The Quandamooka people of north Stradbroke Island have requested that the dealings between Premier Newman and sand miner Sibelco to be referred to Queensland's Crime and Misconduct Commission.
He also called for an inquiry into sandmining on North Stradbroke at Queensland parliament house today.
Sandmining was supposed to end in 2019, as detailed in the Quandamooka’s Native Title Agreement, but the Liberal Government is pushing to extend extraction laws to 2035, with legislation to back this expected next year.
However, the Department of Natural Resources and Mines says the State legislation won’t affect Federal Native Title.
The Queensland government was accused today of consulting only with Sibelco rather than the native title holders and environment groups of north Stradbroke.
The Agriculture, Resources and Environment Committee has received 130 submissions from business people, environmental organisations, politicians, concerned residents and a group calling itself the Indigenous Sand Miners of North Stradbroke Island.
Unfortunately no-one from the group was present at the hearings today, but its submission says mining has employed and continues to employ Aboriginal workers, directly affecting 60 families.
The Committee is expected to report to Parliament by November 14.
