Jacinta Price alleges ‘opportunists’ claiming Indigenous heritage to block resources projects
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has claimed “opportunists” are making “false claims” to membership of Indigenous groups to scuttle resource projects seeking environmental approval.The shadow minister for Indigenous Australians made the claim on Wednesday while defending a Coalition plan to designate which Indigenous groups would need to be consulted by project proponents, as revealed by the shadow resources minister, Susan McDonald, at a Minerals Week event.Price said the Coalition would look to reform existing rules “so that what we don’t, in fact, get are those who are making false claims to try to bring an end to development projects in those areas”.“We want to make sure there is less opportunity for opportunists to come along and put an end to projects, particularly when as we’ve seen the Environmental Defenders Office exploit Indigenous Australians for the purpose of shutting down projects,” Price told reporters in Canberra.Price said the problem of people falsely claiming to be part of a group “is an issue that is brought up quite regularly [and] is of concern to Aboriginal groups”.“There is an unnatural, incredible increase on those who call themselves Indigenous and establish themselves within certain groups.“We’re hearing the calls from Aboriginal people across the country who are sick of the exploitation and we need to have it sorted out one way or another, instead of completely turning a blind eye to it, which is what the Albanese government is doing.”Asked if the increasing proportion of people identifying as Indigenous needs to be tested, Price responded: “It is an absolute problem. This is why we’ve got to clean up the whole process, clean up these organisations … and focus on supporting marginalised Australians not on the basis of race but on the basis of need.“Because of the opportunities that exist, there are those that would seek to advantage of those opportunities,” she said.The Albanese government is already developing a national standard for First Nations engagement as part of its proposed environmental laws, which will clarify for proponents which Indigenous groups need to be consulted.The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, said business “needs to know who they need to consult – ‘who are the right people to talk for Country?’”Plibersek told the Minerals Council event “engagement requirements need to be clear – so everyone knows when the process is complete” and the process “can’t be open-ended”.“That’s what the First Nations engagement standard under our new laws will need to do – provide certainty about requirements and certainty about who to talk to.”Earlier, McDonald said the recognition of Indigeneity is unreasonably impacting the prosperity of Australia and should be regulated to stop it being “weaponised” against the mining industry.Addressing the Minerals Council’s annual conference in Canberra, McDonald said a person’s Indigenous identification once only impacted them personally in the form of relationships with community and access to health, education and welfare benefits. She suggested that had now changed, to Australia’s detriment.“Now the impacts of that decision are no longer necessarily confined to themselves – the impacts can be imposed on others,” McDonald said on Wednesday. “How someone identifies – who they identify with – can now jeopardise an entire gas or mining operation, deprive other Australians of jobs and income, and deprive other Indigenous Australians of their collective say on the future of their communities.”skip past newsletter promotionSign up to Breaking News AustraliaGet the most important news as it breaksPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionMcDonald vowed a Coalition government would designate recognised Indigenous groups so the mining industry knew who to deal with when negotiating over proposed developments if the Albanese government failed to do so.“It must give industry the legal certainty about who comprises the recognised local Indigenous community,” she said. “The resources sector cannot be left to guess.”Earlier this week, a spokesperson for McDonald said “the Coalition’s changes would not be in relation to a standalone race definition but a definition of which groups had standing to speak to Indigenous heritage in a local area”.McDonald’s comments about Indigeneity were prompted by Plibersek’s rejection of the location of a proposed tailings dam as part of the McPhillamys goldmine project, near the town of Blayney in the New South Wales central west. McDonald called it a “frankly horrifying” decision.Plibersek based her decision on evidence and advice from the Wiradyuri Traditional Owners Central West Aboriginal Corporation. But the opposition argues she ignored the Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council, which had originally opposed the proposed development but later shifted its position to neutral.McDonald said the land council members were the traditional owners of the area and their views should have been given greatest weight.In question time on Monday Plibersek defended her decision on the McPhillamys goldmine, saying the former environment minister and deputy Liberal leader, Sussan Ley, had consulted “the same group of traditional owners” in relation to a project 50km away. The basis of both decisions was “the same”, to protect cultural heritage, she said.Speaking to Guardian Australia after her address, McDonald appeared to question reliance on advice from the Wiradyuri Traditional Owners Central West Aboriginal Corporation to protect a sacred site on Bathurst’s Mount Panorama/Wahluu from a go-kart track.“The Orange local land council, they are recognised. They have authority on that country. I’m unclear as to why authority was given to another group.”Guardian Australia has sought comment from the Environmental Defenders Office.
