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Volume 4, Thursday December 4th, 2008
Photograph by Nick Hayes
Andamooka gets its share of voilent weather during the unusual storms of Novemeber. More weather news on page 9
“Close Olympic Dam!” A
By Zak Zeptner
Dam Uranium mine or to take your shares and invest in something have any say over the proposed expansion.
and are you prepared to compensate all Aboriginal People BHP Billiton spokesperson Richard Yeeles told The Monitor, boriginal and environmental activists seek the imme- else… around Roxby Downs to rehabilitate that country?” Mr Buzzacott “BHP Billiton consults extensively with aboriginal communities diate closure of the Olympic Dam mine, reports from asked at the AGM. about the existing operation and the proposed expansion and will Thursday’s BHP Billiton AGM reveal. The response to Mr Buzzacott was obvious. continue to do so.”
The multi-billion dollar global resource company has been the target of a series of attacks claiming its operations are in violation of environmental protection and Aboriginal heritage legislation. The AGM was attended by respected Arabunna Elder Kevin Buzzacott, who waited three hours for his chance to voice his opinion at the meeting. Mr Buzzacott addressed the board of BHP Billiton, claiming the company “bought a bad investment” in the Olympic Dam mine, stating it “should be listening to us (the aboriginal community) about this land and the water.” “You didn’t ask us, you didn’t consult with us. In the past I’ve told WMC that we didn’t want them to continue mining,” said Mr Buzzacott. Mr Buzzacott, who was supported by 100 protesters outside the meeting’s venue, claimed they did not want the proposed expansion to proceed, pleading to the company and shareholders to prevent the development. “Is it possible to close down the Olympic Dam Uranium mine immediately, and if not immediately when is the soonest time possible that you can shut this mine down? Can you shareholders make a decision in this meeting right now to close down the Olympic
Roxby Hour
“We appreciate your perspective but we are unable to agree to your request…” said BHP Chief Executive Marius Kloppers. Mr Buzzacott’s statements arise not only from the alleged impact the mine is having on Aboriginal communities but also from the regulatory standards the company has been able to avoid. Western Mining Corporation, the original developers of the mine, applied for an indenture agreement from the government in 1982 to be exempt from Aboriginal heritage legislation in South Australian and the Roxby Downs Indenture Ratification Act was passed by the government. According to Friends of the Earth national nuclear campaigner Dr Jim Green, the Indenture Act allows the mine to decide the level of protection that Aboriginal heritage sites receive and which sites are recognised. “The company operates the Olympic Dam uranium/copper mine in SA under an outdated Indenture Act which exempts the mine from key environmental and Aboriginal heritage laws that apply everywhere else in SA,” said Dr Green. Many Aboriginal activist, such as Jillian Marsh, believe BHP Billiton has ignored indigenous opinions and rights, claiming they have been discriminated against and been left with no power to
Glass Jewellers
Mr Kloppers ratified the statement at Thursday’s AGM. “We have an agreement with main aboriginal groups affected by the mine,” he said. The indenture agreement exempting the company from aspects of heritage legislation was inherited by BHP Billiton after its takeover of WMC in 2005. Mr Yeeles stated to The Monitor: “No agreement to exempt Olympic Dam from heritage legislation has been sought by BHP Billiton or passed by The SA Parliament. Olympic Dam complies with all applicable heritage legislation.” Dr Green, however, does not accept this as an appropriate excuse. “Ironically, BHP Billiton has provided over $2 million to Reconciliation Australia, yet will not relinquish its exemptions from the Aboriginal Heritage Act. The company’s attitude appears to be ‘do as I say not as I do’,” he said. Mr Kloppers said at the AGM the company would not relinquish the legal privileges provided by the agreement. “The proposed expansion of the mine requires the certainty that only an Indenture Act can provide.”