❓ Question regarding the James Price Point LNG project, progress of the development, hurdles, and vandalism against the Kimberley Land Council. Premier Barnett responds, highlighting the agreement with Aboriginal leaders and condemning the vandalism.
AnsweredQoN 430Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
JAMES PRICE POINT LNG PROJECT — ACTIONS OF OPPONENTS
I refer to the Liberal-National government’s historic signing of the agreement with Aboriginal leaders to enable the development of a liquefied natural gas precinct at James Price Point. As someone who has lived and worked in the Kimberley, I was disappointed to read on the weekend that people who do not agree with the project have degenerated to the point at which they are vandalising the Kimberley Land Council’s offices and other property in Broome. Will the Premier update the house on the current progress of the development and the hurdles being placed in the way of the benefits that will flow from it to Aboriginal communities? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I refer to the Liberal-National government’s historic signing of the agreement with Aboriginal leaders to enable the development of a liquefied natural gas precinct at James Price Point. As someone who has lived and worked in the Kimberley, I was disappointed to read on the weekend that people who do not agree with the project have degenerated to the point at which they are vandalising the Kimberley Land Council’s offices and other property in Broome. Will the Premier update the house on the current progress of the development and the hurdles being placed in the way of the benefits that will flow from it to Aboriginal communities? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Nedlands for the question. I know that he, as an engineer, has a very great interest in the development of infrastructure such as this. May I welcome the children from Halls Head Primary School, who are here as the guests of the Deputy Premier. I hope they enjoy their visit. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of this house and indeed the public of Western Australia are very well aware of the history of developing LNG in the Kimberley. When the previous government gave a right of veto to Aboriginal people, it lost the $15 billion Inpex project to Darwin. It was a sub-economic development for the proponents and a sub-economic development obviously for this state, but also for Australia. Within six months of coming to office, this government reached a historic agreement with the Kimberley Land Council and the representative groups—traditional owners and elders—of the Kimberley. We had a signing on a beach on 27 April. Those present included me, representing the state government; Don Voelte, head of Woodside; Martin Ferguson, representing the federal government; and Wayne Bergmann, as chief executive officer of the Kimberley Land Council. A number of traditional owners witnessed the signing. I must say that the member for Kimberley was there, and although she is not in the chamber at the moment, I thank her for her cooperative and supportive efforts in bringing the negotiations to fruition. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : One of the people there was Mr Frank Sebastian. Many members here would know him. As a young man, he held the Aboriginal flag in defiance during the Noonkanbah incidents of the 1980s. He was one of the elders who signed the agreement—which said something. I remember him saying clearly that the elders chose to do it for the future of the Aboriginal people and to provide for economic self-determination. That was achieved through hard work and good faith over a six-month period. This goes to the point of the member for Nedlands’ question: I am concerned to see now that some environmental activists—I do not know who they are—are going around defacing property in Broome, including the offices of the Kimberley Land Council, with a variety of graffiti, one example of which is “Killing Land and Culture”. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition supports it, does he? Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Nedlands for the question. I know that he, as an engineer, has a very great interest in the development of infrastructure such as this. May I welcome the children from Halls Head Primary School, who are here as the guests of the Deputy Premier. I hope they enjoy their visit. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of this house and indeed the public of Western Australia are very well aware of the history of developing LNG in the Kimberley. When the previous government gave a right of veto to Aboriginal people, it lost the $15 billion Inpex project to Darwin. It was a sub-economic development for the proponents and a sub-economic development obviously for this state, but also for Australia. Within six months of coming to office, this government reached a historic agreement with the Kimberley Land Council and the representative groups—traditional owners and elders—of the Kimberley. We had a signing on a beach on 27 April. Those present included me, representing the state government; Don Voelte, head of Woodside; Martin Ferguson, representing the federal government; and Wayne Bergmann, as chief executive officer of the Kimberley Land Council. A number of traditional owners witnessed the signing. I must say that the member for Kimberley was there, and although she is not in the chamber at the moment, I thank her for her cooperative and supportive efforts in bringing the negotiations to fruition. