AURUKUN RIOTS CAUSED BY SECRET DEAL
In reguards to the recent riots today in Aurukun one important factor has failed to be mentioned in media reports. A recent deal has been made to open a massive baxite mine in the community with the Chinese company Chalco. All this has caused immense community uproar as only one small family secretly signed for the deal in a community of over 1200. Riots. We'll it's simple to see the community opposition to whats really going on there.
"This latest incident on Aurukun is a direct result of this, because Aboriginal people feel they have no voice in government, they have no power, no capacity to attract government attention unless they do take direct action."
Queensland Police Minister Judy Spence says she is planning to permanently increase officer numbers in the Cape York community of Aurukun in the state's far north.
Ms Spence says between 100 and 200 people were involved in a riot in the community last night, thought to have been started by a dispute between family groups.
Extra police were flown into the community at about midnight AEST, but no one has been arrested as investigations continue this morning.
Ms Spence says a bigger police presence is needed permanently in the community.
"We acknowledge we need to increase the police presence at Aurukun," she said.
"It has an approved strength of eight police and we've already approved an additional two police there, so it's just a matter of getting the housing sorted out before we can send more police to that community
http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/20/2038441.htm?section=australia
more Racist Spin:
Twenty arrested after north Qld riot
http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Twenty-arrested-after-north-Qld-riot/2007/09/20/1189881631260.html
2 comments:
Govt to grant mining license to Chalco
http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Govt-to-grant-mining-licence-to-Chalco/2007/09/10/1189276588350.html
Qld govt grants mining licence for bauxite project
Tuesday, 11 September 2007 9:11:20 AM
BRISBANE, September 11, 2007: The Queensland government has granted a mining development licence to Chinese company Chalco, the preferred developer of a $3 billion bauxite project in the state's far north.
The Aurukun Bauxite Project on the west of Cape York is hailed as the largest single foreign investment in Queensland's history.
The licence will allow the Aluminium Corporation of China Limited (Chalco) to start a $40 million feasibility study into a proposed mine, processing plant and port facility.
The proposal also includes a $2.2 billion alumina refinery at either Gladstone, Bowen or Townsville, on the Queensland coast.
The project is expected to create 2,300 jobs during its three-year construction, and more than 600 permanent jobs.
Chalco's Beijing-based chief executive and chairman Xiao Yaqing and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson signed the agreement in Brisbane this afternoon.
Mr Wilson said the feasibility study would include mining investigations, geotechnical and engineering studies.
"Before any mining can occur, Chalco has to be granted a mining lease over the bauxite deposits," he said.
"This also requires consent from the Wik and Wik Way people and the Aurukun Shire Council."
The mine and plant could produce more than six million tonnes of bauxite per year, while the refinery annually could produce more than two million tonnes of alumina. -AAP
For more information, please see the related links.
Related Links
http://www.nit.com.au/News/story.aspx?id=12327
http://www.nit.com.au/News/story.aspx?id=11367
http://www.nit.com.au/BreakingNews/story.aspx?id=10142
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