TALKS LIFT CENTURY MINE HOPES
13.08.1996
THERE were ""encouraging signs'' some of the opposition
to the stalled $1.1 billion Century Zinc mining project might be lessening, Premier Rob Borbidge said yesterday.
Mr Borbidge revealed yesterday that he secretly met ATSIC
representative Ray Robinson and another Aboriginal leader, Charles Perkins, last week.
And Mr Borbidge said that if, as reported, he did have a meeting with Century Zinc opponent Murrandoo Yanner, the discussions had been "cordial''.
At its Cairns meeting yesterday, State Cabinet agreed that
Queensland should take part in the latest round of negotiations aimed at overcoming opposition to the planned mine near Lawn Hill National Park, in far north-west Queensland.
The state will appoint an eminent person to head a team taking part in right to negotiate processes
under the Native Title Act.
ATSIC deputy chairman Ray Robinson yesterday confirmed negotiations had been held between Gulf Aboriginal representatives and the State Government, and said that Aboriginal people were happy with the
negotiations so far.
"It's no secret that we met with Mr Borbidge and his Ministers over five days in Brisbane last week to try to get this project off the ground,'' Mr Robinson said.
"There was myself, Murrandoo Yanner and Clarence Waldron, who is one of the administrators of the Carpentaria Land Council.
"Murrandoo is this week meeting with local communities in the Gulf to tell them what is proposed to this stage. There are nine communities to consult, including Mornington Island, Doomadgee, Normanton, Booraloola and Mt Isa.
"When those people have decided which way they will go on what is proposed, then negotiations will continue with the representatives from Century Mine.
"That is being lined up this week through Mr Mike Evans, who is a consultant to the mines.
"It will be up to the Government and Comalco to make the final arrangements but all that can be said at this stage is that Aboriginal people are happy with negotiations.
"We are negotiating in good faith and the results to this stage are satisfactory.''
After Century Zinc backed away from a legislative approach clearing the way for the mine's development, the company said it would look to the Act's negotiating provisions.
Under the Act, the state will now negotiate in good faith with any native title claimant, any representative of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander body and the company.
If agreement has not been reached after the six-month negotiating period, any of the parties can then refer the matter to the National Native Title Tribunal.
The tribunal can then hold a six-month inquiry to determine whether the proposal to mine _ a right the state has granted Century Zinc _ should proceed.
After that there is a two-month period in which the relevant
minister may override the tribunal decision if that federal minister considers it is in the interest of the nation or of the state.
Any decision of this sort would be subject to judicial review and could therefore be challenged.
"If there is enough good will, we may be able to resolve this,'' Mr Borbidge said yesterday.
"I am encouraged at what has happened to date. But it is complex and complicated.''
Mr Robinson said the issue of whether the slurry pipeline from the mine ran north-east to Karumba in the Gulf or east to Townsville was still "very much an issue of negotiation''.
He said all issues were ""on the table'', including a cash
compensation offer from Comalco. During previous negotiations which broke down, the company offered a $60 mil
lion package, but that included a large proportion of federal government employment funds.
It is understood that a serious issue in the present negotiations is the number and permanency of jobs available to Aboriginal people on the mine site, or in providing services to it.
Opposition justice spokesman Matt Foley yesterday said the Century Zinc project would be threatened unless the State Government "displays good faith'' in future negotiations.
