Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Spreading the Success?
As in other parts of Australia, Aboriginal communities in WA struggle on, many mired in
disadvantage, and a form of unspoken segregation between white Australians and Abori-
ginal Australians appears to exist.
Divisions persist, but the search for petroleum and gas has brought mining companies
and Aboriginal groups to the negotiating table in deals brokered, both successfully and
unsuccessfully, for mining companies to set up shop on traditional Aboriginal lands.
In the far north region of the Kimberley, one of the biggest planned developments is a
$35-billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project at James Price Point near Broome. Fol-
lowing the striking of a $1.5-billion compensation deal with the Kimberley Land Council
(KLC) - representing members of the local Aboriginal Goolarabooloo and Jabirr Jabirr
peoples - other members of the Goolarabooloo people have lodged a claim with the
Western Australia Supreme Court to overturn the state government's compulsory acquisi-
tion of the site. Opponents of the acquisition contend that the KLC was placed under 'im-
proper pressure' by the state government, and the ongoing legal machinations are power-
ful proof that negotiations between traditional Aboriginal landowners, the government and
resource companies are seldom straightforward.
The rise of Indigenous recruitment agencies has increased the number of Aboriginal
workers in the resources sector. The mine owners benefit from a reduced need for costly
FIFO workers, and the local Aboriginal population benefits from education and employ-
ment opportunities.
Football Crazy
Western Australia has two teams in the AFL: the Fremantle Dockers and the West Coast
Eagles. The Dockers ( often just 'Freo') were only founded in 1995 but have already built
a very strong following. They've traditionally enjoyed a working-class underdog image,
but with another strong finals showing in 2012, the underdog moniker is starting to look
slightly out of date. With key players like skipper Matthew Pavlich, an AFL premiership
crown can't be too far away. Watch this space.
Founded in 1986, the West Coast Eagles currently play at Subiaco Oval (aka Patersons
Stadium), but when - or maybe if - a new stadium is built across the river at Burswood,
they'll be moving there for the 2018 season. Like expansion teams in other codes - come
on down, the Melbourne Storm NRL team - they've enjoyed considerable success in their
