create an environment where local governance is delivered in an open and accountable manner; where we provide leadership to the region in such areas as planning and financial management; where the community has the opportunity to contribute to the Council's decision making thereby fostering ownership of strategies and initiatives"

Given the fact that it was members of the Broome Community who first drew the Shire's attention to all of the illegal activities undertaken by Woodside and non compliance with Planning Approvals, activities that Woodside has carried out in Country without the appropriate planning approvals. It is only right that these complaints are aired in open public discussion.

It was the Kimberley Protectors and the Walmadan Camp residents who had gathered all the evidence. They have been monitoring and recording Woodside's daily illegal activities for months and raised the issue of the tower being used for communications and not just for weather research, as their Shire Approval states.

It was the Broome community who covered the costs for all the aerial evidence. Woodside and the Shire have to answer to the community. How is it possible for a Shire Planning Approval to have three, not two but three conflicting dates on a Planning Approval?

Anyway, after lots of complaints to the Shire today by concerned residents the Shire has now put the details of the confidential matter on Woodside on the Shire web apart from the legal advice they've received. However, they are still planning to discuss the matter behind closed doors. This is just not good enough and the Broome Community NO GAS will be attending in numbers to put the heat on the Shire and Woodside tomorrow at 5pm.

Broome gas processing hub - Law Report - ABC Radio National (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

2011-12-13T09:08:00.000+08:00

Broome gas processing hub - Law Report - ABC Radio National (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): The latest in the ongoing dispute over a proposed 35 billion dollar gas processing hub in Broome.

Last week, the WA Supreme Court ruled that - Compulsory Land Acquisition notices issued by the WA government are invalid.

Is the decision a fundamental game changer or a temporary set back?

An attempt to lure a Woodside project to Darwin - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

2011-12-13T09:03:00.000+08:00

An attempt to lure a Woodside project to Darwin - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): Could the Northern Territory poach another multi-billion dollar gas project from Western Australia?

If the Territory's Chief Minister has his way, it could.

Late last week, Paul Henderson announced he had been in talks with the oil and gas company Woodside about basing its proposed $30 billion liquefied natural gas hub in Darwin.

Woodside's plans for its hub have been based at James Price Point, north of Broome in the State Government LNG precinct but there has been a setback after a recent court decision.

Protestors vow to continue gas hub fight - The West Australian

2011-12-11T13:41:00.001+08:00

Protestors vow to continue gas hub fight - The West Australian: Traditional owner Neil McKenzie also took to the stage, commending people for their actions against the State Government, and making biblical comparisons of their fight to the battle of Jericho. "We need to keep fighting," he said. "This is the first stone we've cast out across the lake and we need to continue until we get to the other side."

Broome no gas Rally Dec 2011-Mobile.m4v - YouTube

2011-12-11T12:32:00.007+08:00

Interestingly, there was no TV coverage of the Broome Community NO GAS Rally yesterday. When the police apparently acting on orders from above (state government) came in unbelievable force to traumatised and collapse a blockade that was put in place to stop the criminal and unlawful destruction of our cultural heritage cameras were everywhere.

Media loved the violence and the trauma inflicted on us. The State Government loved it because it sent a message to everyone in the state and if you question, blockage or attempt to stop a corporation like Woodside in the quest of greed, you will be put down.

Why didn’t the media want a feel good story about a community celebrating its tenacity?

WE WILL NEVER SURRENDER JAMES PRICE POINT

2011-12-10T10:55:00.003+08:00

"In the face of the powerful forces arraigned against us, our communities have successfully exposed the many environmental, social and economic flaws in this project, and delayed it, to the point where it is now widely reported as a project in deep trouble.

Today we celebrate our remarkable courage and resilience in the face of unrelenting pressure from the WA government, police, Woodside personel and some sections of the media. A celebration of all we love and respect about Broome and its surrounds, of community and a of a year of wonderful action and great achievements.

Meet at 3.30pm at Male Oval Chinatown for a walk to Town Beach at 4.15pm.
We have limited supplies of bottled water. Please make sure you bring some of your own.

Setting up for the Adelaide event in solidarity with the people of Broome.

Compensation deal with Traditional Owners over gas hub may not hold: Former Judge

2011-12-10T07:08:00.000+08:00

Compensation deal with Traditional Owners over gas hub may not hold: Former Judge
But Mr Wilcox says there's a strong legal argument that the state's agreement with Traditional Owners is now invalid.

"In order to enter into an agreement, agreeing to surrender the native title which is what the meeting (of traditional owners) agreed to, there needs to be an intention to take the land," he said.

"So if the notices are held to be invalid, the argument would be that the process has to start again.

"That means there would have to be a fresh meeting and a fresh agreement."

Unlawful FMG heritage dealing & massive sites damage at Solomon Project | Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation

2011-12-09T20:34:00.000+08:00

Unlawful FMG heritage dealing & massive sites damage at Solomon Project | Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation

Moving right along: what powers do police have to 'move-on' protestors?

2011-12-09T10:53:00.002+08:00

Moving right along: what powers do police have to 'move-on' protestors?: When police removed a young woman’s “tent dress” this week at the Occupy Melbourne encampment, it was yet another controversial interaction between protesters and authorities.

As shown in the Occupy movement, the increasing regulation of public spaces through intensive policing is a global phenomenon. Governments across Australia are introducing increasingly strident laws to police public spaces.

However, the evidence shows that these powers do not reduce crimes, they are exercised in a discriminatory way against young people, racial minorities and people experiencing homelessness, and they breach the norms and standards of international human rights laws.

"Legal battle not over" - ABC Kimberley WA - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

2011-12-09T10:24:00.001+08:00

"Legal battle not over" - ABC Kimberley WA - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

A retired Federal Court judge has warned the State Government can expect to find itself in court again over the proposed Kimberley gas hub.

Murray Wilcox QC, who handed down the Noongar native title ruling over Perth in 2006, was commenting on this week's Supreme Court decision which found that the Government's notices of intention to acquire land for the project were invalid.

