[Greens-Media] Kimberley compulsory land acquisition unacceptable: Greens

[Norton, Tim (Sen R. Siewert)]

Kimberley compulsory land acquisition unacceptable: Greens
Wednesday 24th December 2008

The Australian Greens today called on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to
override a comment by Resources Minister Martin Ferguson that the
Federal Government would support compulsory acquisition of land for LNG
development in the Kimberley

"When making the Apology to Aboriginal Australians early this year, the
Prime Minister said we should never repeat the mistakes of the past. His
Government is about to do just that," said Senator Rachel Siewert,
Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal Issues.

"It is unbelievable that less than 12 months after the Apology we have a
Minister in the Rudd Government advocating holding a gun to the heads of
traditional owners and saying 'agree to this development or we'll take
the land anyway'."

"The Federal Government is adopting the Western Australian Government's
development-at-any-cost mentality," said Senator Siewert.

"Mr Ferguson's support for this approach also undermines the strategic
assessment process that Minister for the Environment, Peter Garrett has
been undertaking to identify the most culturally and environmentally
acceptable location for LNG development in the Kimberley."

"Minister Ferguson is making a joke of not only the Prime Minister's
commitment to Indigenous Australia but also the Commonwealth's
environmental assessment process," concluded Senator Siewert.

For more information or media enquiries please call Tim Norton on 0418
401 180