Antinuclear

Legal challenge to Rio Tinto’s tactics in negotiations with Aboriginals

the clans of the Dhurili nation consider that their rights under Australian and traditional Aboriginal law have been breached, and that they have been improperly excluded from the negotiation process.

“Colonisation is still happening today, creating disharmony, by people ignoring due process.

RIO DIDN’T CONSULT US ABOUT MINING: NT TRADITIONAL LAND OWNERS, Australian Mining By Jessica Burke    8 June 2011, Mining giant Rio Tinto has been accused of failing to consult with several traditional land owners over a new lease agreement in the Northern Territory.

The Datiwuy, Golumala, Marrakula and Marranga clans, which make up the Dhurili nation may take legal action against the federal government and the Northern Land Council (NLC), the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

They plan to boycott the official ceremonial signing of the agreement between Rio Tinto and the traditional owners, set to take place in Arnhem Land today.

In a statement released yesterday, Aboriginal elder Reverend Djiniyini Gondarra said clan groups of the Dhurili nation had been previously recognised as traditional owners of parts of the affected area.

He said the NLC and the federal government have failed to properly consult all the relevant Yolgnu clan groups.

“For reasons presently unknown to them, they were not properly consulted about the recent negotiations with Rio Tinto Alcan,” he said.

“As a result, the clans of the Dhurili nation consider that their rights under Australian and traditional Aboriginal law have been breached, and that they have been improperly excluded from the negotiation process.

“Colonisation is still happening today, creating disharmony, by people ignoring due process.

“Again the failures of the Australian government and the NLC to work with (the) Yolgnu people through a proper process of law have created division between the clans of Arnhem Land.”

The deal is covered by commercial confidentiality and secures the continued operation of the bauxite mine and alumina refinery in the Gove Peninsula for the next 42 years.

June 9, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | aboriginal issues, Northern Territory