A Woodside spokeswoman said yesterday's the court ruling was a matter for the state and would not delay the project.

''The provision of the land for the Browse LNG precinct is a matter for the state,'' she said. ''We don't believe that this result will impact on the project schedule.''

However, Michael Orlov, a lawyer for the Goolarabooloo people's representative Phillip James Roe, said Woodside faced delays.

''The minister wanted to be in a position to assure Woodside that they would have security of tenure by the end of this year, so Woodside can make an investment decision next year,'' Mr Orlov said.

''That's not possible at this stage.''

Mr Orlov said it would take Lands Minister Brendon Grylls about 12 months to submit fresh notices of intent to take land in the area.

In the meantime, proceedings to declare a songline area at the site under the Aboriginal Heritage Act was set to start as early as next week, Mr Orlov said.

Mr Orlov said the proceedings could halt the Browse development.

''Any ground-disturbing work in the area should have been approved by the minister under the Heritage Act,'' he said. ''It hasn't been, so until that approval is obtained, it may well have an impact [on the development].''

Delays cast doubt on Woodside's Browse plant | The Australian

2011-12-08T09:35:00.000+08:00

Delays cast doubt on Woodside's Browse plant | The Australian
THERE are growing signs of delays at Woodside Petroleum's planned Browse LNG export plant, with development of a Broome construction camp and a $100 million road from the tourist hotspot to the proposed plant pushed back.

The delays come amid increasing speculation that Woodside's appetite for the Kimberley region gas plant is dwindling.

Divide over Woodside gas hub decision not so black and white | The Australian

2011-12-07T22:23:00.000+08:00

Divide over Woodside gas hub decision not so black and white | The Australian
MERVYN Maher and Phillip Roe are both Aboriginal men from the northwest, yet the difference in their opinions on whether Woodside's $30 billion gas hub north of Broome should go ahead is as wide as a Kimberley sky.

As Goolarabooloo man Mr Roe returned to a hero's welcome last night after the West Australian Supreme Court declared invalid the land acquisition process underpinning the massive project, Mr Maher, 43, a Jabbir-Jabbir man who works for the Kimberley Land Council, said he hoped the decision would not jeopardise opportunities for his people.

Gloucester landowners blockade AGL coal seam gas project | Rooted

2011-12-07T21:48:00.000+08:00

Gloucester landowners blockade AGL coal seam gas project | Rooted: The residents of this idyllic valley are facing the same questions facing so many other communities that are on the frontline of the fossil fuel boom – “How can we stop our most beautiful and productive farmlands becoming an industrial wasteland at the hands of the mining industry?”
The residents of this idyllic valley are facing the same questions facing so many other communities that are on the frontline of the fossil fuel boom – “How can we stop our most beautiful and productive farmlands becoming an industrial wasteland at the hands of the mining industry?”

Woodside not bothered by Kimberly land ruling | Browse

2011-12-07T21:43:00.000+08:00

Woodside not bothered by Kimberly land ruling | Browse: Mr Roe's lawyer Michael Orlov said there would be proceedings, probably next week, to declare the songline area an Aboriginal site under the Aboriginal Heritage Act.

He said the area where the project was being developed was an Aboriginal site and should have been approved by the minister under the Heritage Act.

Mr Orlov said because the approval was not obtained, it could halt the development for around 12 months.

"The immediate practical effect of this judgment is the Browse project agreement, which depended on the validity of these notices, is invalid and has no effect," he said.

"The minister can commence again but it is a long process and we'll have to see what he does."

Decision may give Woodside excuse to ditch plan

2011-12-07T21:19:00.001+08:00

PUBLISHED: 15 HOURS 50 MINUTES AGO | UPDATE: 13 HOURS 11 MINUTES AGO

http://afr.com/p/business/companies/decision_may_give_woodside_excuse_OfBdzyMxz9KivDZyvlCPjNprint-font+font

The vision of an LNG export hub on the Kimberley coast, held dear by former Woodside boss Don Voelte and WA Premier Colin Barnett, is looking as if it might remain just that, a vision.

STATEMENT ON 6/12/2011 FROM CHALK AND FITZGERALD AND THE PLAINTIFFS

2011-12-07T21:01:00.001+08:00

Neil McKenzie and Phillip Roe from Broome on the Dampier Peninsula, in The Kimberley on hearing news of the decision by Chief Justice Wayne Martin that the compulsory acquisition notices issued by Premier Barnett’s government are unlawful and any decisions made since the notices to take the Land at James Price Point and extinguish Native Title there, are also unlawful.

“This decision is a step towards the protection of part of a song cycle of immense cultural importance.

“As a legal case, the Court decision is important for all people who own properties in WA.

“In a true sense, it is a Castle moment where the Court and the Law stand as the guarantee for the rights of ordinary people in the face of huge political power and economic resources,” said Andrew Chalk, lawyer for the plaintiffs.

All people who have Land taken by a Government, need security. The Court says whilst the Government does have the power to take these rights away, it can only do it on the terms laid down by the Parliament.

In the present case, the Government issued notices covering a larger area than that which was required. This is something the Court decided was not allowed. The Land Administration Act requires the Minister to issue a notice that contains a clear description of what they want.

Description of the land that is required and Notices in this case, didn’t comply with that requirement.

“All law is a technicality but it’s also the only guarantee of people’s rights.

“The agreement which was negotiated with Woodside was done entirely in the shadow of the threat of compulsory acquisition, Those voting on that matter were told that if they didn’t agree to the proposal the Government would take the Land anyway,

“There are world class values at this site that will be trampled on without due consideration.

Mr Chalk says the deal struck to surrender the Native Title is now ineffective in light of the decision “it’s now a paperweight in light of this decision.”

“It’s back to square one as far as obtaining the rights to James Price Point and beyond.

“The records from the 80s and 90s clearly show that much of the proposed gas precinct would need digging up and thus they would need to destroy a large part of the site in order to build their precinct. It’s massive. Kilometres long and wide.