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : One of the people there was Mr Frank Sebastian. Many members here would know him. As a young man, he held the Aboriginal flag in defiance during the Noonkanbah incidents of the 1980s. He was one of the elders who signed the agreement—which said something. I remember him saying clearly that the elders chose to do it for the future of the Aboriginal people and to provide for economic self-determination. That was achieved through hard work and good faith over a six-month period. This goes to the point of the member for Nedlands’ question: I am concerned to see now that some environmental activists—I do not know who they are—are going around defacing property in Broome, including the offices of the Kimberley Land Council, with a variety of graffiti, one example of which is “Killing Land and Culture”. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition supports it, does he? Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
I thank the member for Nedlands for the question. I know that he, as an engineer, has a very great interest in the development of infrastructure such as this. May I welcome the children from Halls Head Primary School, who are here as the guests of the Deputy Premier. I hope they enjoy their visit. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of this house and indeed the public of Western Australia are very well aware of the history of developing LNG in the Kimberley. When the previous government gave a right of veto to Aboriginal people, it lost the $15 billion Inpex project to Darwin. It was a sub-economic development for the proponents and a sub-economic development obviously for this state, but also for Australia. Within six months of coming to office, this government reached a historic agreement with the Kimberley Land Council and the representative groups—traditional owners and elders—of the Kimberley. We had a signing on a beach on 27 April. Those present included me, representing the state government; Don Voelte, head of Woodside; Martin Ferguson, representing the federal government; and Wayne Bergmann, as chief executive officer of the Kimberley Land Council. A number of traditional owners witnessed the signing. I must say that the member for Kimberley was there, and although she is not in the chamber at the moment, I thank her for her cooperative and supportive efforts in bringing the negotiations to fruition. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : One of the people there was Mr Frank Sebastian. Many members here would know him. As a young man, he held the Aboriginal flag in defiance during the Noonkanbah incidents of the 1980s. He was one of the elders who signed the agreement—which said something. I remember him saying clearly that the elders chose to do it for the future of the Aboriginal people and to provide for economic self-determination. That was achieved through hard work and good faith over a six-month period. This goes to the point of the member for Nedlands’ question: I am concerned to see now that some environmental activists—I do not know who they are—are going around defacing property in Broome, including the offices of the Kimberley Land Council, with a variety of graffiti, one example of which is “Killing Land and Culture”. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition supports it, does he? Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
May I welcome the children from Halls Head Primary School, who are here as the guests of the Deputy Premier. I hope they enjoy their visit. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of this house and indeed the public of Western Australia are very well aware of the history of developing LNG in the Kimberley. When the previous government gave a right of veto to Aboriginal people, it lost the $15 billion Inpex project to Darwin. It was a sub-economic development for the proponents and a sub-economic development obviously for this state, but also for Australia. Within six months of coming to office, this government reached a historic agreement with the Kimberley Land Council and the representative groups—traditional owners and elders—of the Kimberley. We had a signing on a beach on 27 April. Those present included me, representing the state government; Don Voelte, head of Woodside; Martin Ferguson, representing the federal government; and Wayne Bergmann, as chief executive officer of the Kimberley Land Council. A number of traditional owners witnessed the signing. I must say that the member for Kimberley was there, and although she is not in the chamber at the moment, I thank her for her cooperative and supportive efforts in bringing the negotiations to fruition. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : One of the people there was Mr Frank Sebastian. Many members here would know him. As a young man, he held the Aboriginal flag in defiance during the Noonkanbah incidents of the 1980s. He was one of the elders who signed the agreement—which said something. I remember him saying clearly that the elders chose to do it for the future of the Aboriginal people and to provide for economic self-determination. That was achieved through hard work and good faith over a six-month period. This goes to the point of the member for Nedlands’ question: I am concerned to see now that some environmental activists—I do not know who they are—are going around defacing property in Broome, including the offices of the Kimberley Land Council, with a variety of graffiti, one example of which is “Killing Land and Culture”. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition supports it, does he? Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of this house and indeed the public of Western Australia are very well aware of the history of developing LNG in the Kimberley. When the previous government gave a right of veto to Aboriginal people, it lost the $15 billion Inpex project to Darwin. It was a sub-economic development for the proponents and a sub-economic development obviously for this state, but also for Australia. Within six months of coming to office, this government reached a historic agreement with the Kimberley Land Council and the representative groups—traditional owners and elders—of the Kimberley. We had a signing on a beach on 27 April. Those present included me, representing the state government; Don Voelte, head of Woodside; Martin Ferguson, representing the federal government; and Wayne Bergmann, as chief executive officer of the Kimberley Land Council. A number of traditional owners witnessed the signing. I must say that the member for Kimberley was there, and although she is not in the chamber at the moment, I thank her for her cooperative and supportive efforts in bringing the negotiations to fruition. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : One of the people there was Mr Frank Sebastian. Many members here would know him. As a young man, he held the Aboriginal flag in defiance during the Noonkanbah incidents of the 1980s. He was one of the elders who signed the agreement—which said something. I remember him saying clearly that the elders chose to do it for the future of the Aboriginal people and to provide for economic self-determination. That was achieved through hard work and good faith over a six-month period. This goes to the point of the member for Nedlands’ question: I am concerned to see now that some environmental activists—I do not know who they are—are going around defacing property in Broome, including the offices of the Kimberley Land Council, with a variety of graffiti, one example of which is “Killing Land and Culture”. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition supports it, does he? Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of this house and indeed the public of Western Australia are very well aware of the history of developing LNG in the Kimberley. When the previous government gave a right of veto to Aboriginal people, it lost the $15 billion Inpex project to Darwin. It was a sub-economic development for the proponents and a sub-economic development obviously for this state, but also for Australia. Within six months of coming to office, this government reached a historic agreement with the Kimberley Land Council and the representative groups—traditional owners and elders—of the Kimberley. We had a signing on a beach on 27 April. Those present included me, representing the state government; Don Voelte, head of Woodside; Martin Ferguson, representing the federal government; and Wayne Bergmann, as chief executive officer of the Kimberley Land Council. A number of traditional owners witnessed the signing. I must say that the member for Kimberley was there, and although she is not in the chamber at the moment, I thank her for her cooperative and supportive efforts in bringing the negotiations to fruition. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : One of the people there was Mr Frank Sebastian. Many members here would know him. As a young man, he held the Aboriginal flag in defiance during the Noonkanbah incidents of the 1980s. He was one of the elders who signed the agreement—which said something. I remember him saying clearly that the elders chose to do it for the future of the Aboriginal people and to provide for economic self-determination. That was achieved through hard work and good faith over a six-month period. This goes to the point of the member for Nedlands’ question: I am concerned to see now that some environmental activists—I do not know who they are—are going around defacing property in Broome, including the offices of the Kimberley Land Council, with a variety of graffiti, one example of which is “Killing Land and Culture”. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition supports it, does he? Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of this house and indeed the public of Western Australia are very well aware of the history of developing LNG in the Kimberley. When the previous government gave a right of veto to Aboriginal people, it lost the $15 billion Inpex project to Darwin. It was a sub-economic development for the proponents and a sub-economic development obviously for this state, but also for Australia. Within six months of coming to office, this government reached a historic agreement with the Kimberley Land Council and the representative groups—traditional owners and elders—of the Kimberley. We had a signing on a beach on 27 April. Those present included me, representing the state government; Don Voelte, head of Woodside; Martin Ferguson, representing the federal government; and Wayne Bergmann, as chief executive officer of the Kimberley Land Council. A number of traditional owners witnessed the signing. I must say that the member for Kimberley was there, and although she is not in the chamber at the moment, I thank her for her cooperative and supportive efforts in bringing the negotiations to fruition. