Kimberley land take flawed, objectors say

Kimberley land take flawed, objectors say
Lloyd Jones

December 22, 2010 - 2:54PM

Mr Bergmann said the KLC had lodged its objections to compulsory acquisition but hoped an agreement could be struck before it went further.

"If a deal was not done the issue would clog up in court and stall" he said.

Redhand told you so two days ago under the heading: Repulsive Acquisition Deals behind closed doors.

Michaels New Kimberley Edit being Shown to Bob Brown

.Michaels New Kimberley Edit being Shown to Bob Brown

http://www.christianfletcher.com.au/

Ok, it is official. My family and I are heading to James Price Point to photograph what is there and what is nearby. So far there will be four other photogs heading up to meet us and have a shoot. It is going to be our little protest but it could bring big exposure. One of the Photogs coming, Paul, has contacts with the ABC news and they have expressed interest in running a story on what we will be doing up there. That would make it worth the trip, the exposure could be huge!

I am putting this post out to invite other likeminded people to head north and meet us there. Doesn’t matter if your a shooter or just love the Kimberley and want to do something about it. Your all invited to join in and enjoy the landscape and the company. I want to get some kick a55 images to bring back to show what is at stake.

We will be there on the 1st of October and be in the area for a few days to try and capture some good light. There is a lot of great country to be explored around James Price Point and I would like to shoot a lot of it. As for where to meet, I would say at the main car park, have a look at google maps for the location, seems you go in from the Willie Creek track. I will get all the details from Nigel Gaunt, a pro shooter from Broome, who knows the area back to front including where is a great place to camp. I will be bringing up my projector to run some slideshows and movies at night and probably some impromptu photoshop tutorials. My good mate and environmentalist Dave Bettini will be there shooting wildlife also. He knows so much about the flora and fauna of the area and is passionate about saving the Kimberley. We will also meet up with the traditional owners and here what they have to say and offer our support.

Let me know who can make it.Time to get out from behind that desk and get some Kimberley sunshine into ya! Also think about this. It isn’t that much further from each Eastern States capitals than it is from Perth and even though it is in WA it belongs to all Australians least of all the traditional owners. The Kimberley is probably the most photographic landscape in Australia and the most untouched. If you haven’t been there yet do it now, see it, and tell Barnett and his cronies what you want to see happen to the Kimberley. James Price Point is the E on the map.

http://www.christianfletcher.com.au/

"When good people stay quiet, .... injustice will happen"

Wayne Bergman
Kimberley Land Council
Broome
Western Australia 6725

RE: Open Letter

Dear Wayne

Redhand has been trying to warn you both personally face to face and in the very public arena of cyber space, that the people, the government and the multinationals the Kimberley Land Council wanted to go to bed with, over James Price Point, were not to be trusted.

We tried to inform you that all these multinational companies have very distressing human rights and environmental records all over the planet. Extortion, corruption, environmental vandalism, they do not stop at murder, manipulation of governments and media, they flex control over the internet and even push to points of provoking all kinds of wars. The murder of Indigenous Cultures, the destruction of our natural and social environments and the eradication of sustainable lifestyles is currently the real price of the oil and gas industries, around the planet.

It was both enlightening and ironic that in recent interviews on the Kimberly ABC regional radio you raised many of the social, economic and environmental concerns and issues that Redhand has mentioned on this very Blog. Redhand has been informing the world that this proposed LNG precinct is going to be twice the size of the current largest plant in Quatar. Twenty thousand hectares, is now under threat of acquisition, It’s not the 2500 - 3000 hectares that the Department of State Development and Barnett have been deceitfully advocating. Surprise surprise!

Like many people across our nation, Redhand was devastated that the Kimberley Land Council were so adamant about getting on the profit at any costs band wagon that this once reputable leading national indigenous organisation sort to publicly and financially hang out one of their own to dry.



http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/Homelands&id=1386

Joseph Roe is revered now as one of the strongest Indigenous leaders of our time, a man who has proven time and time again that he is a man of his word, who values his country, his Cultural ties and his heritage over his very life. A man who is prepared to take on his own corrupt country men, a state government, very powerfull multinational companies and who has attempted to seek justice in a legal system that is not renowned for their fairness when dealing with black fellas.

It appears to Redhand that the Kimberley Land Council has acted to eradicate their own visionaries and turn their back on the truth of the Law and the Spirit of Country. This unforgivable facade will be written in history and Redhand knows who the future will uphold, as the hero of this very painful and segregating saga.

With Barnett undertaking the process of compulsory acquisition which has now been signed off by the Minister of Lands, Brendan Grylls what will stop them doing the same all over the Kimberley?

Do not view this dictatorial political move as a disempowerment; understand the real power of the organisation you head up. The Kimberley Land Council should immediately suspend all current exploration and mining negotiations that are currently being undertaken. This State Government is prepared to continue to steal Indigenous lands, create and support an invasion force of heavy industry with all its astronomical social and environmental ramifications under the guise of compulsory acquisition than what will stop them doing the same all over the Kimberley? Wayne, you wanted to play hard ball, well here is your chance.

Instead of taking Cultural Law Bosses to court maybe, the Kimberley Land Council could consider taking the State government and all relevant departments to court for not upholding their statutory obligations to provide equitable services and appropriate infrastructure to Indigenous communities across the Kimberley.

You can listen in on the story: http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2010/09/08/3006090.htm?site=kimberley