2020-09-02
Still dealing with the Juukan Gorge Cave destruction, and further threats to our northern environment, such as fracking
By Hon. Robin Chapple, MLC for Mining and Pastoral
The last two months have been busy on every level. We, as a State and a Nation, have begun talking about what the post-covid world will look like. My colleagues and I in the Greens (WA) have doubled-down in our support for renewables, education, and employment – a very different future to the one envisaged by the National Liberal Party. I am committed to ensuring WA gets a fair deal; supports to our jobs sector, and a top-down overhaul of our energy system. It is certainly not a mark of a decent politician to use a global pandemic as an excuse to pay your fossil fuel mates and I stand proudly in opposition to this “fossil-fuel-led recovery” spouted in Canberra.
The aftermath of the destruction of the Juukan caves by Rio Tinto has made huge waves in our approach to heritage and archaeology. Despite the comments made by WA Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Ben Wyatt, I will continue to fight for heritage laws which support the abilities of Traditional Owners to preserve cultural heritage and support the archaeological community in the study and preservation of historical artefacts.
The Juukan fiasco has helped me and my team to develop working relationships with new media outlets, and helped solidify those existing local media relationships. I’m very grateful for the media’s coverage of Juukan; allowing me to bring to light the ‘Site/Claim-Wide Participation Agreements’, which are still in effect and which strip protections offered by Federal Law such as the Racial Discrimination Act. Luckily for me, I can count many Indigenous peoples, from many mobs across the Mining & Pastoral Region, as my friends and colleagues and it was invaluable to be able to work with groups on Country in solving the Juukan mess and getting it brought to Federal attention. On that note, my Federal Colleague, Sen Rachel Siewert, is on The Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia, who are currently conducting inquiries into the destruction of the two rock shelters in Juukan Gorge, and I’m confident that the views of the West Australian community will be heard by those in Canberra.
In relation to Industry, I am fighting tooth-and-nail to stop the export of waste from the WA regions to Developing Nations. There’s a reason these companies have tried trading with developing nations: the huge public backlash from Australian dealings, and the Company’s bottom-line. I think it’s morally heinous – and flies in the face of fraternity – that multimillion-dollar companies are selling waste to developing economies – knowing full-well that such countries cannot afford the opportunity-cost of declining such a dangerous deal.
Additionally, in the industry space, I’ve compiled submissions to the EPA voicing opposition to both another hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) proposal in the Kimberley, and to Yara’s bid to run a large-scale energy project in a World Heritage Area.
Parliament has been a very unusual time recently. In the wake of Clive Palmer’s case(s) against our State, the Houses moved emergency legislation to fix the problems that Labor had made for West Australians, all those years ago. I remain committed against State Agreement Acts as they are anti-competitive, monopolising, and lead to situations like the one we faced in Parliament in August. It needs to be noted that it was the Greens, led by myself, that opposed the Iron Ore Processing (Mineralogy Pty. Ltd.) Agreement Bill in September 2002 because we were concerned about the proponent’s intentions at that time. Also in Parliament, our team have been scrutinising the proposed Environmental Protection Amendment Act, and we remain firm on our environmental position. West Australian Lands and Waters should not go to the highest bidder. Similarly, I tabled a petition from Broome residents trying to protect fossilised dinosaur footprints at Cable Beach; ear-marked for destruction by our Government. I’m also proud to say I have been working with esteemed psychologist Tracy Westerman into mental health and suicide prevention within our Indigenous communities.
On more of a personal note, I’ve been spending more time at home in Derby; enjoying the Kimberley climate of the winter dry season. As I approach the end of term, I am happy to still be part of the community: both locally, in Derby, and across the whole Mining & Pastoral Region. It is a pleasure to represent the regions and even better to be a part of living it.
Header photo: Juukan Gorge caves, Pilbara, before their destruction by Rio Tinto. Credit: Photo supplied to ABC by Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura Aboriginal Corporation.