Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Then that is what you do as the Greens.

But I will share some other words. I will quote from a speech by Mr Bergmann to the National Press Club on 27 June 2012. I know I do not have much time, but I need to get these words out. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Wayne's speech. He talked about having a gas hub in the Kimberley and the tough times that the traditional owners went through. He also said:

These were some of the darkest and toughest days, trying to place traditional owners in the strongest position.

At the time I was proud to have stood with the environmental alliance.

The Kimberley Land Council and TOs negotiated an Act of Parliament to stop any further LNG development on the Kimberley Coast and to limit industrial activity associated with gas processing.

He then went on to say:

We—

the traditional owners and the Kimberley Land Council as well—

negotiated a regional benefits package for the benefit of all Kimberley Aboriginal people, and compensation for traditional owners.

We supported National Heritage Listing over a large part of the Kimberley.

Yet most of the environmental groups turned against us.

These groups could have assisted us in enforcing the highest environmental standards in order to minimize the impact of the development.

But they turned their backs on us.

They have deliberately ignored the way in which Kimberley Traditional owners have worked to protect the Kimberley Coast.

He also said:

We have stood side-by-side with environmental groups to minimize the impact of gas development in the Kimberley. But what have they delivered in return? Nothing.

They have no interest in the need of Kimberley Aboriginal people to build a strong culture and a strong economic future.

In fact in some cases they have involved themselves in the politics between indigenous groups and families, and encouraged and promoted division, disempowering traditional owners.

I would love to read more of Mr Bergmann's speech.

I hear from Senator Siewert words about empowering people. I agree wholeheartedly. I also heard Senator Siewert use terms such as 'strong community'—agree. 'Leadership'—absolutely side-by-side with you on that one. 'Cultural strength'—who am I to argue? And guess what else I heard. 'Consultation'. So I say on that: unfortunately, the politics come into play here. But I would strongly suggest that, when we get lectured to by the Greens about the benefits of Closing the Gap, we could do a lot more but we do not need to be misled. We do not need this misinformation. This is politics in its purest form. Talking about purity: the Greens' purity sometimes just leaves me absolutely gobsmacked. (Time expired)