Kimberley blockade just the start of protest action

Media Release
The Wilderness Society Inc.
5 July 2011

• Police break up blockade at proposed $50 billion gas plant
• Indigenous vote subject of WA Supreme Court action
• 3000 Kimberley locals sign petition opposing development

The Wilderness Society pledged its support for the hundreds of Kimberley people protesting the proposed $40+ billion liquid natural gas processing plant at James Price Point as police moved in today to bust the month-long blockade at James Price Point.

"This large-scale month-long blockade led by Kimberley people is representative of a large proportion of the Kimberley community, including traditional owners, who oppose the plant," said Wilderness Society Kimberley campaigner Glen Klatovsky. "We have a petition carrying 3000 signatures from Kimberley people who oppose Woodside’s plans, which would be Australia’s biggest industrial development on our most pristine coast."

Mr Klatovsky is in Parliament House in Canberra with Kimberley locals, including academic Dr Anne Poelina, film-maker Mitch Torres and musician Stephen Pigram and brother Alan Pigram, to speak to political leaders and deliver the petition. The group wants to deliver the petition to Environment Minister Tony Burke but has had no response from Mr Burke’s office.

"This protest is not going away,” said Mr Klatovsky. “This is just the beginning. As the protest and the scale of this totally inappropriate development gets more national and international attention, many more people will join the locals to save the Kimberley from industrialisation."

The development has not been approved by Environment Minister Tony Burke, is resented by the local community and even Woodside’s much-vaunted agreement with indigenous land owners is subject to action in the Western Australian Supreme Court because the vote was taken under the threat of compulsory acquisition, the legality of which is being questioned in the action taken by Traditional Owners Phil Roe (of the Goolarabooloo people) and Neil McKenzie (Jabirr Jabirr).

Many of the joint-venture partners want to process the gas at existing facilities in the Pilbara, but were forced by Resources Minister Martin Ferguson to agree to the James Price Point development to keep their leases over the Browse Basin fields. The joint-venture partners are yet to make a final investment decision on the project.

For further comment contact Glen Klatovsky 0410 482 243 in Parliament House Canberra or Wilderness Society National Campaign Director Lyndon Schneiders 0451 633 200
For media inquiries contact Alex Tibbitts 0416 420 168
For further background go to woodsideinvestors.com.au