Three-day battle for compensation

Gooreng Gooreng tribe senior elder Merv Johnson and spokesperson for the Gurang people Kerry Blackman discuss their objections to the proposed deals from Santos, Queensland Gas Company and Surat Gladstone Pipeline.

Max Fleet

GURANG and Gooreng Gooreng tribe members have vowed to stand up for their rights when negotiations with three major gas companies start today.

Gurang spokesperson Kerry Blackburn said the groups will meet with Santos, the Queensland Gas Company and Surat Gladstone Pipeline for the next three days to negotiate terms of an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) which will take in the Bundaberg region.

And it may not be smooth sailing.

“At a recent meeting the claimants which were present moved a motion which was to reject the compensation package,” he said.

“When we look at an example of an offer in Western Australia, the traditional owners received an offer of $200 million.

“We’re not asking for that much.”

Mr Blackburn said a number of the traditional owners of the Port Curtis Coral Coast area, which runs from the Elliott River north to Gladstone and west to the Auburn Ranges, were unhappy with the amount offered.

“Just take Santos for instance. They are going to gross $20 billion and the project is going to go for 40 years. What they offered is an insult. They may as well keep it,” he said.

“I think about $15 to $20 million would have been a win-win for everyone.”

Mr Blackburn said any funds received from the ILUA would be used to help provide opportunities for Indigenous people in the area.

“We’d like to see money put into education, business development, home ownership, more land acquisition, building aged care facilities for our elderly – they are just some of the aspirations that we have,” he said.

Santos Indigenous affairs principal adviser, Craig Jones said the company was hoping to maintain a positive relationship with the Indigenous community.

“The agreement being finalised with the Port Curtis Coral Coast native title group compensates for impacts on native title within the project area close to Gladstone.

“It will also provide for employment, training and business opportunities,” he said.

The meetings will be held over the next three days at the PCYC.