NEWS
Elder annoyed by lack of talk BY MARIA TAN
R
espected Indigenous elder Aunty Margaret Iselin says she is “annoyed” with Premier Anna Bligh’s plans to turn 80 per cent of North Stradbroke Island into a national park, stating lack of consultation before the landmark decision was made public. “Wouldn’t you be upset if that was announced here on the Island and the rest of the community did not know anything about it? Especially the Elders,” Aunty Margaret Iselin, president of the Minjerribah-Moorgumpin Elders, told SIN. The Premier has announced a plan to end industrial mining on North Stradbroke Island by 2027, in a bid to shift the local economy’s focus towards naturebased tourism and environmental sustainability. Under the plan, 50 per cent of the Island will become national park by the end of next year with a total of 80 per cent slated for national park by 2027. “More of the Island deserves the best protection possible and our government will deliver that through joint management with Traditional Owners, with national park area increasing to 44 times its current size,” Premier Bligh said in a statement released in June. However Aunty Margaret says she has seen no sign of “joint management” since the announcement was made. “We were never consulted – the Elders – on any of that,” Aunty Margaret said. “And that’s why we are annoyed about it. “It was hasty, announcing it without consulting the rest of the community,
Aunty Margaret Iselin
‘ There should have been a large community meeting for people to decide.’ the people of Stradbroke who live here. There should’ve been a large community meeting for people to decide what they want. “I think that should’ve been done, not
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consult with just a few people. No, that’s not on, here on the Island,” she said. No public forums on the national park/mine closure proposals were held on the Island, or nearby local areas, until after Premier Bligh’s plans were announced. Following the high profile announcement, two community consultation meetings were held, one in Dunwich and one in Cleveland. State opposition leader John-Paul Langbroek told SIN the Premier’s national park announcement had antagonised many locals, who were concerned about the ongoing sustainability of their community. “I’ve met with some of the Indigenous elders who [Bligh] didn’t consult with,” Mr. Langbroek said. “Their concern is that 80 per cent of the Island will be declared a national park. We haven’t seen any sort of economic impact or employment impact studies from the premier with her proposals and we have concerns from speaking to the locals about the effect on a community of over 2000 people,” the opposition leader said. “We [the LNP] are certainly interested to see what decision the Premier makes, and we will make sure that we talk to local people to consider the wider effects of the environment and the community rather than just making decisions in a knee-jerk way that don’t consider the wider ramifications for Indigenous people as well as the local residents.” An article by Premier Bligh, outlining her reasons for wanting national park on Straddie, is on page 13.
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BIGREDCAT.COM.AU 25/08/2010 12 NEWS 02 39 PM3 STRADDIE ISLAND