Borbidge slams CRA over native title backdown

By Bill Mason

BRISBANE — Queensland Premier Rob Borbidge has attacked Century Zinc and its parent corporation RTZ-CRA, after the company reversed its support for state and federal legislation to override native title in order to secure land for its giant $1.4 billion zinc mine.

"The company effectively double-crossed both the Queensland and federal governments", Borbidge said on July 17 of the decision to pursue negotiations under the Native Title Act.

United Gulf Region Aboriginal Corporation coordinator James Nugent, speaking on July 16, said deteriorating support among Gulf Aborigines had forced CRA to change its position on legislation.

However, Carpentaria Land Council coordinator Murrandoo Yanner said on July 17 that CLC would not participate in negotiations in the Native Title Tribunal. "Last week, these guys were ready to steamroll us; now they expect the so-called general public of Australia to believe that they have pulled out and been defeated.

"I have inside information that there is a deal going on between the top-level so-called Aboriginal leaders in the country, the state and federal governments and CRA."

From GLW issue 239