Australia to be sued over mining project’s ‘unmerciful’ destruction of Indigenous land
- Gumatj leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu says he and his people are seeking compensation for loss of native title over minerals exploited by mine operator Nabalco and its successor, Rio Tinto
- Native title experts say the ruling would pave the way for potentially billions of dollars in liability payments by Australian governments
Gumatj leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu revealed on Saturday that he and his people were taking legal action against the commonwealth, seeking compensation for the loss of native title over the minerals exploited by mine operator Nabalco and its successor, Rio Tinto, as well as the destruction of key dreaming sites.
The suit is expected to use the historic precedent set by the Timber Creek judgment by the high court in March, which ruled on monetary compensation for loss of native title.
“They’ve come to Gove peninsula without asking properly of the landowners of the place,” Yunupingu told the crowd at Garma festival, in northeast Arnhem Land.
“They have all come, getting the OK from the PM and the government of the country, to come all the way and start digging and insulting the country.”
He accused the two companies of having “ripped some land unmercifully”.