Mr Chalk said the Senior Custodian for this area “ has never shifted his option on the importance of this area.”

“He has been consistent. It is a position he’s inherited from his grandfather Paddy Roe who was equally determined to protect the significant heritage. What’s rare here, is it’s all been documented by anthopologists and the Government but then ignored by the State Government.

“It’s an important judgement, good judgement important not just for aboriginal people but any property owner in west Australian. It means the state can’t take your land without telling you what it is they’re going to take.

Goolarabooloo traditional custodian, Joseph Roe in response to the decision said from Broome:

“This is an opportunity for the Government and the gas companies Shell, BHP, BP, Chevron and of course, Woodside – to reconsider where they process Browse Basin

“If this gas precinct goes ahead our cultural heritage will be destroyed .in fact anywhere along the coast here on the Dampier Peninsula.

“This is something that those with cultural responsibility have been telling the Government and Woodside since 2005. And, much longer than that. In the Courts before now..

“It’s a songline that connects the people to their Country.
“It carries the law.

“It carries their understanding of the Cosmos in the form of song and ceremony.

“And relates it to places all along that Coast.”

Andrew Chalk explained that “The critical heritage approvals have not been given and will be subject to further proceedings and the heritage that is most critical here is the song cycle but which has been ignored throughout the process to date.

“We have written on behalf of the senior custodian to Woodside providing clear details about the location of that site. The real question is why Woodside has not been provided with these details by the State Government and KLC who have known the location of the song cycle in that area for 20 years.

It is misleading because the most critical bit of information has not been disclosed to the Federal Government. By the State and the KLC – the bodies charged with advising the Commonwealth on the significance of the area (as part of that Strategic Assessment Process). The Federal Government has received the draft report from WA and invited comments.

Implicit in the Chief Justice’s judgement is that as much as politician and companies might like to take short cuts, they can’t, it’s unlawful.

It’s not for Native Title claim groups or companies or even the Government to put themselves outside the operation of the Aboriginal Heritage Act. Its purpose is to protect the sites wherever they are, whatever anyone says. If they are a site, they are protected.

As Goolarabooloo traditional custodian Joseph Roe has said earlier this year: “They have been asking the wrong people.”

Traditional land owners have court victory : World News Australia on SBS

2011-12-06T14:13:00.001+08:00

Traditional land owners have court victory : World News Australia on SBS: Traditional land owners have won a technical victory after a court ordered that compulsory acquisition notices issued by the West Australian government regarding a proposed gas hub in the Kimberley were unlawful.
Traditional land owners have won a technical victory after a court ordered that compulsory acquisition notices issued by the West Australian government regarding a proposed gas hub in the Kimberley were unlawful.

Woodside Falls After Report Says Land Acquisition Ruled Unlawful - Businessweek

2011-12-06T14:07:00.000+08:00

Woodside Falls After Report Says Land Acquisition Ruled Unlawful - Businessweek: Dec. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Woodside Petroleum Ltd. fell in Sydney trading after a report said a court ruled that compulsory land acquisition notices by Western Australia state for the company’s Browse natural-gas processing hub were unlawful.

Australia’s second-biggest oil and gas producer dropped as much as 1.8 percent to A$33.56 and traded at A$33.57 at 2:44 p.m. local time. The stock had risen as much as 0.6 percent before the report by the Australian Associated Press. S&P/ASX 200 Index declined 1.1 percent.

Court finds State Government's compulsory Kimberley land grab invalid | Latest Business & Australian Stock market News | Perth Now

2011-12-06T14:04:00.000+08:00

Court finds State Government's compulsory Kimberley land grab invalid | Latest Business & Australian Stock market News | Perth Now: Premier Barnett today said the court ruling didn’t “mean a great deal” and the agreement with the Kimberley Land Council, which will deliver some $1.5 billion in benefits to the local aboriginal community, was still intact.

“The State Government will simply reissue the notice of intent on the 3500 hectares, which is now identified as the exact site for the LNG plant,” Mr Barnett said.

“The land was not compulsory acquired, we acquired it through negotiations with the aboriginal representatives and that is according to the native title act and that stands.”

Mr Barnett said he did not believe there would be any delays to Woodside’s $30 billion Browse project, with the project partners still to make a final investment decision next year.

He said it gave the State Government “plenty of time” to reissue the notice of intentions.

Woodside issued a statement saying the “provision of land for the Browse LNG Precinct is a matter for the State”

“We do not believe that this result will impact on our work program and our activities are continuing on site as scheduled.”

Lawyers claim major setback for gas processing at James Price Point - ABC Kimberley WA - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

2011-12-06T13:53:00.000+08:00

Lawyers claim major setback for gas processing at James Price Point - ABC Kimberley WA - Australian Broadcasting Corporation: "That agreement...under the native title act depended on those notices being valid. If the notices are invalid then the surrender of the native title...falls away." he said.

The Court decided that moves to compulsorily acquire the land at James Price Point were invalid based on the requirements to specify precisely which areas of land were to be acquired. ABC Kimberley reported the discrepancies over the areas of land the State Government were saying they needed for the gas processing precinct and the area stated in the notices at the time compulsory acquisition was first initiated in September 2010.

Supreme Court of Western Australia Judgments

2011-12-06T10:51:00.002+08:00

Supreme Court of Western Australia Judgments
2011WASC0335

Compulsory Kimberley land acquisition ruled invalid - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

2011-12-06T10:45:00.002+08:00

Compulsory Kimberley land acquisition ruled invalid - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Western Australia's Supreme Court has ruled invalid the State Government's move to compulsorily acquire land for a gas hub in the Kimberley.

Chief Justice Wayne Martin ruled three notices of intention to acquire the land were invalid because they did not contain a description of the land.

It means the agreements the Government has struck with the Kimberley Land Council are now invalid.

The decision puts the future of the Browse gas project in doubt.

