Update 13/03/2020
In the interest of public health the Northern Australia Committee has decided to cancel the planned public hearings in Broome, Karratha, Newman, Port Hedland and Perth.
Cancelled hearings
Monday, 16 March 2020
Broome Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Level 1, Unit 7 Woody’s Arcade, 15-17 Dampier Terrace’ Broome
Tuesday, 17 March 2020
Council Chambers Karratha, Lot 1083 Welcome Road, Karratha
Wednesday, 18 March 2020
Newman House, 15 Iron Ore Pde, Newman
Wednesday, 18 March 2020
WEB Business Hub – Collaboration Space, 18 Edgar Street, Port Hedland
Thursday, 19 March 2020
Committee Room One, Legislative Council Committee Offices, 18-32 Parliament Place, Perth
End
As part of a Federal Parliament inquiry into economic engagement with Traditional Owners, Members of Parliament are travelling to Western Australia next week.
The Northern Australia Committee is holding public hearings in Broome, Karratha, Newman, Port Hedland and Perth, and will hear evidence from Land Councils, Native Title holders, Indigenous business leaders, mining companies and other stakeholders.
Committee Chair Warren Entsch says that the northern Australia policy that we have will not succeed unless we bring the Indigenous population with us on this journey of economic empowerment.
‘We've realised, as part of this Committee, that the one area where we are failing absolutely is in bringing the major landholders, our Indigenous population, with us on this journey,’ Mr Entsch said.
In its submission, the Kimberley Land Council stated that ‘economic development in Northern Australia must place Indigenous people at its centre rather than on the periphery waiting for “trickle down” benefits’. It argued that ‘past experience proves that, when engaged by government and industry in good faith, Traditional Owners are empowered to identify commercial opportunities which use resources sustainably, thus protecting Indigenous-held core values of country and culture whilst building strong communities and capability’.
The Government of Western Australia stated that ‘an impediment to economic development opportunities for Traditional Owners is tenure options that allow for divestment and resulting economic development opportunities, without extinguishing native title’. It argued that ‘appropriate tenure can be an enabler of new opportunities, but many communities hesitate to agree to native title being extinguished to enable the granting of new tenure’. The WA Government ‘is exploring innovative ways of minimising the impact of tenure reform on the exercise of native title rights and interests, while enabling economic development opportunities’.
The Committee will hold public hearings in Broome, Karratha, Newman, Port Hedland and Perth. Programs are available on the Committee’s website.
Public hearing details
Date: Monday, 16 March 2020
Time: 8:30am to 2:00pm
Location: Broome Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Level 1, Unit 7 Woody’s Arcade, 15-17 Dampier Terrace’ Broome
Witnesses include:
Kimberley Land Council
True Kimberley Tours
Nyamba Buru Yawuru
Djarindjin Aboriginal Corporation
NAAKPA
KALACC
Kimberley Development Commission
Date: Tuesday, 17 March 2020
Time: 9:00am to 12:00pm
Location: Council Chambers Karratha, Lot 1083 Welcome Road, Karratha
Witnesses include:
Yara Pilbara
Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation
Pilbara Development Commission
Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Foundation
Date: Wednesday, 18 March 2020
Time: 8:30am to 9:30am
Location: Newman House, 15 Iron Ore Pde, Newman
Witnesses include:
Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa
Date: Wednesday, 18 March 2020
Time: 2:00pm to 3:00pm
Location: WEB Business Hub – Collaboration Space, 18 Edgar Street, Port Hedland
Witnesses include:
IBN
Date: Thursday, 19 March 2020
Time: 9:00am to 5:00pm
Location: Committee Room One, Legislative Council Committee Offices, 18-32 Parliament Place, Perth
Witnesses include:
Government of Western Australia
Rio Tinto
Gumula Enterprises Pty Ltd
Vimy Resources Limited
Sheffield Resources Limited
Roy Hill
Desert Support Services
Fortescue Metals Group Ltd
Regional Implementation Committee
Western Desert Land Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC
The hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.
Further details of the inquiry, including expanded terms of reference, can be found on the Committee’s website.
Media inquiries
Hon Warren Entsch MP
warren.entsch.mp@aph.gov.au
07 4051 2220
For background information
Committee Secretariat
02 6277 4162
jscna@aph.gov.au
For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.
