Don't Lose Heart

Like alot of people Red Hand has been very disappointed and somewhat dismayed by the news that the Traditional Owners have signed an Agreement in Principle in support of a gas precinct on the Dampier Peninsular. Red Hand believes that there are alot unanswered questions.

Given the fact that James Price Point currently has two over-lapping Native Title Claims Jabirr Jabirr and Goolarabooloo registered under the Native Title Act. How then did the Government, the spin doctors from Woodside or KLC understand who actually has the legal right to sign off on this country, if it is still pending in the courts for determination?

It was understood throughout the negotiation process that the decision making would be based on a consensus decision making model not a majority vote. This was preferred to ensure that process would not be railroaded, open to political manipulation or stacked by certain families. Why then was this meeting conducted on majority rules principles?

Is it true that one major claimant group walked from the meeting refusing to take part in the vote?

Is it true that during the voting process at this meeting certain people openly abused and intimidated other participants?

Is it true that many of the participants had no legitimate rights to be at this meeting as they are not on the existing Native Title Claims but are signatories to other Claim areas on the Peninsular?

Who are the signatories to this document?

Is it true that there was no Legal representative at this meeting to provide legal advice or over see the counting of votes?

Is it true that nothing has been actually signed?

Is it true that the Agreement document is still being drafted?

What is the actual location or area over which this purported Agreement necessitates?

How can KLC honestly represent the current Claimants in the Native Title Tribunal if they are actively working to sell the very same country?

Will the minutes, list of participants and the outcome of this meeting be available to the public or will it require application under Freedom of Information Legislation to access to this information?.

Red Hand has never wanted to get involved in the Indigenous politics of this issue because the focus has always been the protection of the environment and Standing Up for the Planet. However, Redhand believes that a lot of people have been greatly disheartened over the events of the past week and the misinformation and lack lustre media reports.

Don’t give up. It will be a long hard struggle to educate, inform and convince people that industrialisation of the Kimberley Coast is not an option. In ten years time, water will be far more valuable than gas. You can live without gas, but not water, just ask the people on the east coast!

Hands Off Country Stand Up for the Planet

James Price Point Premier's Media Release

"http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/PublishingImages/Barnett%20Ministers%20thumbnails/barnett_tn.gif"> Colin Barnett
Premier (includes Federal-State Relations; Public Sector Management; Government Accountability); State Development

Tue 23 December, 2008

Liberal-National Government makes decision on LNG precinct

Portfolio: Premier, State Development

James Price Point, about 60 kilometres from Broome, has been chosen as the site for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) precinct in the Kimberley.

Premier and State Development Minister Colin Barnett said the exact location of the LNG precinct would be determined after full consideration of significant cultural, heritage and environmental values of the area and further technical feasibility studies.

The Premier made the announcement after a visit and inspection of the potential sites earlier this week and meetings with indigenous representatives, environmental groups and local government.

“After extensive consideration, James Price Point has been declared the location most likely to work best for the Kimberley community, for the environment, for industry and for Western Australia’s future economic development,” Mr Barnett said.

“This is a significant step forward; the site has still to undergo a full environmental impact assessment and more detailed technical and social impact studies, before a final approval is given.

“Nomination of James Price Point fulfils this Government’s commitment to urgently identify a site on the Kimberley coast to stimulate WA’s future growth.”

Since 2007, more than 40 possible Kimberley sites were considered and four sites, including James Price Point, were short-listed in October 2008.

The Premier said the Government will now focus its energy on working with traditional owners to secure land tenure over the site and completing social impact assessments to ensure that the project can deliver the benefits it promises, without compromising the special character of Broome and the wider Kimberley region.

“Our aim is to acquire the site by consent. This could include restoring rights equivalent to native title over the site at the cessation of LNG processing. Compulsory acquisition of the land remains an option,” Mr Barnett said.

“With respect to acquisition of the site area, the WA Government has agreed to a proposal by the Commonwealth to fund a facilitator to work with the key parties (WA Government, Woodside, indigenous interests and relevant Commonwealth agencies) towards a negotiated resolution to acquire the site.

“This process has a completion date of March 31, 2009, after which the State Government will begin land acquisition processes.

“WA appears to have lost one major project to Darwin because the previous Labor government could not make a decision to secure the $15billion Inpex project. I do not intend to lose another.

“I am confident that the Woodside Joint Venture partners will choose to use the precinct rather than pursue the option of piping gas 850 kilometres to the Burrup Peninsula, but ultimately that is a decision for industry.

“I am also hopeful that Inpex might reconsider a WA option, for either its Ichthys field or for future gas developments, provided we can provide certainty of tenure over the site.”

Mr Barnett said the development could bring hundreds of jobs, millions of investment dollars and long-term economic diversification for Broome and the West Kimberley.

He said the James Price Point location provided a range of potential development sites along a 10km coastal strip and offered:

• flexibility in locating jetties and processing operations to meet heritage and environmental requirements
• ease of expansion for two, or more than two LNG processing operators should that be required during the life of the Browse basin gas field
• no settlement, homes or businesses within 20 kilometres of the proposed site

The area could easily accommodate a 1,000 to 2,000 hectare, buffered industrial estate, 300 to 400 kilometres from offshore gas producers in the Browse Basin. The Dampier Peninsula has a land area of 14,000 square kilometres.