The Kimberley float - Freo Frestival Parade 2011

2011-12-05T22:21:00.000+08:00

The Kimberley float - Freo Frestival Parade 2011

Australia's Woodside likely to face delays on Browse -analysts | Energy & Oil | Reuters

2011-12-05T22:01:00.001+08:00

Australia's Woodside likely to face delays on Browse -analysts | Energy & Oil | Reuters

Secret men's business could threaten gas hub - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

2011-12-05T21:42:00.000+08:00

Secret men's business could threaten gas hub - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): An Indigenous man in Western Australia says an area marked for a massive gas project is a sacred site for secret men's business. Traditional owners in the Kimberley have reached agreement with Woodside and the state and federal governments for a gas hub to be established at James Price Point, but Joseph Roe says the site was known for ceremonies associated with initiations and secret men's business.

Secret men's business threatens $30 billion gas bonanza

2011-12-05T08:36:00.002+08:00

Secret men's business threatens $30 billion gas bonanza: Documents seen by the Herald show a song cycle, a path sacred to the Goolarabooloo and other people of the Dampier Peninsula, which runs through the James Price Point site, 60 kilometres north of Broome. Woodside plans to build a liquefied natural gas terminal there to process gas from its Browse field. Late last month Chalk and Fitzgerald, lawyers for a traditional custodian, Joseph Roe, wrote to Woodside and its joint venture partners in the Browse development - Chevron, Shell, BHP and BP - requesting that site clearing works be suspended as they may be in breach of the WA Aboriginal Heritage Act.

Andrew Chalk of Chalk and Fitzgerald expects shortly to commence legal proceedings to require the WA Registrar of Aboriginal Sites to include the song cycle on the sites register, as was determined in 1991.

Broome: Dubai Down Under - Australasia - World - The Independent

2011-12-03T09:09:00.000+08:00

Broome: Dubai Down Under - Australasia - World - The Independent: Ms Curran adds: "It takes many years to create a harmonious town with a strong social fabric, but it doesn't take long to unravel it. This gas development will destroy our unique tourism brand and have a major impact on our town. Colin Barnett thinks he can force it on Broome; he thinks he'll get away with it because we're so remote." Ominously, Mr Barnett has predicted the Kimberley will underpin Western Australia's development over the next 50 years, just as the Pilbara has underpinned it since the 1960s. Rich reserves of copper, lead, nickel, zinc, bauxite and coal are thought to lie beneath the Kimberley's red dirt. Only five mines operate at present, but 700 applications for exploration licences were submitted last year.

Sky News: Thousands target Chevron in WA protest

2011-12-02T15:13:00.001+08:00

Sky News: Thousands target Chevron in WA protest

Thousands of workers have marched through central Perth threatening to picket US oil and gas giant Chevron until it pledges to provide more local jobs and training.

Police blocked main roads as the combined union protest - which organisers estimated at being between 4000 to 5000 people - marched on Chevron's Australian headquarters in St George's Terrace.

Security was tight, with the company locking the doors to its QV1 Building entrance as protesters rallied outside, banging drums and shouting slogans.

The unions are demanding that Australian and multi-national resources giants, including Chevron, end their practice of importing cheap labour under temporary working visas, and provide more training to local workers.

Swiss-based contractor Allseas is being investigated by the Immigration Department over accusations it rorted business visas to hire cheap labour for Chevron's $43 billion Gorgon gas project off WA's northern coast.
http://www.smh.com.au/wa-news/unions-attack-chevron-over-foreign-jobs-20111129-1o4yt.html

MAJOR COPORATIONS TRY TO DISCREDIT AND DEMONISE STRONG INDIGENOUS LEADERS WHO ARE FIGHTING TO PROTECT COUNTRY AND THEIR CULTURAL SPIRITUAL HERITAGE

2011-12-01T19:55:00.004+08:00

Dear Re Hand

Thank you for your email.

Fortescue has been vigorous in building indigenous independence among often severely underprivileged communities, from the least privileged upwards. We have steadfastly not yielded, as is often the case in the mining industry, to demands for huge cash payment which lead to dependence.

In this light, good faith negotiations have been ongoing for the past four years at the very best efforts of the team here at Fortescue. Mr Woodley, as has sadly become apparent, no longer has the support of his community as his 'cash only' demands have become more extreme. Yet we will willingly meet with him at any time he requests.

He must however bring with him the Yindjibarndi Elders who speak for their country as he is not the sole representative of the Yindjibarndi people.

Fortescue’s response to the allegations made recently by Mr Woodley is attached. Can I also suggest you take some time to read about the Wirlu-murra Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation: http://wmyac.com/

Kind regards,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth Gosch
Communications
Fortescue Metals Group Ltd

Level 2, 87 Adelaide Terrace East Perth WA 6004

Mobile - 0414 319 775

Direct - 08 6218 8412

Main - 08 6218 8888

Email - egosch@fmgl.com.au

IS IT A CYCLONE OR JUST A GAIL? At James Price Point

2011-12-01T15:42:00.014+08:00

The WA government has strongly denied traditional owners' claims they are being forced off a camp ground near a proposed gas precinct.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/radio/episode/194487/WA-government-denies-protestors-asked-to-leave-camp

THAT IS NOT WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE DEVELOPMENT SAID TO THE ABC ON TUESDAY
Protesters at possible danger from cyclones - ABC Kimberley WA - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The Department of State Development is overseeing the gas hub project and it's deputy director general, Gail McGowan, has confirmed the camps are illegal.

"Certainly, establishing permanent facilities is clearly prohibited under the legislation," she said. For the first time the Government is considering forcing the campers out. Ms McGowan says the next steps are being considered.

"The relevant government agencies are working together on the issue, certainly with a mind to the cyclone season approaching, and also considering the impact on other resources, and looking at whether any addition action is needed," she said.

Redhand received information earlier this week that several government agencies met in Perth a couple of weeks ago and the main item on their agenda was how they were going to deal with the protestors embedded in Country, at James Price Point.

