27 March 2008
The Kimberley
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The debate over whether or not to allow industrial development in Western Australia's Kimberley region continues as the federal and WA governments begin a 'strategic assessment' of the area.
According to environment minister Peter Garrett's comments, there's a chance the results of the study may lead to the area being declared a World Heritage site. But at the same time, Japanese company Inpex is proposing to build a processing plant in the region and is threatening to look elsewhere if a decision isn't made soon ... and while some traditional owners and tourism operators want no part of it, the Kimberley Land Council says developing the region promises unique economic opportunity for Indigenous employment and investment. How should Indigenous communities deal with the pressure to develop environmentally and culturally important areas like the Kimberley?
Do developments like these deliver better economic outcomes or threaten to destroy remaining traditional communities forever?
Guests
Wayne Bergmann
Executive Director
Kimberley Land Council
Albert Wiggan
Bardi TO
Professor Jon Altman
Director, Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, ANU
Peter Yu
Kimberley Land Council representative
Further Information
For information on the Maret Islands proposal
For a recent newspaper article on the proposal
For a link to a group opposed to the Browse Basin development
Presenter
Paul Barclay
Story Researcher and Producer
Jane Shields
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