_________________________________________________________________________________________
Kimberley Land Council
MEDIA RELEASE
Embargoed Wednesday 10 February 2010
Kimberley Traditional Owners Protest Outside Sydney Book Launch Today
Traditional Owners from the Jabirr Jabirr people in the Kimberley will today protest outside the launch
of a book that misrepresents their views on the proposed LNG gas hub at James Price Point.
The book, Kimberley at the Crossroads: The case against the gas plant, by retired Judge Murray
Wilcox, parrots the lines of Save The Kimberley, formed by a group of local tourist operators and East
Coast environmentalists, who are ignoring the wishes of Traditional Owners.
The true Traditional Owners of James Price Point - the Jabirr Jabirr people - will protest
against Murray Wilcox outside the launch of the former judge’s booklet at the National Centre
of Indigenous Excellence on 180 George Street Redfern today. Traditional Owners will be
available at a doorstop interview at 10.45am.
Mr Wilcox’s and Save The Kimberley’s anti-development stance has disappointed Traditional Owners
who are concerned the well-respected judge has ignored the land rights of Indigenous people across
the Kimberley.
Last year Traditional Owners gave in-principle support for the proposed development, subject to
obtaining environmental and other approvals.
Kimberley Traditional Owner Frank Parriman , who is hopeful the proposed LNG development will
bring ongoing economic opportunities to local Indigenous people and provide net environmental
benefits, said he was disappointed with the former judge’s decision to turn his back on the land rights
of local Indigenous people.
“Judge Wilcox has turned his back on our land rights and he has turned his back on our rights to the
economic and other opportunities development could bring, opportunities like housing, jobs, training
and education,” Mr Parriman said.
“Traditional Owners are upset that such a high profile and highly respected former judge would take
such an anti-development, anti-aboriginal stance on Aboriginal land without consulting us.”
Traditional Owners in the region, have been negotiating with the WA State Government, the Federal
Government and resources company Woodside over an economic package that delivers benefits for
local Indigenous people over the life of the project, including protecting environmental and heritage
values in substantial parts of the region.
The true Traditional Owners of James Price Point - the Jabirr Jabirr people - will protest against
Murray Wilcox outside the launch of the former judge’s booklet at the National Centre of Indigenous
Excellence on 180 George Street Redfern today. Traditional Owners will be available at a doorstop
interview at 10.45am.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
For more information or to organise an interview with Mr Parriman please call Tim Fitzsimmons (EMC)
on 0423 375 522.
NEWS 