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : One of the people there was Mr Frank Sebastian. Many members here would know him. As a young man, he held the Aboriginal flag in defiance during the Noonkanbah incidents of the 1980s. He was one of the elders who signed the agreement—which said something. I remember him saying clearly that the elders chose to do it for the future of the Aboriginal people and to provide for economic self-determination. That was achieved through hard work and good faith over a six-month period. This goes to the point of the member for Nedlands’ question: I am concerned to see now that some environmental activists—I do not know who they are—are going around defacing property in Broome, including the offices of the Kimberley Land Council, with a variety of graffiti, one example of which is “Killing Land and Culture”. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition supports it, does he? Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : One of the people there was Mr Frank Sebastian. Many members here would know him. As a young man, he held the Aboriginal flag in defiance during the Noonkanbah incidents of the 1980s. He was one of the elders who signed the agreement—which said something. I remember him saying clearly that the elders chose to do it for the future of the Aboriginal people and to provide for economic self-determination. That was achieved through hard work and good faith over a six-month period. This goes to the point of the member for Nedlands’ question: I am concerned to see now that some environmental activists—I do not know who they are—are going around defacing property in Broome, including the offices of the Kimberley Land Council, with a variety of graffiti, one example of which is “Killing Land and Culture”. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition supports it, does he? Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : One of the people there was Mr Frank Sebastian. Many members here would know him. As a young man, he held the Aboriginal flag in defiance during the Noonkanbah incidents of the 1980s. He was one of the elders who signed the agreement—which said something. I remember him saying clearly that the elders chose to do it for the future of the Aboriginal people and to provide for economic self-determination. That was achieved through hard work and good faith over a six-month period. This goes to the point of the member for Nedlands’ question: I am concerned to see now that some environmental activists—I do not know who they are—are going around defacing property in Broome, including the offices of the Kimberley Land Council, with a variety of graffiti, one example of which is “Killing Land and Culture”. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition supports it, does he? Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : One of the people there was Mr Frank Sebastian. Many members here would know him. As a young man, he held the Aboriginal flag in defiance during the Noonkanbah incidents of the 1980s. He was one of the elders who signed the agreement—which said something. I remember him saying clearly that the elders chose to do it for the future of the Aboriginal people and to provide for economic self-determination. That was achieved through hard work and good faith over a six-month period. This goes to the point of the member for Nedlands’ question: I am concerned to see now that some environmental activists—I do not know who they are—are going around defacing property in Broome, including the offices of the Kimberley Land Council, with a variety of graffiti, one example of which is “Killing Land and Culture”. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition supports it, does he? Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition supports it, does he? Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition supports it, does he? Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Nedlands for the question. I know that he, as an engineer, has a very great interest in the development of infrastructure such as this. May I welcome the children from Halls Head Primary School, who are here as the guests of the Deputy Premier. I hope they enjoy their visit. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of this house and indeed the public of Western Australia are very well aware of the history of developing LNG in the Kimberley. When the previous government gave a right of veto to Aboriginal people, it lost the $15 billion Inpex project to Darwin. It was a sub-economic development for the proponents and a sub-economic development obviously for this state, but also for Australia. Within six months of coming to office, this government reached a historic agreement with the Kimberley Land Council and the representative groups—traditional owners and elders—of the Kimberley. We had a signing on a beach on 27 April. Those present included me, representing the state government; Don Voelte, head of Woodside; Martin Ferguson, representing the federal government; and Wayne Bergmann, as chief executive officer of the Kimberley Land Council. A number of traditional owners witnessed the signing. I must say that the member for Kimberley was there, and although she is not in the chamber at the moment, I thank her for her cooperative and supportive efforts in bringing the negotiations to fruition. