Central Land Council accuses government of failing to properly consult Traditional Owners in major agribusiness projects

The Central Land Council has accused the government of locking Traditional Owners out of major water and agribusiness consultations, despite claims of ‘co-designed’ projects.

Central Land Council chief executive Les Turner has accused the NT Government of failing to properly consult traditional landowners in developing major water and agribusiness plans.

Traditional Owners across the Territory are being locked out of negotiations on major water and agribusiness projects despite the government claiming to have consulted Traditional Owners, according to the Central Land Council.

In an opinion piece for this publication chief executive for the CLC Les Turner said policymakers had “denied us a seat at the table”, and believed there were misleading statements to the public about the level of consultation on “co-designed” plans for water and land use.

Mr Turner pointed in particular to the development of the government’s major Agribusiness 2030 Strategy, released in May, which hopes to grow the value of local agriculture and aquaculture industries to $2 billion by the end of the decade.

He also slammed the Western Davenport Water Allocation Plan as “dangerous” and a move that ignored “our right to protect our sacred sites”.

The plan governs how groundwater should be managed across a 24,500sq km area south of Tennant Creek, and includes the site of the controversial Singleton Station agribusiness project.

Agribusiness Minister Paul Kirby said the government was committed to continued, respectful engagement with all stakeholders. Picture: Sierra Haigh

Agribusiness Minister Paul Kirby said the government remained committed to continuous stakeholder engagement that is “transparent, timely, responsive and respectful”.

“The Northern Territory government developed the Agribusiness 2030 Strategy in consultation with industry and land councils, via a series of industry forums and engagements across the Territory in 2021 and 2022, including a public ‘Have your say’ consultation,” Mr Kirby said.

“The Strategy provides a shared framework to deliver growth across multiple primary industry sectors and was a key recommendation of the Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission report in 2020.

“This co-designed strategy is underpinned by the Northern Territory’s target to sustainably grow and diversify the agribusiness and aquaculture sector.”

The Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security did not provide comment when questioned on its consultation process for developing the Western Davenport Water Allocation Plan, instead pointing to the CLC’s most recent annual report.

In the report the CLC said it “supported Traditional Owners, native title holders and affected residents of the Western Davenport water control district by representing their views to the Western Davenport Water Advisory Committee to inform its review of the Western Davenport Water Allocation plan”.

“Consultations were attended by over 100 Traditional Owners, highlighting the importance of water and water rights to Aboriginal people,” page 28 of the report said.