Australian and International
INTERVENTION NEEDED URGENTLY

BEFORE GOVERNMENT PUTS ALL CLANS INTO ONE TO CONTROL THEIR LAND AND DESTINY.

 HOPEVALE SHIRE COUNCIL APPEARS TO BE OPERATING IN CONSPIRACY WITH
FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT

 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

How long have the Dingaal, Nguurrumungu and Thanil been waiting to receive their royalties. 

Answer:  “Since 1963 about 48 years and still waiting.”

Where is the Cape Flattery Silica Sand Mine. 

Answer: “About 150 kilometres north of Cooktown” 

Who owns the Cape Flattery Silica Sand Mine?

Answer “Mitsubishi Corporation is leasing the land from the State of Queensland and HopeVale Shire Council” 

Has anyone ever got sick from the mine?

“Yes, but the government, Mitsubishi, and HopeVale Shire Council do not do anything to stop others from getting sick or for that matter to received monetary compensation. 

What do environmental reports show. 

“That there are lethal poisons being used at the mine site including cadmium arsenic and lead.

Has anyone ever sued the mine successfully because of mine related illness?

“Yes, a HopeVale resident.  They want to keep this silent from the other locals” 

Why doesn’t the government both State and Federal and the HopeVale Shire Council close the mine down?

“It seems that they are making money from it and will not tell the locals or general public how much.  It seems strange that $14 million was to be paid to the traditional owners of the mining area by the HopeVale Shire Council who are trustees for these traditional owners.  To date they have not received ANY MONEY.”

Is the Mine paying royalties to anyone at present? 

“Yes, to HopeVale Shire Council as trustees for the three clans of Cape Flattery, and also the State of Queensland through statutory royalties”.

Have clan members tried to get their royalties from the government?

Yes, they have taken the matter to court.  As they cannot afford an experienced lawyer they cannot go back to court to try to get their royalties.

How are royalties and compensation different? 

“Royalties are to be paid for the use of the mine by Mitsubishi to those who are most affected by the mine.  Whereas, compensation is to be paid by the government for placing stolen generations and other clans onto traditional owner lands.  For instance, if people were sent from Bowen to live on land at HopeVale, then this makes a s21 agreement under the Native Title Act and makes it mandatory that the government pay a lot in compensation to the traditional owners for having their native title affected.  It may mean compensation under other acts to be paid to the stolen generations as well.”

Why is the government allowing all of the clans of HopeVale to be put into one clan. 

“So they can control the royalty payments.  Under the Aboriginal Land Regulations they can take 50 cents of every dollar of royalties for administration fees.  So it makes sense why the government and HopeVale Shire Council want to put all the clans, especially those whose land the mine is on so that the government and local council can control the royalty money and land.  Now do you begin to understand why Noel Pearson and the HopeVale Shire Council sent a letter to the Minister asking them to change the Aboriginal Land Act on July 28, 2004 regarding the transfer of land so that their plan for one land trust could go through smoothly. The meetings for the transfer of land began March 2005. 

Why can’t Noel Pearson stop this from happening if he is the leader?

“It seems he cannot stop it from happening because it appears he has teamed up with the government to disinherit the clans of Cape Flattery from ever receiving the royalties that they are entitled to.   

Can you comment on the letter dated July 28, 2004  by Noel Pearson and compiled by the Mayor of HopeVale Shire Council asking the Minister to change the Aboriginal Land Act? 

“Yes, it clearly sets out the conspiracy between the State of Queensland and HopeVale Shire Council and the Department of Natural Resources and Mines in carrying out the wishes of this letter.  The Department of Natural Resources and Mines have held meetings in Hopevale, but have ignored the considerable amount of people who have signed petitions opposing the formation of one land trust as many clans want to remain separate in accordance with the traditional laws and customs.

The letter clearly states that the structure of the land trust is good as it creates “ONE LAND OWNER”.  This means Hopevale residents do not own their land and especially the clans for Cape Flattery it will mean they will not own their land after all the years of fighting for native title and most important LAND TENURE AND CUSTODIANSHIP.”  THIS time it is done by Aboriginal people educated by the Lutheran Church and government to use Aboriginal people as a market to control and run”.  This is cultural genocide and should be BANNED TOTALLY.  It is against the Royal Proclamation, Discrimination Acts and Human Rights.  It seems that these so called leaders have learned well from the European system to control their own people.  THIS IS A NATIONAL SHAME FOR AUSTRALIA AND MUST BE STOPPED!!  We call for International Intervention.

When did the meetings begin with Department fo Natural Resources and Mines?

In early March 2005.  When Gordon Charlie begged to be joined to the five person working group.  Department of Natural Resources and Mines officials told him no.  Then they agreed two days before the meeting to allow him to come to the meeting.  Associates driving Mr. Charlie to the meeting had their car break down on the four wheel drive rough terrain road towards a cattle station.  They had told Gordon they would pay his way to Cooktown or HopeVale, but he and his associates did not know the meeting was to be held at Starke Station away from HopeVale.  Mr. Charlie and his associates are financially drained from this ordeal.  It is the plot of the government to trick elders in not showing up at meetings. 

Why was the letter from Noel written a year before the meetings began at Hopevale to allow people to have their own land trusts? 

“So that the government had time to make changes to the Aboriginal Land Act, which is the Act responsible for the transferring of land from Deed of Grant in Trust to inalienable freehold land for clans”.

Why do you think Noel Pearson, the Governments and the HopeVale Shire Council want everyone to be put into one land trust? 

“It appears from the letters to the Minister and many other documents compiled by these people over the years that they clearly want to control not only the royalties, but deny  members compensation and most important their own land”.  The elders of HopeVale fought so hard for the younger ones to enjoy having their own land given back to EACH INDIVIDUAL CLAN GROUP, and compensation and royalties to be paid for use of land and the longsuffering of the elders in making HopeVale.  One elder states “HopeVale wasn’t made by bulldozers you know, us old fellas had to do the clearing by hand.  The church made us work hard without pay and told us we would go to Heaven if we did.  We watch them eat all the good food, while we were thrown scraps.  That’s what the government wants to do to us today give us scraps.  We don’t want scraps we need help to get what we are entitled to—land and money”.

 Compiled by A. Keysirlingck ©