The federal government will not block a controversial $4.5 billion fertiliser plant in northern Western Australia, despite concerns for Aboriginal heritage in the area.
Perdaman's fertiliser plant on the Burrup Peninsula, near the Pilbara town of Karratha, attracted criticism from some traditional owners in the Save Our Songlines group, who said the proposal would affect multiple heritage sites.
They applied for an intervention by Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek under section 9 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act, but Ms Plibersek today announced she would not prevent the plant from progressing.
Ms Plibersek said the plan was supported by the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation (MAC), which she said represented the views of most traditional owners in the area and that MAC had made agreements on the cultural treatment of the sites with Perdaman.
"I have taken time to seriously consider this decision," she said.
"I have visited the sites in question and met with all parties involved in, and directly affected by, my decision.
"I have decided not to make a Section 9 declaration.
"After visiting the sites and meeting with stakeholders, I recognise MAC and their Circle of Elders as the most representative organisation on cultural knowledge for the five Traditional Owner groups in the region."
Indigenous heritage at risk
The application referred to four recorded heritage sites and one unrecorded site within the location of the proposed plant, which would require three of the sites to be moved during construction.
In a joint statement, Save Our Songlines spokespeople Raelene Cooper and Josie Alec questioned Ms Plibersek's decision.
"This is a very disappointing decision by a Minister who clearly hasn't done her homework," they said.
"If she had read through all the documents provided as part of the Section 9 process she would not have made this decision, which is based on faulty reasoning and false conclusions."
The Mardudhunera women compared the decision to the Juukan Gorge scandal, where Rio Tinto destroyed ancient rock shelters without the permission of traditional owners.
They said MAC did not represent all custodians and claimed up to 20 sites were at risk.
"The Minister suggests the MAC is legally constituted to speak for traditional custodians, but its own members and elders say they are gagged and cannot oppose or object to projects," they said.
"Mardudhunera women are not represented on the Circle of Elders despite being one of the five language groups."
Traditional owners at odds
In a statement, MAC chief executive Peter Jeffries acknowledged the decision. He said the corporation had no role in the approval other than to make recommendations on heritage or cultural values that could be impacted by the proposed works.
Ms Plibersek conceded some traditional owners may hold different views on the issue.
She visited the Pilbara last week to meet the parties involved and consult with them on her decision.
The Burrup Peninsula is highly industrialised and is home to massive gas operations owned by resources giant Woodside.
The area, known as Murujuga by the local Aboriginal people, is also home to the largest and oldest collection of rock carvings in the world.
Perdaman has been contacted for comment.
