09 JUNE 2011www.mininingaustralia.com.au
PM signs first mining lease deal
Edited by : AL CIRCLE
1 min read
In an Australian first, Prime Minister Julia Gillard has signed a lease agreement between a mining company and traditional land owners.
Despite claims yesterday from some Aboriginal residents in the area that they had not been consulted on the lease and would be boycotting the ceremonial signing, it went ahead without incident.
The agreement allows the company to mine bauxite on more than 22 000 hectares of land surrounding the town of Nhulunbuy in the Northern Territory for 42 years.
Since the 1960’s bauxite mining has been occurring in the region without permission from indigenous land owners, which was a major contributor to the lands right movement in the country.
Hundreds of Yolgnu people gathered at the ceremony yesterday, where Gillard said the mining lease was an example of respect and responsibility.
Despite claims yesterday from some Aboriginal residents in the area that they had not been consulted on the lease and would be boycotting the ceremonial signing, it went ahead without incident.
The agreement allows the company to mine bauxite on more than 22 000 hectares of land surrounding the town of Nhulunbuy in the Northern Territory for 42 years.
Since the 1960’s bauxite mining has been occurring in the region without permission from indigenous land owners, which was a major contributor to the lands right movement in the country.
Hundreds of Yolgnu people gathered at the ceremony yesterday, where Gillard said the mining lease was an example of respect and responsibility.
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