NATIVE TITLE —
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP
1354. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Minister for Environment:
I
refer to ministerial statement 1108, specifically condition 14–2, which
describes the responsibilities of Fortescue Metals Group, the proponent,
to the native title holders, the Eastern Guruma people, and their chosen
representatives.
(1) Does the
minister consider that condition 14–2 of ministerial statement 1108 to
be binding on FMG?
(2) Who within
the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is responsible for
approving the social, cultural and heritage management plan?
(3) Is the
minister aware that the proponent did not consult with the native title holders
prior to the submission of the social, cultural and heritage management plan on
22 October?
(4) Will the
minister provide details of the consultations, if any, that Fortescue Metals
Group claim it undertook with the native title holders before 22 October 2019?
(5) Does the
minister consider this action by FMG to be in violation of ministerial
statement 1108 and the incumbent responsibilities of the proponent to the
native title holder detailed within condition 14–2?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) Yes.
(2) It is the
director general of the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation or
their delegate.
(3)–(5) I
am advised by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation that it
received a social, cultural and heritage
management plan on 21 October 2019 that includes details of consultation
undertaken between FMG and representatives of the native title holders.
At this stage, the SCHMP is currently being reviewed by the department to determine whether it adequately meets the
requirements of ministerial statement 1108.