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : One of the people there was Mr Frank Sebastian. Many members here would know him. As a young man, he held the Aboriginal flag in defiance during the Noonkanbah incidents of the 1980s. He was one of the elders who signed the agreement—which said something. I remember him saying clearly that the elders chose to do it for the future of the Aboriginal people and to provide for economic self-determination. That was achieved through hard work and good faith over a six-month period. This goes to the point of the member for Nedlands’ question: I am concerned to see now that some environmental activists—I do not know who they are—are going around defacing property in Broome, including the offices of the Kimberley Land Council, with a variety of graffiti, one example of which is “Killing Land and Culture”. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition supports it, does he? Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
I thank the member for Nedlands for the question. I know that he, as an engineer, has a very great interest in the development of infrastructure such as this. May I welcome the children from Halls Head Primary School, who are here as the guests of the Deputy Premier. I hope they enjoy their visit. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of this house and indeed the public of Western Australia are very well aware of the history of developing LNG in the Kimberley. When the previous government gave a right of veto to Aboriginal people, it lost the $15 billion Inpex project to Darwin. It was a sub-economic development for the proponents and a sub-economic development obviously for this state, but also for Australia. Within six months of coming to office, this government reached a historic agreement with the Kimberley Land Council and the representative groups—traditional owners and elders—of the Kimberley. We had a signing on a beach on 27 April. Those present included me, representing the state government; Don Voelte, head of Woodside; Martin Ferguson, representing the federal government; and Wayne Bergmann, as chief executive officer of the Kimberley Land Council. A number of traditional owners witnessed the signing. I must say that the member for Kimberley was there, and although she is not in the chamber at the moment, I thank her for her cooperative and supportive efforts in bringing the negotiations to fruition. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : One of the people there was Mr Frank Sebastian. Many members here would know him. As a young man, he held the Aboriginal flag in defiance during the Noonkanbah incidents of the 1980s. He was one of the elders who signed the agreement—which said something. I remember him saying clearly that the elders chose to do it for the future of the Aboriginal people and to provide for economic self-determination. That was achieved through hard work and good faith over a six-month period. This goes to the point of the member for Nedlands’ question: I am concerned to see now that some environmental activists—I do not know who they are—are going around defacing property in Broome, including the offices of the Kimberley Land Council, with a variety of graffiti, one example of which is “Killing Land and Culture”. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition supports it, does he? Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
May I welcome the children from Halls Head Primary School, who are here as the guests of the Deputy Premier. I hope they enjoy their visit. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of this house and indeed the public of Western Australia are very well aware of the history of developing LNG in the Kimberley. When the previous government gave a right of veto to Aboriginal people, it lost the $15 billion Inpex project to Darwin. It was a sub-economic development for the proponents and a sub-economic development obviously for this state, but also for Australia. Within six months of coming to office, this government reached a historic agreement with the Kimberley Land Council and the representative groups—traditional owners and elders—of the Kimberley. We had a signing on a beach on 27 April. Those present included me, representing the state government; Don Voelte, head of Woodside; Martin Ferguson, representing the federal government; and Wayne Bergmann, as chief executive officer of the Kimberley Land Council. A number of traditional owners witnessed the signing. I must say that the member for Kimberley was there, and although she is not in the chamber at the moment, I thank her for her cooperative and supportive efforts in bringing the negotiations to fruition. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : One of the people there was Mr Frank Sebastian. Many members here would know him. As a young man, he held the Aboriginal flag in defiance during the Noonkanbah incidents of the 1980s. He was one of the elders who signed the agreement—which said something. I remember him saying clearly that the elders chose to do it for the future of the Aboriginal people and to provide for economic self-determination. That was achieved through hard work and good faith over a six-month period. This goes to the point of the member for Nedlands’ question: I am concerned to see now that some environmental activists—I do not know who they are—are going around defacing property in Broome, including the offices of the Kimberley Land Council, with a variety of graffiti, one example of which is “Killing Land and Culture”. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition supports it, does he? Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of this house and indeed the public of Western Australia are very well aware of the history of developing LNG in the Kimberley. When the previous government gave a right of veto to Aboriginal people, it lost the $15 billion Inpex project to Darwin. It was a sub-economic development for the proponents and a sub-economic development obviously for this state, but also for Australia. Within six months of coming to office, this government reached a historic agreement with the Kimberley Land Council and the representative groups—traditional owners and elders—of the Kimberley. We had a signing on a beach on 27 April. Those present included me, representing the state government; Don Voelte, head of Woodside; Martin Ferguson, representing the federal government; and Wayne Bergmann, as chief executive officer of the Kimberley Land Council. A number of traditional owners witnessed the signing. I must say that the member for Kimberley was there, and although she is not in the chamber at the moment, I thank her for her cooperative and supportive efforts in bringing the negotiations to fruition. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : One of the people there was Mr Frank Sebastian. Many members here would know him. As a young man, he held the Aboriginal flag in defiance during the Noonkanbah incidents of the 1980s. He was one of the elders who signed the agreement—which said something. I remember him saying clearly that the elders chose to do it for the future of the Aboriginal people and to provide for economic self-determination. That was achieved through hard work and good faith over a six-month period. This goes to the point of the member for Nedlands’ question: I am concerned to see now that some environmental activists—I do not know who they are—are going around defacing property in Broome, including the offices of the Kimberley Land Council, with a variety of graffiti, one example of which is “Killing Land and Culture”. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition supports it, does he? Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of this house and indeed the public of Western Australia are very well aware of the history of developing LNG in the Kimberley. When the previous government gave a right of veto to Aboriginal people, it lost the $15 billion Inpex project to Darwin. It was a sub-economic development for the proponents and a sub-economic development obviously for this state, but also for Australia. Within six months of coming to office, this government reached a historic agreement with the Kimberley Land Council and the representative groups—traditional owners and elders—of the Kimberley. We had a signing on a beach on 27 April. Those present included me, representing the state government; Don Voelte, head of Woodside; Martin Ferguson, representing the federal government; and Wayne Bergmann, as chief executive officer of the Kimberley Land Council. A number of traditional owners witnessed the signing. I must say that the member for Kimberley was there, and although she is not in the chamber at the moment, I thank her for her cooperative and supportive efforts in bringing the negotiations to fruition. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : One of the people there was Mr Frank Sebastian. Many members here would know him. As a young man, he held the Aboriginal flag in defiance during the Noonkanbah incidents of the 1980s. He was one of the elders who signed the agreement—which said something. I remember him saying clearly that the elders chose to do it for the future of the Aboriginal people and to provide for economic self-determination. That was achieved through hard work and good faith over a six-month period. This goes to the point of the member for Nedlands’ question: I am concerned to see now that some environmental activists—I do not know who they are—are going around defacing property in Broome, including the offices of the Kimberley Land Council, with a variety of graffiti, one example of which is “Killing Land and Culture”. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition supports it, does he? Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of this house and indeed the public of Western Australia are very well aware of the history of developing LNG in the Kimberley. When the previous government gave a right of veto to Aboriginal people, it lost the $15 billion Inpex project to Darwin. It was a sub-economic development for the proponents and a sub-economic development obviously for this state, but also for Australia. Within six months of coming to office, this government reached a historic agreement with the Kimberley Land Council and the representative groups—traditional owners and elders—of the Kimberley. We had a signing on a beach on 27 April. Those present included me, representing the state government; Don Voelte, head of Woodside; Martin Ferguson, representing the federal government; and Wayne Bergmann, as chief executive officer of the Kimberley Land Council. A number of traditional owners witnessed the signing. I must say that the member for Kimberley was there, and although she is not in the chamber at the moment, I thank her for her cooperative and supportive efforts in bringing the negotiations to fruition. