Miners must support native group backing for Adani: Canavan

Matt Canavan has urged BHP and Rio Tinto to back traditional owners in their support for Adani’s Carmichael coal mine.

Rio Tinto’s Joanne Farrell, Referendum Council member Megan Davis and BHP CEO Andrew Mackenzie. Picture: Colin Murty

Resources Minister Matt Canavan has urged BHP and Rio Tinto to back traditional owners in their support for Adani’s Carmichael coalmine after the mining giants endorsed an indigenous “voice to parliament”.

As foreshadowed by The ­Australian, BHP and Rio yesterday declared their support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which calls for the nation’s ­indigenous people to be recognised in the Constitution, saying the move was a concrete step towards ­reconciliation.

Senator Canavan applauded the companies for their record on indigenous issues, but urged them to work with other industry players to support projects that would benefit indigenous people.

“What we really need for the ­future is for the industry as a whole to support native title groups that face threats and bullying from green activists,” he said.

“The latest example is Adani. It’s important for BHP and others not just to talk the talk but to walk the walk and support their ­colleagues in the industry against such bullying and stand up for ­native title rights.”

The Federal Court last year ­upheld Adani’s Indigenous Land Use Agreement with the Wangan and Jagalingou (W & J) people after the traditional owners’ 294-1 vote in support of the agreement.

However, five W & J representatives are appealing against that ruling before the full bench of the Federal Court.

Scott Morrison yesterday left the door open to supporting an ­indigenous “voice to parliament”, saying the government was considering a committee report that recommended pursuing the ­proposal.

The Prime Minister would not rule out future support for the voice, in contrast to Malcolm Turnbull, who said it would act like a “third chamber to parliament”.

Mr Morrison said the government was considering a bipartisan report tabled in November by the joint select committee on constitutional recognition.

The report endorsed a constitutionally enshrined voice but said more work needed to be done to create a design that had the backing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

A constitutionally enshrined voice, recommended by the federal government’s referendum council in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, would act as an ­advisory body, with elected indigenous Australians to give input on government policy.

Mr Morrison said he would support the voice only if there was evidence it would improve the living standards of indigenous Australians, citing concern over education and community safety.

Bill Shorten has promised a voice referendum in the first term of a potential Labor government.