GREENS: MINISTER MUST INTERVENE TO PREVENT ILLEGAL WOODSIDE CLEARING

5 July 2011

Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Robin Chapple is troubled by reports of arrests in response to 30 days of peaceful protest aimed at protecting the nature and culture of James Price Point north of Broome.

“Woodside is bringing in bulldozers to clear land at James Price Point. We are concerned that they do so without the approvals required under the Aboriginal Heritage Act, and Department of Indigenous Affairs Compliance Team investigation is still ongoing, and not yet finalised ,” Mr Chapple said.

“I have written to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs about this matter and I call on him now to ensure that Woodside does not proceed to destroy registered Aboriginal heritage sites at James Price Point. It is critical that the Minister ensure his Department is acting properly in this case.

“Woodside is yet to gain approvals from the Federal Environment Minister, and I echo the calls of Greens Senators Rachel Siewert and Scott Ludlam, for the Minister to fulfill the duties of his office and step in to prevent further works before the environmental assessment process is completed,” Mr Chapple said.

Mr Chapple stands in support with the community blockade.

“Contrary to accusations of protesters being trouble-makers, they are community members, including business people from the Broome Chamber of Commerce, Aboriginal women and men, and many other family members who have made Broome their home – these are the people who are blockading James Price Point.

“The blockade organisers have undertaken nonviolence training, and blockade members are committed to nonviolent protest.

“I congratulate the campaigners on this decision, and urge the Police command to ensure that no violence occurs in the Policing operation,” Mr Chapple said.



For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255

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