Dharriwaa Elders Group

Ms LEE RHIANNON [5.17 p.m.]: I recently visited Walgett as guest of the Dharriwaa Elders Group. I thank the elders and Wendy Spencer, the group's project manager, for their hospitality. I appreciated the opportunity to spend the day with a number of the elders, who shared with me their vision for their land and people. Tim Creighton, one of my tour guides, was from the Gamilaraay land. Tim worked in shearing sheds when he was young and later managed Kirinari Hostel. Tim's passion is education. Lewis Beale, also from the Gamilaraay land, grew up in the Namoi Reserve and worked on Walma Station for 29 years as a houseboy, roustabout and then cook.

George Roase, OAM, whom I also had the pleasure to meet, was from the Uywaalaraay land. George was a roustabout, horsebreaker and cane cutter before joining the army in 1946. George founded the Dharriwaa Elders Group. George celebrated this year's Anzac Day with 400 miners at the war memorial constructed on the opal fields outside Walgett. He made that choice as he does not feel welcome at the Walgett RSL. That miner's war memorial could well be unique in Australia: it bears a plaque that reads, "Dedicated to all Australian Aboriginals who served their country in time of war 1914." I congratulate all those responsible for that moving war memorial.

Over the day I was able to discuss a range of issues including justice, policing and education. The health of local Aboriginal people was a top concern. That is understandable as there are no paediatricians, obstetricians, or postnatal services. The elders are keen to have fluoride in their water supply. Virginia Robinson told me most passionately, "We cannot fix our health problems without a proper diet." She explained that most Aborigines in the region live off processed food, meat, bread, sugar and tea. Fresh vegetables and fruit rarely figure in their diet. The cost is prohibitive for most locals but there is a solution. Virginia is very keen to establish a community garden where local Aborigines could work, benefiting the community, particularly young people, by providing a regular supply of fresh food.

A highlight of my visit was a tour of the opal fields, including the Sheepyards Opal Field. What I saw gave me a real feel for the impact of opal mining: cowboy mining territory with one-man mining outfits setting up camp to drill for opals. I was told visits from mining inspectors are a rare event and when they happen it is pretty much a "drive through"—a wave-at-the-miner's type affair. Little enforcement of mining and environmental regulations is occurring. Danny Hatcher, President of the Lightening Ridge Miners' Association, has spoken to me about the miners' commitment to rehabilitation. However, what I observed suggested little rehabilitation is being achieved.

I also had a look at one of the massive tailings dumps on the opal fields. Here locals looking for a spare dollar "noodle", or sift, the tailings in search of a few extra dollars. While opal miners conduct their trade often beyond the reach of mining inspectors, I was told that in the not so recent past the mining association requested local police to do what was effectively a raid on the noodlers to stop this practice. That reminds me of the double standards applied to white collar and blue collar crime.

The elders are particularly concerned about the proposed expansion of opal mining into the area called OPA4, which covers approximately 1,600 square kilometres of land. In OPA1-3 the reduction of native groundcover species and the degradation of vegetation has been witnessed. The clearing of native vegetation has a significant impact on flora and fauna, particularly threatened species.

Considerable air quality issues also are associated with opal mining, with dust generation from mining and emissions from petrol and diesel powered plant and equipment. A visit to the existing mining sites shows that the complete or even partial regeneration of the land is a pipedream, despite the reassurances of mining Minister Ian Macdonald. I again acknowledge the comments of Danny Hatcher, President of the Lightning Ridge Miners Association. At the moment they are only words, because the achievements are minimal. The position of the elders is that a push into OPA4 before OPA3 is properly mined and fully rehabilitated is inappropriate and highly undesirable. I was honoured to visit the Narran Lake Nature Reserve, which is closed to the general public but the elders are able to go there. The lake is an important waterbird breeding ground and habitat. The area is a significant cultural site with middens and Aboriginal archaeological remains. It is also the site of local creation stories. Talking to the elders on this site one gets a real sense of the deep significance of this land and adjoining land to their community and why they are so deeply disturbed about the thrashing it receives from opal mining operations. Once again, I thank the Dharriwaa Elders Group for showing me their country and explaining their concerns. The Greens will continue to work with them to fight the important battles they face.