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : One of the people there was Mr Frank Sebastian. Many members here would know him. As a young man, he held the Aboriginal flag in defiance during the Noonkanbah incidents of the 1980s. He was one of the elders who signed the agreement—which said something. I remember him saying clearly that the elders chose to do it for the future of the Aboriginal people and to provide for economic self-determination. That was achieved through hard work and good faith over a six-month period. This goes to the point of the member for Nedlands’ question: I am concerned to see now that some environmental activists—I do not know who they are—are going around defacing property in Broome, including the offices of the Kimberley Land Council, with a variety of graffiti, one example of which is “Killing Land and Culture”. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition supports it, does he? Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : One of the people there was Mr Frank Sebastian. Many members here would know him. As a young man, he held the Aboriginal flag in defiance during the Noonkanbah incidents of the 1980s. He was one of the elders who signed the agreement—which said something. I remember him saying clearly that the elders chose to do it for the future of the Aboriginal people and to provide for economic self-determination. That was achieved through hard work and good faith over a six-month period. This goes to the point of the member for Nedlands’ question: I am concerned to see now that some environmental activists—I do not know who they are—are going around defacing property in Broome, including the offices of the Kimberley Land Council, with a variety of graffiti, one example of which is “Killing Land and Culture”. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition supports it, does he? Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : One of the people there was Mr Frank Sebastian. Many members here would know him. As a young man, he held the Aboriginal flag in defiance during the Noonkanbah incidents of the 1980s. He was one of the elders who signed the agreement—which said something. I remember him saying clearly that the elders chose to do it for the future of the Aboriginal people and to provide for economic self-determination. That was achieved through hard work and good faith over a six-month period. This goes to the point of the member for Nedlands’ question: I am concerned to see now that some environmental activists—I do not know who they are—are going around defacing property in Broome, including the offices of the Kimberley Land Council, with a variety of graffiti, one example of which is “Killing Land and Culture”. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition supports it, does he? Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : One of the people there was Mr Frank Sebastian. Many members here would know him. As a young man, he held the Aboriginal flag in defiance during the Noonkanbah incidents of the 1980s. He was one of the elders who signed the agreement—which said something. I remember him saying clearly that the elders chose to do it for the future of the Aboriginal people and to provide for economic self-determination. That was achieved through hard work and good faith over a six-month period. This goes to the point of the member for Nedlands’ question: I am concerned to see now that some environmental activists—I do not know who they are—are going around defacing property in Broome, including the offices of the Kimberley Land Council, with a variety of graffiti, one example of which is “Killing Land and Culture”. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition supports it, does he? Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition supports it, does he? Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition supports it, does he? Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
Mr E.S. Ripper : I am saying that I am supporting you and that it is wrong to do it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am glad to hear that. I can well understand and appreciate that many people in the Kimberley and elsewhere would oppose any development in the Kimberley region. I respect that point of view. I have met with groups such as Environs Kimberley on several occasions and remain willing to meet any environmental group. However, just because a person or a group advocates for the environment or advocates against development, it does not bestow any entitlement to basically attack Aboriginal people in such a distasteful and divisive way. I condemn these actions, and I am pleased to hear that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed with me; I am sorry to have misunderstood what he said. I take this opportunity to call upon environmental groups, whatever their position on the Kimberley might be, to denounce this graffiti and these attacks on Aboriginal people who have worked long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I call upon environmental groups to distance themselves from these actions and to make it very clear that they will not stand for this. I respect the position of Aboriginal people and I respect the environmental advocates, even if I do not agree with everything they say; but I will never, ever respect or condone this group’s attacking Aboriginal people, in the name of the environment, for what has been agreed upon for the benefit of Aboriginal people’s children and future generations. I hope that the responsible environmental advocates and lobby groups in our community denounce these actions.
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