Rio Tinto teams up with Arnhem communities
Natasha Robinson & Matt Chambers; 24/7/08
One of the most bitter chapters in the life of Arnhem Land leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu was belatedly sweetened yesterday as mining company Rio Tinto promised to join hands with northeast Arnhem Land communities to drive economic development. As Kevin Rudd flagged a referendum on the constitutional recognition of indigenous people, another deal that hopefully will propel remote Arnhem Land communities into the real economy was being negotiated in thebackground. Rio Tinto, the owner of a bauxite mine and alumina refinery at Nhulunbuy, has pledged to help drive economic development in a deal that will help heal decades of resentment felt by Yolngu leaders over a federal government decision in 1963 to excise Crown land for the mine. The creation of the bauxite mine, originally owned by Nabalco, then by Alcan, and now by Rio Tinto, which acquired Alcan late last year, was the catalyst for the land rights movement in the Northern Territory after indigenous leaders challenged the government’s unilateral decision to excise the land.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24068146-5013172,00.html
Tags: Aboriginal, Australia, Mining, Trade