Who: Murujuga Section 10 applicant Raelene Cooper and other traditional custodians
What: Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee inquiry into the Protecting the Spirit of Sea Country Bill
Where: Hilton DoubleTree, 100 James Street, Perth WA.
When: TODAY 10.45am AWST Monday 26 August 2024
The full program including Woodside, Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation and senior Elder Tootsie Daniel is available at: Public Hearings – Parliament of Australia (aph.gov.au)
Livestream: https://www.aph.gov.au/News_
Murujuga traditional custodian Raelene Cooper will appear this morning at a public hearing for the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee inquiry into the Protecting the Spirit of Sea Country Bill.
In early 2022, Ms Cooper made an application to protect Murujuga from further industrial expansion under Section 10 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act. She is still waiting for a decision.
In September last year, Ms Cooper won an injunction and a judicial review case in the Federal Court to prevent Woodside from seismic blasting as part of their Burrup Hub gas project due to inadequate consultation. Two months later, Woodside started seismic blasting anyway after federal regulator NOPSEMA issued a new approval.
Ms Cooper will give evidence to the Senate from 10.45am AWST today. In her opening remarks, Ms Cooper will say the following:
“I am heartbroken, devastated and furious that our governments continue to allow Woodside to destroy our sacred rock art, our songlines and our precious marine sanctuaries.
"I have now been waiting more than two years for a Section 10 application I filed in early 2022 under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act.
"In those two years the development on Murujuga has continued unimpeded, and there has been irreversible and irreplaceable damage to my Ngurra. The rock art has been moved and the damage has already been done. We are still waiting for any protection for our cultural heritage.
"As far as I am concerned, we have now exhausted every avenue, every mechanism and every protection available to us as traditional custodians trying to care for our Country, and we still don’t have any defence against industry.”
ENDS
A Google Drive with all Save our Songlines media content including photos and footage of Murujuga rock art and industrial destruction is available here.
For all media enquiries please contact:
Jesse Noakes
Media and Comms Advisor
Save our Songlines
0401 233 965