Aboriginal groups and union discuss mining

By Jennifer Thompson

The peak groups representing Aboriginal people affected by the proposed Century mine and the expansion of the Weipa bauxite operation in far north Queensland have begun consultation with the major trade union representing mine workers, the CFMEU.

The March 29 announcement was made in Townsville on behalf of Murrandoo Yanner of the Carpentaria Land Council and Richie Ahmat from the Marpoon Steering Committee. The announcement was endorsed by CFMEU joint national president John Maitland.

The three organisations have established a group to study the social and environmental affects of the Century silver-lead zinc project and the expansion at Weipa planned by RTZ-CRA. Maitland said the union was in favour of mining, "but only on the basis of good environmental management, a fair deal for affected Aboriginal communities and fair labour practices".

Ahmat, also a leader of striking Weipa workers, pointed out that mining companies have a long way to go in accepting the rights of indigenous people. "The history of Aborigines and mining has been one of dispossession, rip-offs and a failure of communication."

Queensland governments, past and present, have strongly supported mining companies against native title claimants. A Federal Court ruled last November that the Waanyi people's native title had been extinguished at Lawn Hill, where the Century mine is planned, by a pastoral lease between 1904 and 1907. The High Court, hearing an appeal against that finding last month, said that it could not clarify whether native title was extinguished and set aside the Federal Court decision.

The Wik people were also granted leave by the Federal Court to appeal against an adverse finding on their Cape York claim, which affects Comalco's bauxite mining plans at Weipa. The Queensland government, in a move to fast-track the path for CRA, has asked the High Court to remove the Wik case from the Federal Court.

From GLW issue 226