The traditional land owners of Lawn Hill, the Waanyi People, will be hosting a sit in on the property on Thursday as it protests what it calls “serious financial concerns” with the Lawn Hill Riversleigh Pastoral Holding Company.
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The LHRPHC was a creation of the 1997 Gulf Communities Agreement which planned a progressive transfer of ownership of shares in LHRPHC to the Traditional Owners - the Waanyi People.
At the time of signing, the lucrative 539,000 hectare pastoral properties to be operated by LHRPHC held significant growth and development potential.
Ownership of the LHRPHC is currently split between mining company New Century Resources (49%) and Waanyi Advancement Limited (51%) in accordance with the GCA, with New Century Resources entitled to four board positions and WAL entitled to five.
However the Waanyi People, led by Waanyi PBC Chairman Alec Doomadgee, say they have serious concerns about WAL and LHRPHC over matters of financial probity and will protest on the property with a sit-in on Thursday.
Murrandoo Yanner, Gangalidda and Garawa PBC Chairman and Carpentaria Land Council director, is also lending his support at the protest.
They say the LHRPHC is not providing financial records to Waanyi People despite ongoing and repeated attempts to obtain this information, nor it is allowing open membership for all Waanyi as stipulated by the Gulf Communities Agreement.
“Despite ongoing and repeated attempts by Waanyi People, membership records have not been provided and legitimate membership applications have been ignored or denied,” Mr Doomadgee said.
Mr Doomadgee said they believed LHRPHC generates a significant profit each year although, as there are no financial records available, it is impossible to determine accurate amounts
“Requests for evidence that profits have been directed for the benefit of the wider Waanyi People have not been answered,” he said.
“There is a lack of transparency surrounding the running of LHRPHC and WAL, which has badly damaged credibility and relationships with the Waanyi People and community. Issues of accountability raised by Waanyi People have not been responded to or addressed.”
He said the Waanyi People wanted the remaining 49% ownership of the LHRPHC transferred to them, but they need to have confidence that 100% ownership will come with transparency, accountability and in a way that ensures that the Waanyi People generally benefit from the operation of the pastoral properties on their country.
A spokesperson for New Century Resources said they supported the Waanyi position but they were a minority shareholder in the deal.
The North West Star left a message for Lawn Hill and Riversleigh Pastoral Holding Company secretary Kathy Willetts on Tuesday but she has not yet returned our call.