Traditional owners voice coronavirus concerns over mining visits
Pilbara Aboriginal groups are demanding miners stop sending staff to remote communities, saying it’s leading to risky coronavirus exposure.
Pilbara Aboriginal groups have demanded that mining companies stop sending in staff to carry out heritage surveys for proposed mining tenements, saying it is leading to risky exposure for remote communities trying to limit outsider contact due to possible coronavirus infection.
Yamatji Marlpa CEO Simon Hawkins says an urgent letter has been sent to the state Minister for Mines to ask that heritage assessment – which is required before a mine can go ahead – should be halted during the coronavirus crisis.
“We have random people travelling around and having contact with local people, and traditional owners have expressed concern,” he said.
All native title matters have been halted by the Federal Court until end of June, meaning that all on-country matters, including consent determinations, have been postponed until June. Only native title matters that can be handled entirely by phone or video conference will be dealt with.
The Federal Court warned that there would be “significant slippage” in its timetables for dealing with native title.
Mr Hawkins said Yamatji Marlpa had been told by the Mines Department it was proceeding with heritage clearances and its traditional owners should co-operate, but the Aboriginal corporation has written requesting a halt. “They are exerting pressure, which is not appropriate at this time,” he said.