I rise tonight to speak about the imminent threat posed to a unique part of Australia. It is a stretch of the pristine Kimberley coastline, which tells the story of our planet and our country from 130 million years ago. It has a record of our planet that was formed at a time when Australia, Antarctica and New Zealand formed a single land mass.
The Australian Greens have called for the police and WA Government to respect the right of people to peacefully protest Woodside’s actions at James Price Point.
“Community members, including Goolarabooloo people are today protesting against the transportation of drilling equipment set to undertake destructive work at James Price Point,” Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said.
Leader of the Australian Greens, Senator Christine Milne and Greens spokesperson for the Kimberley, Senator Rachel Siewert, visited James Price Point yesterday. Today they will be aboard the Sea Shepherd's flagship vessel, the Steve Irwin, to see the whale nursery under threat from the Woodside gas hub development.
"This amazing place is a clear example of how fixation on short term gas profits can do huge damage to people and communities' interests into the future," Senator Christine Milne said.
The Australian Greens have welcomed the Prime Minister's visit to the Kimberley, and encourage her to take time to visit the James Price Point site, see the dinosaur footprints and meet with the Traditional Owners before she leaves.
Senator Siewert, Australian Greens Spokesperson for the Kimberley said today, "It is great to see that the Prime Minister has been able to take time to visit one of the most precious places in Australia but I hope she is aware of the significant threat of industrialisation that this region faces.
The Australian Greens said today that 60% of Australians do not support the processing of gas in the Kimberley.
Speaking today at the announcement of the Sea Shepherd’s visit to Broome and the Kimberley Senator Rachel Siewert, said polling release today made it clear that Australians say ‘No’ to the development of a gas hub in the Kimberley. Australian Greens spokesperson on the Kimberley, Rachel Siewert said the planned industrialisation of James Price Point is rightly attracting nation-wide and international attention.
The Australian Greens have today condemned the release of the EPA’s Report and Recommendations on the proposal to locate the Browse Basin Gas Hub at James Price Point in the Kimberley saying environmental assessment has reached a new low point in WA.
Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert says a report published by Palaeontologist Tony Thulborn further highlights how inappropriate James Price Point is as a site for a gas hub.
“This report underscores the fact that this area is important for a great number of reasons, and shouldn’t be destroyed by industrialisation,” Senator Siewert said today.
“I am very concerned that not enough attention has been paid to the value of this site.