The Victorian Government is locking Traditional Owner groups out of mining happening on their Country by rushing project approvals and delaying promised agreement-making and benefit-sharing legislation, says the statewide body advocating for Traditional Owner groups’ rights and interests.
The Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations calls on the Victorian Government to swiftly implement legislation to involve Traditional Owner groups in the planning and equitable benefit-sharing of critical minerals mining, appropriately resource this involvement, and immediately cease approving projects until this legislation is in force, or risk losing trust with Traditional Owner groups, who already bear the brunt of centuries of uncompensated mining on their Country.
The Government has still not introduced to Parliament legislation that would provide for Traditional Owner groups’ involvement in new critical minerals mining activity on their Country – yet has already greenlit what will be the world’s fourth-largest rare earth mine, which Federation interim CEO Kaley Nicholson described as unacceptable.
“Why has the Government already signed off on mines when it’s still figuring out how to properly compensate Traditional Owners for the damage mining makes to Country?” said Ms Nicholson.
“The Victorian Government agreed to do the right thing and work alongside Traditional Owners to ensure mining for critical minerals on-Country would happen in the right way, with our involvement, and with fair compensation for damaged Country. But now, we’ve got two levels of Labor Government moving heaven and earth to allow Americans to dig up Country, before Traditional Owners have had the chance to come to the table. It’s not good enough. It’s disingenuous, and goes against their word: that the renewable energy transition would happen in the right way.”
Ms Nicholson likened critical minerals mining to the gold-mining that enriched Victoria at Traditional Owners’ expense: Yoorrook Justice Commission heard the state has collected $287.4 billion in gold royalties since 1851, with no royalties or revenue distributed to Traditional Owner groups.
“Generations of Victorians have seen firsthand how old mining turned Country upside down, yet Traditional Owners didn’t see a single dollar in gold-rush wealth. The Victorian Government admitted that wasn’t right, but what faith do we have that the mistakes of the past won’t be repeated today?”
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About the Federation
The Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations is the Victorian state-wide body that convenes and advocates for the rights of Traditional Owners while progressing wider social, economic, environmental and cultural objectives. It was established in 2013 by Traditional Owner Corporations who recognised they could be stronger together in advancing shared interests in policy, economic opportunity and caring for Country.
Media enquiries – Sophie Raynor, 0434 578 933 or [email protected]
