A world-class pristine environment in the Kimberley — an Australia-wide heritage issue and an Aboriginal song cycle are at risk if the Liquefied Natural Gas  (LNG) precinct development goes ahead. Two traditional owners from Broome, Neil Mckenzie and Kerrianne Cox are coming on 9 July to present Sydney people with the latest development on this controversial LNG project.

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Women’s Reconciliation Network, The Wilderness Society and the Filipino Women’s Working Party are organizing a public information event and workshop about the LNG hub at Redfern Community Centre, Hugo Street (near Redfern Station) from 9.30 am -1.30 pm.

Kimberley-based community groups such as ‘Save the Kimberley’ and ‘Environs Kimberley’ want people to know what is at stake: industrialization of a world class pristine environment that is an Australia-wide heritage concern. Deborah Ruiz Wall, a PhD candidate from the University of Western Sydney who is doing research on the implication of LNG development, will present her preliminary findings. Deborah spent some time in Broome in 2008 to conduct oral history on Aboriginal people with Filipino ancestry and in 2010 to do fieldwork for her PhD research.

James Price Point, about 60 km north of Broome in the Kimberley was chosen by WA Premier, Colin Barnett to install a $30 billion gas precinct onshore with its industry partner, Woodside Energy Ltd, to process natural gas for export.  On 5 May 2011, 60% of traditional owners voted in favour of Kimberley Land Council’s $1.5 billion negotiated terms with Woodside Energy Ltd spread over the life span of the gas hub estimated at between 30-50 years. The legitimacy of that vote is now being questioned in the WA Supreme Court in an action taken by local Traditional Owners, including Neil McKenzie. The vote was clouded by the real threat the state would compulsorily acquire the site regardless.

Aboriginal people are divided on the ‘gas’ issue. As children, some of them were forcibly taken away from their Aboriginal families and lost contact with some of their Indigenous heritage and culture. They were taken into white-run missions, orphanages or reserves. An Aboriginal man in Broome refers to his people as ‘people of two times’ — brought up in the Western way but also living in a traditional world where the boundary between culture and nature is indistinct.

Those who are against the gas hub fear that this type of development will kill their culture. They say, ‘if culture dies, the Mother dies’, and consequently, as Aboriginal people, they too will ‘die’.  If the LNG project goes ahead, they say it will cut the song cycle in half. The song cycle is an oral heritage map that contains codes of behaviour to ensure the sustainability of the balance and wellbeing of the land. The whole area is affected if one area is destroyed.

People opposed to the project are also concerned over the negative impact of LNG development on the tourism industry including the eco-Aboriginal tours business. Goolarabooloo custodian, Joseph Roe insists that he is not anti-development. He prefers Woodside and its joint venture partners to use either Pilbara’s existing infrastructure or Shell’s Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) that will be operational by 2016.

Those who support the gas hub onshore led by Kimberley Land Council (KLC) say that Barnett’s threat of compulsory acquisition of the site leaves them no choice but to vote with ‘a gun to their heads’ in support of the project. They would rather receive some benefits than get nothing from the profits and royalty that will flow from the LNG project. Final investment decision for the project is not due till mid 2012, and environmental and social impact approvals have yet to come through.

Traditional owners from the native title claim group, Neil Mckenzie and Philip Roe took the WA Government to the Supreme Court. They argue that the WA government’s application for compulsory acquisition of the LNG site is fundamentally flawed and that any subsequent deal reached is not legal. The challenge will be heard before a judge in June.

Inquiries: Deborah Wall 0401 601271; RSVP  frennie@tpg.com.au or (02) 99090203.