Native title over gas hub area recognised

The federal government has welcomed the recognition of native title rights on land on WA's Dampier Peninsula, including James Price Point.

Aboriginal communities in Western Australia's Kimberley region have had their native title rights recognised over 12,050 sq km of land on the Dampier Peninsula, including James Price Point.

Woodside previously planned to build a gas processing hub at James Price Point - sparking large protests due to its environmental, Aboriginal heritage and palaeontological value - but axed the proposal in 2013, citing escalating costs.

Federal Court Justice Anthony North travelled to Beagle Bay to deliver the two determinations in favour of the Bindunbur people and Jabirr Jabirr and Ngumbarl people on Wednesday.

Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion congratulated the Aboriginal communities for achieving legal acknowledgement of what they have always known - that they are the true traditional owners of the Middle Dampier Peninsula.

"This determination is a triumph of rational, fact-based legal processes over hysterical and patently false cultural and economic vandalism driven by interstate, inner-city extremists," Mr Scullion said in a statement on Wednesday.

He slammed "green-left activists" including singers Missy Higgins and John Butler who he claims took advantage of Aboriginal people to push their own agendas.

"The sanctimonious self-righteous campaign we saw by these FIFO celebrity activists would have been a laughing matter if their blatant hypocrisy hadn't resulted in keeping the poorest of our fellow citizens in poverty," he said.

The federal government is providing $20.4 million to ensure native title claims deliver economic benefits to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Mr Scullion added.

Member for Durack, Melissa Price, said the traditional owners should be congratulated on their strength, resilience and hard work.


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Source: AAP



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