On the occasion of Woodside’s gas deals with China, the Greens have
added their support to the Wong-Goo-Tt-Oo Native Title Group’s
application for a Ministerial Declaration under Sections 9 and 10 of
the Commonwealth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage
Protection Act over the Pluto Site ‘B’ lease on the Burrup Peninsula.

“The situation should never have come to this,” Greens Senate candidate Scott Ludlam said.

“The State Government has failed to offer heritage protection for
ancient rock art sites on the Burrup. The Federal Government undertook
National Heritage Listing for most of the Burrup but left out the areas
demanded by Woodside.”

Greens Senator Rachel Siewert has committed to supporting the applicants in Federal Parliament.

“I call on Minister Turnbull to uphold these applications and
protect the Burrup for all time. I will be raising this when the Senate
resumes next week,” said Senator Siewert.

“The hype over the China gas deals ignores the crucial fact that
Woodside still do not have consent to build their plant on the Burrup.
The campaign to protect one of Australia’s most important heritage
areas will continue,” said Senator Siewert.

“This mess should be a warning sign to all players that eventual
development of the Kimberley’s gas resources must take a very different
tack,” Mr Ludlam concluded.