Well, if these government public servants are actually paid to think and come up with solid strategies as to how to address the very annoying issue of these protectors than Redhand would like to suggest that if their premise is cyclones and concern for people’s well - being than maybe having a cyclone in the vicinity at the time would be far more convincing that their intentions were virtuous.

People can see exactly what the game is, give us a break.!

But the question remains begging, why are they considering building the world’s second largest gas refineries in a cyclonic location? Does anyone remember that last year in November 2010, Woodside Petroleum had to rebuild several flare towers used to burn off waste gas because they did not meet design requirements to withstand expected wind speeds.

The costs for its Pluto liquefied natural gas (LNG) project blew out by $900 million and took another six months to begin production while it rebuilt equipment that fell short of design specifications.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/business/woodside-delays-start-of-pluto-as-costs-soar-20101130-18efm.html#ixzz1fN2XrIEc

Indigenous group threatens Wheatstone boycott - The West Australian

2011-12-01T13:22:00.000+08:00

Indigenous group threatens Wheatstone boycott - The West Australian: Despite agreement on appropriate compensation, it is understood the latest row between Chevron and the Thalanyji revolves around a request for the oil and gas giant to fund and build a Keeping Place for cultural materials, as well as a clash over the invitation list for today's first-sod turning ceremony.

Some elders were invited but others apparently not, leading to a decision by the Thalanyji leadership to not attend at all unless grievances with Chevron could be resolved by this morning.
A Chevron spokesman said it was "disappointed and regrets" that Thalanyji elders were planning not to attend.

Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation

2011-12-01T13:12:00.003+08:00

Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation

The WA Supreme Court heard on Monday that veteran native title lawyer, Ron William Bower, of Perth legal firm Corser & Corser, and one of his clients, “pressured” an elderly Yindjibarndi woman into signing an Interlocutory Injunction Application seeking to stop the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation (YAC) AGM going ahead this week.

Tell FMG board-time to stop greed, brutality and disrespect and start acting like an ethical company SHAME #FMG http://bit.ly/ttmWQU

Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation

2011-12-01T13:12:00.000+08:00

Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation

It's just going to benifit the State Government, not my people of James Price Point

2011-12-01T13:00:00.002+08:00

Click this link to hear Phillip Roe speaking on SBS radio about DSD's threats to shut down the camps....great work Phil!

http://media.sbs.com.au/audio/world-news_111130_194487.mp3

Environmentalists buy shares in mining company to protect a Kimberley icon

2011-12-01T12:51:00.001+08:00

Environmentalists buy shares in mining company to protect a Kimberley icon:
Mr Costin says he told the board's chairman and director that the current site is inappropriate for a copper mine.

"The prospect of tourism operations at the Horizontal Waterfalls co-existing with a copper mine is totally untenable," he said.

"It's not just the visual impact of the mine, but more so the discharges in relation to waste water."

Mr Costin says signing up as shareholder has given protesters a clearer understanding of what they're up against.

Traditional Owners tell State to ‘back-off’ from threat to forcibly remove them from their lands at James Price Point the Kimberley

2011-11-29T23:36:00.005+08:00

BROOME COMMUNITY NO GAS CAMPAIGN

Media Release
November 29th, 2011
Traditional Owners have hit back at WA’s Department of State Development and have said they are being disrespectful and paternalistic in their attempt to remove people from a traditional Aboriginal campground near James Price Point, Broome.

Traditional Owner and Goolarabooloo Law Boss Phillip Roe said: “The State needs to back off. This is like stepping back into the 19th century when people were forcibly removed from their land. We have a right under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, which Australia has signed, to carry out our cultural practices and protect our country.”

Today Gail McGowan from the DSD and Broome Police Superintendent Mick Sutherland threatened to shut down the Walmadan campground as it may be dangerous during cyclone season, and that it is ‘illegal for people to live there”
ABC Kimberley WA - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The Walmadan campers have developed a cyclone plan with advice from FESA, including 3 evacuation options, and have downsized the camp significantly.

Walmadan is one of many ancient Aboriginal campsites along the Dampier Peninsula, and is an important site along the Lurujarri Heritage Trail, a reconciliation walk the Goolarabooloo community developed in conjunction with the WA Heritage Council in 1988. It is also the site of the Walmadan Tent Embassy. Phillip Roe, along with other family members, has invited people, many of whom support the Goolarabooloo/JabbirJabbir in their fight against the proposed Browse LNG precinct, to stay at the camp. “Over the past 25 years we have invited people to come and stay with us in our country and learn about our cultural heritage and practices” Phillip said.

Mr. Roe feels the DSD has displayed a lack of cultural respect by threatening to close the camps without properly discussing their issues with him and his community. ‘Our community, the Goolarabooloo, has survived cyclones for tens of thousands of years, and we are very confident we still can. Why are they making an uproar about this camp suddenly? It’s obviously a political move to shut down our community’s opposition to the Browse LNG Precinct”

(Photo: Rod Harvigsen) Traditional Owner Phillip Roe with Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke at Walmadan in August 2011

Woodside in the Kimberley; Exploitation Inc — Antony Loewenstein

2011-11-29T23:27:00.001+08:00

Woodside in the Kimberley; Exploitation Inc — Antony LoewensteinWhat I saw on the current Woodside compound near JPP challenged this assertion, with countless bits of broken concrete in the dirt, air-conditioners attached with flimsy pieces of rope and leaking water. Evidence for this damage is constant and includes environmental experts disputing Woodside claims.

As we walked around the site, a man appeared carrying a video camera—he refused to say what he was doing or for whom he worked—and began filming us. He disappeared 30 seconds later.

Later, another man appeared, wearing a bright-yellow fluorescent Thrifty car rental vest and dark sunglasses, and a small camera attached to his chest was flicked on to film us. He refused to say what he was really doing (apart from claiming he was protecting our “safety” near the Woodside compound) or where the footage would be screened or used.

