BHP Iron Ore president Jimmy Wilson said that the goal was to move away from a transaction-based approach to open dialogue and develop ongoing relationships with indigenous communities.
“With a life of more than 100 years, it provides long-term security for both BHP Billiton…and the Banjima people with regards to how we treat their land,” he said.
Banjima Native Title Aboriginal Corporation chairperson Slim Barkernoted that the deal would enable the sustainability of Banjima law and culture for generations.
“Change is the name of the game if we the Banjima people are to build prosperity through self-determination,” he said.
The deal took five years to negotiate, and is expected to help fund programs like the Healthy Country Living Plan and Ranger Training Program.
A key ingredient of the agreement would be to provide frameworks for employing locals and protecting heritage sites, though specific details of the deal are not yet available.
The Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation was involved in helping the Banjima people negotiate with BHP, and its CEO Simon Hawkins says mining and traditional landowners “can co-exist if parties are willing to listen and work co-operatively.”
YMAC has been involved in assisting the Banjima people navigate their native title claim which has been before the courts since 1998, and after a series of appeals by the state government threatened to derail the case, the Banjima were successful in settling their negotiations with BHP.
