Central Land Council
in this section
CLC Press Releases
- 18 December 2008
- Senate see sense over waste dump ›› more
- 28 October 2008
- Devils Marbles handed back to traditional owners ›› more
- 27 October 2008
- Tanami Regional Partnership Agreement ›› more
- 27 October 2008
- Warlpiri use royalties to build Yuendumu Pool ›› more
- 15 October 2008
- Minister looks for distraction ›› more
- 14 October 2008
- CLC response to NTER review ›› more
- 14 August 2008 2008
- Communities have their say on intervention ›› more
- 31 July 2008 2008
- Fairfax news in bad taste ›› more
- 24 July 2008 2008
- election: accountability needed ›› more
- 17 July 2008 2008
- Royal commission needed into NT funding ›› more
- 11 July 2008 2008
- Simpson Desert: the last land rights claim under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act ›› more
- 8 July 2008 2008
- Sacred site damage at Wilora ›› more
- 30 May 2008
- Seal the Mereenie Loop Road Now ›› more
- 27 May 2008
- Angela Pamela Negotiations ›› more
- 9 May 2008
- Angela Pamela and the native title process ›› more
- 18 February 2008
- Coalition should support permit system ›› more
- 15 February 2008
- Politicians threaten to derail fresh start ›› more
- 22 January 2008
- Police ignorance upsets Lajamanu community ›› more
- 26 November 2007
- Optimism for a fresh consensual approach on Aboriginal affairs ›› more
- 21 November 2007
- Concerns over Central Petroleum tactics ›› more
Concerns over Central Petroleum tactics
The Central Land Council says it has deep concerns about the way Central Petroleum is conducting its business in Central Australia.
CLC Director David Ross says that at a properly constituted meeting under the Land Rights Act this year, traditional owners clearly confirmed their instructions to the CLC that the access route for exploration on the Pmer Nyente Land Trust originally agreed to should remain.
“Central Petroleum has now changed its mind and wants to use another road, which traditional owners have opposed because they are worried about 4WD tourists accessing the area and desecrating their sites, as has happened just over the South Australian border”, Mr Ross said.
“The company seems unable to accept this and has sought to use the media to pressure the CLC into avoiding its statutory responsibilities to its constituents.
“Central Petroleum allegedly held a meeting of traditional owners but the CLC cannot comment on where it was held or who was there because nobody from the CLC was present.
“This is a bit like a property developer attempting to bypass the planning authorities by alleging that he has held a meeting with residents and they have consented,” he said.
“The CLC has performed all of its obligations in a timely manner and there has been no delay. We have twice obtained instructions from traditional owners before the alleged meeting convened by Central Petroleum and the company is well aware of that.
“The CLC has been operating in this role under Commonwealth legislation, the Aboriginal Land Rights Act, for more than 30 years.
Agreements forged by the CLC, on behalf of traditional owners, give mining companies certainty and legitimacy to invest and develop.
“Fortunately the example of Central Petroleum is extremely unusual in the mining industry in Central Australia, where most companies adhere to well established protocols and ethical principles which streamline the process,” Mr Ross said.
20 November 2007
Contact Jane Hodson 0417 877 579