My guides in the area, Damien and David, two men who have spent months at the blockade at JPP and established a sustainable camp with phone and internet coverage, said that these kinds of acts—the guards are employed by Hostile Environment Services (HRS)—occurred daily.

Walmadan Country under on-going attacks

2011-11-28T15:23:00.002+08:00

Woodsides 'programme' of destruction and attack on country in the Walmadan, James Price Point area (North of Broome WA) is ongoing. The sequence you're about to view shows images taken in areas of recent clearing; within metres of rare monsoon vine thicket. This sequence of images was taken on the 27th of November 2011.

Woodside punished by investors as production forecasts fall short | The Australian

2011-11-27T18:23:00.000+08:00

Woodside punished by investors as production forecasts fall short | The Australian

WOODSIDE Petroleum has been severely punished by investors after disappointing the market on its ramp-up plans for Pluto and lower than expected production guidance.

The oil and gas giant yesterday said that production next year might range from 73 million barrels of oil equivalent to 81 million barrels, which analysts said was about 8-10 per cent lower than expected.

Shell's Peat Haulage Has Begun... And Been Disrupted ! - Indymedia Ireland

2011-11-27T16:46:00.000+08:00

Shell's Peat Haulage Has Begun... And Been Disrupted ! - Indymedia Ireland

The shocking truth about the crackdown on Occupy | Naomi Wolf | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

2011-11-27T11:58:00.005+08:00

The shocking truth about the crackdown on Occupy | Naomi Wolf | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

Parallels to what we have been experiencing for several months in Broome because of our efforts to protect Country, Community and Cultural Heritage. Many respected long term Broome locals have been arrested, pulled over, searched, bullied, pulled in to be questioned on highly dubious circumstances. Many people have be arrested, convicted or fined on video evidence provided to the police on a daily basis by Woodside’s private corporate mercenaries Hostile/Lockforce Services.

Woodside with the state government’s unlimited support has turned our community into a bunch of criminals with trumped up charges and highly questionable underlining motives and has reaped thousands and thousands of dollars for the state coffers in fines and infringement notices, court costs and trials.

People have been picked up in Country, told they are under arrest, taken back into town in paddy wagons, held for several hours only to be told they are un-arrested and left on the streets to find their own way back to Country. In any other situation this could be deemed as kidnapping.

Particular protectors have been targeted for police attention and Woodside has targeted specific people by demonizing them in their highly prejudice Induction Workshops that are conducted on a regular basis for all workers, contractors and even government agency representatives entering the proposed site .

Woodside has turned our beautiful community of committed people into a bunch of criminals virtually overnight and have filled it with marauding private corporate mercenaries.

No timeline on Yindjibarndi request: Parliament | Tracker

2011-11-26T18:31:00.004+08:00

No timeline on Yindjibarndi request: Parliament | Tracker:

In the letter to WA’s Registrar of Aboriginal Sites, Eureka’s principal archaeologist says “misleading information” from FMG may have influenced decisions without the full cultural significance of the area being known.

The letter claims FMG threatened to withhold payment of outstanding Eureka invoices amounting to $70,000 if a report was not edited.

Please note June blog stated:
In a formal complaint lodged to DIA on 9 June 2011, the principal Aboriginal custodian of James Price Point and Elder for the Goolarabooloo Jabbir-Jabbir people- Mr Joseph Roe-provided detailed photographic and video evidence of significant damage by archaeologists and seismic testers working for Woodside. They have been recklessly damaging burial sites, middens and ancient remnant rain forests and have stolen items of Cultural significance. Over the past week, three DIA Officers guided by traditional custodians spent more than nine hours meticulously taking evidence of significant damage done by Woodside contractors undertaking preliminary work for the doomed gas plant.

“The damage started in early May 2011 and continues to this day”, says Mr Roe. “My most important cultural responsibility as handed down to me from my Lulu (late grandfather) is to look after these sacred sites. They’ve never had vehicles driven over them. The actions of these contractors are a painful reality, disrespectful to our culture and our ancestors.”

To date nothing has become of the complaints.

All this damage breaches the WA Aboriginal Heritage Act (AHA) because it
occurred without consent of a Section 18 by the WA Minister for Indigenous Affairs and with the misuse of a Section 16 by Eureka. The Registrar, the Department of Indigenous Affairs (DIA) and the Aboriginal Cultural Materials Committee (ACMC) were informed and have know about the Songline and all the sites contained within, well before the damage.

DIA investigations were put on hold and no feedback about these damages has been received. No action to halt the damage has undertaken, or any attempt to mitigate this damage has been taken by the State or relevant gov departments. Eureka was asked to return all the stolen cultural items to Country by Joseph Roe both in writing and face to face consultations, but nothing has been returned or any correspondence answered. Meanwhile, Woodside can not claim ignorance about the existence of these sites as a defence, because they too, were informed face to face by Mr Roe.

Boyer Lecture One: Our Only Home - Big Idea - 20 November 2011

2011-11-26T09:44:00.000+08:00

Boyer Lecture One: Our Only Home - Big Idea - 20 November 2011

Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Geraldine Brooks begins the 2011 Boyer Lecture series with a wry assessment of 'our only home'—the planet and the environmental challenges it presents.

She believes Australia can lead the way on this issue. Not only because this continent accounts for a large portion of the world's natural resources but also because the wilderness experience changes us profoundly as human beings.

A transcript of the first 2011 Boyer Lecture Our Only Home will be available here.

45 Australian species heading for extinction - World - CBC News

2011-11-25T18:19:00.001+08:00

45 Australian species heading for extinction - World - CBC News

"The position for the Kimberley is that, at the moment, we are ahead of the extinction curve," he said. "However, if we let things continue unabated, there is little doubt that the same wave of loss of species will occur in the Kimberley as has occurred elsewhere, particularly in southern parts of Australia."

