Aboriginal group takes Newman Government to United Nations over fracking in the Lake Eyre Basin

Updated

The United Nations has been asked to intervene in a battle over oil and gas development in the Lake Eyre Basin.

Traditional owners in Queensland's Channel Country say the State Government is putting the region's waterways at risk by allowing oil and coal seam gas extraction.

The Mithaka People argue the Newman Government has broken international law by failing to consult them about the use of their land.

They have written to the UN's Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to ask for help.

But the Queensland Government has argued the Mithaka People have been notified about proposed activities in the region, despite their native title claim not being finalised.

Our main significant sites are around water. Not only culturally, environmentally I think it's critical for that country especially. Scott Gorringe, Mithaka representative

Mithaka representative Scott Gorringe said its waterways were a crucial part of his culture.

"Most of our stories start and end around water," Mr Gorringe said.

"Our main significant sites are around water. Not only culturally, environmentally I think it's critical for that country especially."

Earlier this year, the Queensland Government wound back laws to allow some oil and gas exploration in south-western Queensland.

It said an advisory panel, including local Indigenous leaders, spent months weighing up the pros and cons of the decision.

But the Mithaka People argue they have been shut out of the process, in breach of international law.

"You start mucking around with rivers out our way and damaging underground water, it's sitting on the Great Artesian Basin," Mr Gorringe said.

"And we don't know what potentially can happen.

"You know, mining companies are telling us one thing and they're tainted with a brush. And Government's telling us another and I think they're tainted with the same brush."

This is not the first time the UN's special rapporteur has been asked to investigate Indigenous rights in Australia - they previously condemned the Federal Government's intervention in the Northern Territory, labelling it racist.

The Lake Eyre Basin spans more than 1 million square kilometres of Queensland, South Australia, the Northern Territory and New South Wales.

'We're not hypocrites, we understand economic development'

Mr Gorringe admitted it was tempting for people living in Queensland's remote south-west to accept new industries and the potential benefits they can deliver.

"We're not hypocrites, we understand the value of economic development," he said.

"We understand the value of progression, yet not at the expense of damaging our water," he said.

"There's a whole lot of other opportunities that would present themselves out there if people would be strong enough to hold back and have a look at this stuff and have a talk to us about the opportunities we see.

"But we're not getting that opportunity. The Queensland Government's not talking to us."

In a statement, a spokeswoman for Queensland's Minister for Natural Resources Andrew Cripps said all the parties affected by changes to water protections were consulted equally.

"The Queensland Government acknowledges that some people in the community had concerns in relation to potential resources development and the sustainable use of water in the Channel Country," the spokeswoman said.

"There is also a clear desire amongst a number of community leaders and local residents in the same region for economic development and job opportunities.

"The Mithaka people's Native Title claim has not yet been determined."

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First posted