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• Aboriginal people need to play important role in the development of Northern Australia.

KLC Media Release, February 8, 2010

KLC Executive Director Wayne Bergmann says a focus on bolstering Indigenous economic and employment opportunities will help to drive the future of northern Australia.

He said a new report, Sustainable Development in northern Australia, focused on the vital contribution of Aboriginal people and recognised their rights and interests.

But Mr Bergmann stressed this recognition needed to be turned into action.

“This report paints a pretty picture of northern Australia in 2030 – Aboriginal people have jobs, there’s access to quality training and education, native title rights are recognised and seen as a strength not a burden by the general public,’’ he said.

“But in reality, we have already been fighting for these rights and opportunities for the past 20 years – what will happen in the next 20 years to get the Government to listen to us and create real change?

“The biggest challenge is for the Government to support Aboriginal people at a local level, enabling us to use our knowledge and strengths to create opportunities for our people.’’

Mr Bergmann said the report lacked a plan of action and the implementation of its recommendations was heavily dependent on Government’s taking responsibility for northern Australia.

“This report highlights the role of Government’s needing to work together to implement the necessary changes. Will this happen? What we really need is for the people of northern Australia to drive these changes,’’ he said.

“The KLC has been undertaking many of the initiatives in this report for the past 10 years. But we haven’t relied on the Government – our projects have been driven by Aboriginal people.

“Our focus has been on building-up the capacity of Aboriginal people to take control of our own futures – through providing training and employment with a focus on looking after country. Our ranger programs and our progression into the carbon market show we are tracking in the right direction.

“We need to utilise the knowledge and skills of Indigenous people so we can move northern Australia forward but protect what is unique about our great land.

Mr Bergmann said with native title recognised across more than 50 per cent of the Kimberley, Aboriginal people had significant rights to negotiate agreements on their country.

“The KLC has represented Traditional Owners in the negotiation of many resource agreements across the Kimberley and we use these as an opportunity to improve the lives of our people,’’ he said.

“Look at the Argyle Diamond Mine Agreement – three per cent of the workforce was Indigenous before the agreement was made in 2004 – it now has a 20 per cent Aboriginal workforce.

“If Governments want real change, they must let the residents of northern Australia, and especially Aboriginal people, drive the process.’’