45 Australian species heading for extinction - World - CBC News

2011-11-25T18:19:00.000+08:00

Revealed – the capitalist network that runs the world - physics-math - 19 October 2011 - New Scientist

2011-11-25T18:16:00.003+08:00

Revealed – the capitalist network that runs the world - physics-math - 19 October 2011 - New Scientist

AS PROTESTS against financial power sweep the world this week, science may have confirmed the protesters' worst fears. An analysis of the relationships between 43,000 transnational corporations has identified a relatively small group of companies, mainly banks, with disproportionate power over the global economy.

Woodside illegally blocks access to unallocated Crown Land- James Price Point- The Kimberley - YouTube

2011-11-25T16:23:00.000+08:00

Woodside illegally blocks access to unallocated Crown Land- James Price Point- The Kimberley - YouTube

These are the people hired by Woodside to facilitate the illegal destruction of Australia's last remaining wilderness, the Kimberley. They refuse to identify themselves or the company they work for. They are illegally blocking our access to unallocated Crown Land with 2 of their cars, and an illegally locked gate..we have repeatedly asked them to move. They will not. This happens daily, the police do nothing. Ensues a discussion between us and them about the part they are CHOOSING to play by working for some company hired by Woodside. Note when valid and true facts as points are discussed like the dinasour foot prints, their arguments turn personal. They have no come back. It is an interesting and scary insight into their "trust the government" mentality. Anyone whom has studied ANY or just read ANY kind of history about ANYTHING knows the government cannot and should not be trusted. As time goes on and the government pander more and more to corporations whom have more and more influence in decision making about our future we need to fight like lions against this misconception that the government cares for us. Our ignorance is their power. Peace out.

Woodside slumps as results disappoint

2011-11-25T15:37:00.001+08:00

Woodside slumps as results disappoint:
Woodside slumps as results disappoint
Brian Robins

Woodside Petroleum shares have fallen heavily after investors reacted negatively to the prospect that its high profile Pluto project may be limited to a single export train, and as exploration results to expand the project continue to disappoint.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/woodside-slumps-as-results-disappoint-20111125-1ny13.html#ixzz1enLMnx00

fop93.pdf (application/pdf Object)

2011-11-24T20:10:00.000+08:00

fop93.pdf (application/pdf Object)
The proposed construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) precinct near James Price Point (JPP),
about 60 kilometres north of Broome is likely to impact on all fisheries sectors, including the customary
sector.

MP pushes for Kimberley-to-Murray pipeline - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

2011-11-24T13:19:00.000+08:00

MP pushes for Kimberley-to-Murray pipeline - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
A South Australian MP says he will use new-found support from West Australian parliamentarians to lobby governments to pipe water from the Kimberley to the Murray.

The Member for Frome, Geoff Brock, met several WA parliamentarians in Perth last week, including Premier Colin Barnett.

Mr Brock wants $10 billion from water licence buybacks used to pipe 35,000 gigalitres of water annually, rather than let it flow out to sea.

He says a pipeline project would open up central Australia.

Water, water everywhere but not a drop of truth at James Price Point

2011-11-24T07:51:00.005+08:00

Woodside's Water Licenses are illegal at James Price Point. No Cultural Heritage clearances, as required under the Act, were obtain either through KLC or the Goolarabooloo/Jabirr Jabirr Claimants.

Woodside have a very bad habit of telling stakeholders conflicting information. They tell the Broome Shire one thing about the number of bores they wish to establish in Country. They tell the Kimberley Land Council another amount, they request licenses from the Department of Water for a considerable amount more and go on to tell the Broome Community something entirely different or nothing at all.Water

Woodside CEO, Peter Coleman's unannounced visit to James Price Point on Friday November 18, 2011.
Please note that there are no Cultural Guides with this party and they have just been walking in Registered Cultural Heritage Sites.
Why did Woodside deny that Coleman was in Broome when questioned by local media? To scared to face the Broome Community? To scared to enter Country? Or to ashamed to face the facts that Culture is still strong in Lurrujarri.

Public servants claim they are muzzled over protests - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

2011-11-23T10:53:00.002+08:00

Public servants claim they are muzzled over protests - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): Park Ranger

Shaun Clarks says he resigned earlier this year after being told he was not allowed to express his opposition publicly .

"I was given a straight-out no, that I couldn't be involved in any front-line protest action, my face couldn't be seen on camera and my name couldn't appear on any petition," he said.

"I must follow all government direction, in or out of uniform; it was extremely disappointing.

"So, at that point I tended my resignation, very disappointed with the department itself."

The department says the staff code of conduct is in place to ensure it is not perceived to be biased on issue it is involved with.

by pancakenudie on Nov 21, 2011

A previous Broome shire gave approval for a tower to be built near James Price Point for ... 'collection of weather data' ... four months ago all weather data collecting equipment was removed from the tower and its compound, to be 're callibrated' (read - never seen again) .. since then, multiple types of communications aerials have been fitted and used on this tower.

A front end loader was recently used to destroy more country right beside monsoon vine thicket; a very rare and threatened ecological community.

Coal seam gas may not help climate fight

2011-11-21T19:03:00.000+08:00

Coal seam gas may not help climate fight:

The federal Minister for Energy, Martin Ferguson, is often criticised but he's right about this: the coal seam gas industry has grown too fast.

We have not done our homework before issuing approvals for this $50 billion-plus export industry - on the possible groundwater and land-use impact, on what to do with the millions of tonnes of salt left over, or the impact on Gladstone harbour and the Great Barrier Reef.

A radioactive path | Greens MPs

2011-11-21T18:28:00.000+08:00

A radioactive path | Greens MPs

James Price Point Woodside Gas Development Plan | Broome

2011-11-21T12:59:00.000+08:00

James Price Point Woodside Gas Development Plan | Broome: On a social impact front, when Premier Barnett threatened ''compulsory acquisition'' of land on which to build the proposed gas refinery, he invalidated the negotiation process and virtually put a ''gun to the head'' of every traditional owner in the region, rekindling an imperialistic attitude harking back more than 200 years.