Shadow minister for Indigenous Australians says Albanese government ‘turning a blind eye’ to alleged ‘weaponisation’ of identityFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJacinta Nampijinpa Price has claimed “opportunists” are making “false claims” to membership of Indigenous groups to scuttle resource projects seeking environmental approval.The shadow minister for Indigenous Australians made the claim on Wednesday while defending a Coalition plan to designate which Indigenous groups would need to be consulted by project proponents, as revealed by the shadow resources minister, Susan McDonald, at a Minerals Week event.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has claimed “opportunists” are making “false claims” to membership of Indigenous groups to scuttle resource projects seeking environmental approval.
The shadow minister for Indigenous Australians made the claim on Wednesday while defending a Coalition plan to designate which Indigenous groups would need to be consulted by project proponents, as revealed by the shadow resources minister, Susan McDonald, at a Minerals Week event.
Price said the Coalition would look to reform existing rules “so that what we don’t, in fact, get are those who are making false claims to try to bring an end to development projects in those areas”.
“We want to make sure there is less opportunity for opportunists to come along and put an end to projects, particularly when as we’ve seen the Environmental Defenders Office exploit Indigenous Australians for the purpose of shutting down projects,” Price told reporters in Canberra.
Price said the problem of people falsely claiming to be part of a group “is an issue that is brought up quite regularly [and] is of concern to Aboriginal groups”.
“There is an unnatural, incredible increase on those who call themselves Indigenous and establish themselves within certain groups.
“We’re hearing the calls from Aboriginal people across the country who are sick of the exploitation and we need to have it sorted out one way or another, instead of completely turning a blind eye to it, which is what the Albanese government is doing.”
Asked if the increasing proportion of people identifying as Indigenous needs to be tested, Price responded: “It is an absolute problem. This is why we’ve got to clean up the whole process, clean up these organisations … and focus on supporting marginalised Australians not on the basis of race but on the basis of need.
“Because of the opportunities that exist, there are those that would seek to advantage of those opportunities,” she said.
The Albanese government is already developing a national standard for First Nations engagement as part of its proposed environmental laws, which will clarify for proponents which Indigenous groups need to be consulted.
The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, said business “needs to know who they need to consult – ‘who are the right people to talk for Country?’”
Plibersek told the Minerals Council event “engagement requirements need to be clear – so everyone knows when the process is complete” and the process “can’t be open-ended”.
“That’s what the First Nations engagement standard under our new laws will need to do – provide certainty about requirements and certainty about who to talk to.”
Earlier, McDonald said the recognition of Indigeneity is unreasonably impacting the prosperity of Australia and should be regulated to stop it being “weaponised” against the mining industry.
Addressing the Minerals Council’s annual conference in Canberra, McDonald said a person’s Indigenous identification once only impacted them personally in the form of relationships with community and access to health, education and welfare benefits. She suggested that had now changed, to Australia’s detriment.
“Now the impacts of that decision are no longer necessarily confined to themselves – the impacts can be imposed on others,” McDonald said on Wednesday. “How someone identifies – who they identify with – can now jeopardise an entire gas or mining operation, deprive other Australians of jobs and income, and deprive other Indigenous Australians of their collective say on the future of their communities.”
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McDonald vowed a Coalition government would designate recognised Indigenous groups so the mining industry knew who to deal with when negotiating over proposed developments if the Albanese government failed to do so.
“It must give industry the legal certainty about who comprises the recognised local Indigenous community,” she said. “The resources sector cannot be left to guess.”
Earlier this week, a spokesperson for McDonald said “the Coalition’s changes would not be in relation to a standalone race definition but a definition of which groups had standing to speak to Indigenous heritage in a local area”.
McDonald’s comments about Indigeneity were prompted by Plibersek’s rejection of the location of a proposed tailings dam as part of the McPhillamys goldmine project, near the town of Blayney in the New South Wales central west. McDonald called it a “frankly horrifying” decision.
Plibersek based her decision on evidence and advice from the Wiradyuri Traditional Owners Central West Aboriginal Corporation. But the opposition argues she ignored the Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council, which had originally opposed the proposed development but later shifted its position to neutral.
McDonald said the land council members were the traditional owners of the area and their views should have been given greatest weight.
In question time on Monday Plibersek defended her decision on the McPhillamys goldmine, saying the former environment minister and deputy Liberal leader, Sussan Ley, had consulted “the same group of traditional owners” in relation to a project 50km away. The basis of both decisions was “the same”, to protect cultural heritage, she said.
Speaking to Guardian Australia after her address, McDonald appeared to question reliance on advice from the Wiradyuri Traditional Owners Central West Aboriginal Corporation to protect a sacred site on Bathurst’s Mount Panorama/Wahluu from a go-kart track.
“The Orange local land council, they are recognised. They have authority on that country. I’m unclear as to why authority was given to another group.”
Guardian Australia has sought comment from the Environmental Defenders Office.