The Dampier Peninsula coast from Broome to Cape Leveque is about 200 kilometres long - the equivalent of the distance between Perth and Bunbury.

The Browse Basin has proven reserves of 27.5 trillion cubic feet of gas (Tcf) and 600 million barrels of condensate. Gas reserves are estimated at 60 Tcf, making the area comparable to the North West Shelf in terms of prospectivity.

The site selection brings to a natural conclusion the work of the Northern Development Taskforce. Continuing consultation with interested parties will be led by the new Department of State Development which will come into being on January 1, 2009.

The Northern Development Taskforce started work on selecting a site for an LNG development in the Kimberley in June 2007. It has produced or commissioned at least 22 reports into environmental, indigenous and other issues surrounding the proposal.

There were also 243 written submissions on the site selection (shortlist) report plus 46 verbal submissions, a three day workshop in Broome in July and an Environmental Protection Authority report and other reports commissioned by the Commonwealth.

Premier's office - 9222 9475

Interviews transcribed

As promised the interviews with

Kevin George ( Kevin George speaking at Djarindjin 13 November 2008),

Mary Kitchener, Jackie McKenzie (The Tower Story 13 November 2008) ,

Elsta Foy, Phillip Sibosado, David Dureau and Kathleen Cox (Summary of the Northern Development Taskforce meetings 12 November 2008)

have been transcribed and now included at each post. Thanks HJ for your help, Redhand.

Hands off country and speak out for the Kimberley and the Planet.

Northern Development Taskforce at Middle Lagoon Meeting

l
In a more than perfect Kimberley lagoon getaway setting, in warm tropical weather, sheltered by the cooling shade of fruiting mango trees and flowering natives, NDT representatives, tried to convince the meeting at Middle Lagoon, that a LNG gas hub would sit very nicely on the horizon.

Barnett facing fresh conflict of interest claims

Premier Colin Barnett was facing fresh conflict of interest claims in his State Development portfolio last night after it was revealed that his daughter-in-law Sasha Pendal works as a senior executive with gas giant Woodside.

Mr Barnett has insisted that Environment Minister Donna Faragher refer issues concerning Woodside to Planning Minister John Day because her husband Scott Faragher works for Woodside in government relations.

Ms Pendal, who is married to Mr Barnett’s son Russell, is Mr Faragher’s boss in her position as Director of Government Relations and Sustainability on Woodside’s Sunrise LNG project in the Timor Sea.

Although Mr Faragher transferred to the Sunrise project when his wife became Environment Minister in order to avoid any conflict of interest concerns, Mr Barnett told The West Australian this week that, on the advice of the Crown Solicitor, he had put in place a procedure for the Planning Minister to deal with any issues related to Woodside and the environment in Mrs Faragher’s place.

A Woodside spokesman said yesterday that Ms Pendal, the daughter of late Liberal and Independent South Perth MP Phil Pendal, dealt with the Australian, East Timorese and Northern Territory governments in her position but not the WA Government, although she is based at the company’s Perth headquarters.

Mr Barnett issued a one-line statement yesterday claiming that his situation was materially different to that of Ms Faragher’s and her husband.

“The situation outlined does not involve a spouse or a direct dependant,” the statement said. “There is, therefore, no conflict that would prevent the Premier dealing with Woodside.”

But Opposition Leader Eric Ripper said while he agreed the relationship did not have the same direct prospect of a conflict of interest, Mr Barnett had to demonstrate how he was going to manage the situation.

“It’s not quite the same as a marriage where there are shared finances, I wouldn’t imagine that Mr Barnett and his daughter-inlaw have financial interests in common, nevertheless I think Mr Barnett is going to have to carefully manage separation between family and business activities,” Mr Ripper said.

The Opposition kept up the attack on Ms Faragher’s position in Cabinet, pointing out that ban on her dealing with Woodside on environment matters did not preclude her staying in Cabinet while other issues to do with Woodside were discussed.

“And how does Ms Faragher propose to deal with Woodside’s partners?” shadow environment minister Sally Talbot said. “That list includes BHP Billiton, Shell, Chevron and BP. What about Woodside’s competitors and customers?”

Ms Faragher has said she would only disqualify herself from issues “that specifically related to Woodside”.

ROBERT TAYLOR
STATE POLITICAL EDITOR
West Australian
Tuesday 4 November, 2008

Rumoured meetings

Is the Northern Development Taskforce planning to meet in Beagle Bay and at Middle Lagoon next week?

If so:
When and where?

Who is the Northern Development Taskforce meeting with?

What is the purpose and the agenda of these meetings?

Are any approvals being sought for drilling or other access?

Are all of the relevant stakeholders being invited including Beagle Bay Community, Leaseholders, Aboriginal Lands Trust, Kimberley Land Council, Native Title Claimants, Traditional Owners, Department of Indigenous Affairs, Department of Environment and Conservation, Indigenous Co ordination Centre, and the Broome Shire?

What is the Department of Indigenous Affairs’ role in these meetings?

What is the Department of Environment and Conservation’s role in these meetings?

Are these open meetings?
and
What is the relationship between these meetings and the Northern Development Taskforce Site Evaluation reports’ request for public comment closing 5.00pm Tuesday 11th November?
Photo: looking south towards North Head.