This proposal has been sugar-coated as being the saviour to the indigenous people of the region: providing them with a ''last chance'' economic opportunity to secure better housing, health and schooling. These are rights that every Australian is entitled to and they should never be held to ransom in return for a citizen’s land and culture.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/destroying-the-kimberley-to-mine-gas-benefits-no-one-20110816-1ivzj.html#ixzz1ePJD2Kzb

The Pipe The Film

2011-11-17T22:51:00.003+08:00

http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/2011/11/aks_20111113_1035.mp3

‎'The Pipe' on SBS 1 Australia, Tuesday, 22/11/11 @ 10.05pm. See trailer at http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=2656425448224 and interview with director Risteard O Domhnaill on ABC radio with Michael Sheriffs: http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/2011/11/aks_20111113_1035.mp3

The Pipe - SBSONE TV Guide for today www.sbs.com.au

Four years in the making, this program tells the story of the small Irish coastal village of Rossport which has taken on the might of Shell Oil and the Irish State. In 1996, a gas field was discovered right off the coast of Rossport, and Shell wants to lay a pipeline directly through the village. The residents are up in arms, but the Irish government is offering Shell a carte blanche. The villagers fear destruction of the ecosystem, their homes and livelihoods, and all the disastrous consequences that could follow. (From Ireland) (Documentary) M (L) CC Th...

Mining approvals system 'corrupt' | Perth Now

2011-11-17T09:56:00.001+08:00

Mining approvals system 'corrupt' | Perth Now
WA'S approvals system for development projects, such as mining, has been slammed as "corrupt" by the former chief of the Environmental Protection Authority.

In a hard-hitting speech Barry Carbon said developers are being "blackmailed" into making financial contributions to secure environmental approvals.

Mr Carbon told the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand that mining companies and other proponents were forced to make contributions sometimes millions of dollars to government agencies before approvals were even considered.

Meanwhile, detailed environmental assessment reports paid for by proponents are not being read by bureaucrats because they are too long, he added.

Mr Carbon said the contributions, called offsets, used to be rare and were demanded by officials to compensate for environmental harm when it was unavoidable.

Thriller 2011 Flash Mob Protest - Western Australia - magicbroome - YouTube

2011-11-17T08:58:00.002+08:00

Thriller 2011 Flash Mob Protest - Western Australia - magicbroome - YouTube:

On 31st October 2011, Halloween , members of the Broome Community took to the streets against the State governments plan to compulsorily acquire the coast line around JAMES PRICE POINT.

News | Decmil Australia

2011-11-15T14:28:00.004+08:00

Nyimarr Director shares vision for his region

News | Decmil Australia

Decmil Signs Strategic Alliance Agreement with Goolarabooloo Jabirr Jabirr James Price Point Claim Group.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Nyimarr is a commercial entity established by Traditional Owners, the Goolarabooloo Jabirr Jabirr claim group, and is responsible for developing sustainable business for Kimberley communities.

DGL CEO Scott Criddle said signing of the Nyimarr Decmil Strategic Alliance agreement is the culmination of two years’ endeavour by the signatories to establish a working relationship and develop a business model that is both aligned with the culture of the two organisations and is mutually beneficial.

MORE BACK DOORS DEALS, WITHOUT THE PEOPLE, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, NO CONSULTATION, NO FEEDBACK, NO CULTURAL GUIDANCE OR APPROVALS.
They have done a thirty year deal for a project that has the life of 99 years, real smart!

Decmil Signs Strategic Alliance Agreement with Goolarabooloo Jabirr Jabirr James Price Point Claim Group.pdf (application/pdf Object)

2011-11-15T12:15:00.000+08:00

Decmil Signs Strategic Alliance Agreement with Goolarabooloo Jabirr Jabirr James Price Point Claim Group.pdf (application/pdf Object)
“Further, the alliance strongly positions Decmil Australia to deliver building and construction works related to projects in the Western Australian Government’s Browse Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Precinct at James Price Point and to assist in the development of strong, economically independent Aboriginal industries“, Mr Criddle said

Murdoch researchers slam gas hub report - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

2011-11-12T08:02:00.000+08:00

Murdoch researchers slam gas hub report - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

But, in a scathing submission, four scientists from Murdoch's Cetacean Research Unit have questioned many of the report's findings.

"There has been no targeted effort to identify and quantify the abundance of dolphin species ... this is a glaring omission in the Environmental Impact Assessment," the submission says.

"Thus the conclusion that the activities associated with the development of the precinct port area is unlikely to impact these species (humpback dolphin, snubfin dolphin) is unsubstantiated and based on field efforts that were aimed at quantifying humpback whale and dugong numbers only."

The unit's Amanda Hodgson told the ABC that a Murdoch University research team had recorded multiple groups of snubfin, Indo-Pacfic humpback and bottlenose dolphins just north and south of James Price Point during a boat-based survey in July last year.

"The coastal dolphins that we know occur along the Dampier Peninsula include humpback and snubfin dolphins and both of those species generally have small populations, small home ranges and they rely on very specific habitats ... so they can't just avoid the area if they're disturbed by this development," she said.

"The broad conclusions that they've come to are not necessarily supported by the scientific literature."

The report's assessment of the impact on dugongs has also been questioned by the Murdoch team which cited the case of Hervey Bay in Queensland where they say the widespread loss of seagrass from a cyclone resulted in the death and emigration of many dugongs.

Shell taking its time with Woodside

2011-11-11T12:11:00.000+08:00

THE ANALYST:

Tuesday, 8 November 2011

Bevis Yeo

http://www.energynewspremium.net//storyview.asp?storyid=2491592&sectionsource=s0

WITH the restrictions on selling its remaining 24% stake in Woodside Petroleum lifted, just what will Anglo-Dutch supermajor Shell do now?

Opinions range from selling the stakes back to Woodside in exchange for equity in some of its LNG projects to an outright sale to a possible predator, with BHP Billiton once again mooted as one of the sharks in the water.