Brian Palmer Shares His Thoughts and Thanks.

Two days ago our Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt’s removed all Australian Government obstructions to the Adani Carmichael mine. Minister Hunt has claimed that this decision comes with the strictest conditions yet seen in Australian mining history. The Adani Carmichael mine is a massive project. The environmental impact on the world with the release of carbon dioxide, from the burning of coal into the atmosphere, can’t help but have an impact on our shared climate. There are also financial arguments as to whether the Adani Carmichael Mine is financially viable. However this is not the only contentious issue. The Adani Carmichael mine will have ecological impacts of significance to the Wangan and the Jagalingou First Nation Peoples. It will forever destroy Wangan and Jagalingou places of spiritual and cultural significance for which all First Nation People feel a sacred duty to maintain and preserve. I am of joint heritage. I am Anglo European and I am of the Wiadjuri people. As a child, I grew up on our small family property in NSW amongst our First Peoples artifacts laying in a sacred place of rest, a place of nurturing for the Darug People. There are plantings of Geebung trees, a small spring feed tributary and many indigenous native grasses and plants, a forty ft cliff and a creek where the platypus play. It is a haven for echidna, wombat, black swamp wallaby, ring tail and brush tail possums.The Eastern Grey Kangaroo’s, the Kookaburra, Barking owl, Powerful Owl and the noisy rainbow lorikeets are frequent visitors. For my family it has always been a sacred place. A place which has been lovingly protected for five generations. There is a certain small area of particular spiritual significance, where I, by myself from early childhood to now, seek refuge and peace. This special place is essential to my well being. If this place is so significant to me, a person of joint heritage, then how much more important is the land and water to the Wangan and Jagalingou. A First Nation Peoples who have a single direct lineage where their cultural heritage their Dreaming has been practiced for over 60,000 years. To prove ownership of land in our Australian Legal system First Nation Peoples have to establish Native Title. Native title is a property right which reflects a relationship to land which is the very foundation of Indigenous religion, culture and well-being. The non-discriminatory protection of native title is a recognised human right. Australian Human Rights commission. First Nation Peoples inhabit the land. The earth, water, air, plants and animals are all intertwined with their spiritual connection to their home. Marc Bridgman in explaining the significance of a painting his wife had just finished says “my wife for father was hold dreaming she paint. Wife oldest child now she hold dreaming she paint, small place for three rockhole, wife only people can paint until she learn someone for song and right way paint.” ........ “Tell you friend wife is Elder paint and Elder for dreaming.” There is this place downstream from us, it is called rocky waterhole. It is so spiritual, there is this big rock waterhole and on the upstream end is a series of dug pot holes and places where the Darug People sharpened their tools and spears. It was a major treat going on a bush walk with dad there when I was 5 - 12. In my teens I used to go there sometimes on my own. What Marc Bridgman wrote reminded of me this place, of my own connection to my land. Western Law and First People Lore are very different to each other. Western culture and First Nation Peoples culture differs significantly. While western law relies on religion and the crown First Nation Peoples Lore relies on the land and spirituality. For Western people the land is something you possess for First nation Peoples the land owns you and is sacred. Western religion is centered on the one God and salvation, which is separate from the world. First Nation Peoples Spiritual beliefs are based in the land, water, animals and plants all of which is inclusive and integral to their very life and continual existence. Would a CSG well, a uranium waste site or the Adani Carmichael Mine be allowed in the car park of the Hillsong church or Vatican Square? Of course not it would be dangerous, inconvenient and I think very disrespectful to those who attend such places to practice their beliefs. Why then are these things considered to be perfectly reasonable on our First Nation Peoples Land. Why then do the laws we have allow the rights of our First Nation Peoples to be disregarded, trampled on and in many cases completely removed. For example: The wording of the native title act uses the word religion. This enables Western law to apply its own concept of ritual communion to First Nation Peoples spirituality. By doing so Australian law can and has been manipulated, an example of this exists in Western Australia, where our First Nation Peoples have been denied ownership and control of their sacred sites. Many have commented here that the current laws are enough and there needs to be no further streamlining. If we are applying the standards of Western Law I agree. I think they could be improved in many areas. I also believe the current laws and the National Native Title Tribunal are heavily stacked against First People and are hopelessly inadequate with regard to provisions for royalty, compensation and land restoration of First Nation Peoples ancestral Lands. A project like the Adani Carmichael Mine will completely ruin the land of the Wangan and Jagalingou and destroy the cultural and spiritual connection they have to their land. It can’t help but have a negative effect on Wangan and Jagalingou identity and well-being forever. There are fundamental rights all Australians should be able to participate in. One is the right to express your spirituality, in a Church, Mosque or any other gathering place where spiritual beliefs are taught and practiced. Our First Peoples Ancestral Lands have a sacred and spiritual meaning to them and should be respected. I want to emphasise the implicit dangers of this Federal Government’s One Stop Shop, Early Engage Draft Policy package. It favours the interests of big business. It will help to bypass or do away with whatever current existing protections First Nation Peoples have. The early Engage Draft Policy does nothing to address the crippling poverty that our First Nation Peoples communities are experiencing. In fact it exploits them further deepening their suffering and disadvantage.In fact it exploits them making their plight worse. I truly thank all of you who have signed this petition your heartfelt comments are greatly appreciated you are welcome to friend me on Facebook if you wish. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007387275170&fref=ts Below are some links that I hope will give a clearer picture of the many legal hurdles First People have to deal with just so they can exist by Australian Law and rightfully maintain their significance, spirituality and lifestyle. http://www.nntt.gov.au/searchRegApps/FutureActs/FA%20Determination%20Documents/QLD/FutureActsDeterminations/2015/April/QF2014_0003-0004%2008042015%20%282%29.pdf http://wanganjagalingou.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Submission-to-the-Special-Rapporteur-on-Indigenous-Peoples-by-the-Wangan-and-Jagalingou-People-2-Oct-2015.pdf