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The Story

June 2016, Darwin: The government pitches its new policy on developing Northern Australia to an audience of prospective investors. “Gas, food and agriculture are the big ticket items,” they say, describing the north as “the future economic powerhouse of Australia.” A business tycoon skypes in a keynote address from one of their recently acquired cattle stations. “We are on the verge of an exciting time in agriculture, with all indicators spelling a bright future,” she says. “Cattle prices are strong, and overseas demand is growing strongly as Asia’s middle class continues to expand to an estimated 30 million people by 2030.” The Kimberley region of North Western Australia covers an area of 420,000 km2 and is recognised as one of the world’s most ecologically diverse areas, with one of the last pristine coastlines left on Earth. 75 per cent of long-term residents are Indigenous, from 34 different language groups. Approximately half live in 200 remote Aboriginal communities varying in size from 20 to 900 people. 94 per cent of the Kimberley landmass is subject to an Indigenous Native Title claim or determination, the greatest of any region in Australia. Up the Dampier Peninsula in Nyul Nyul territory, young community leader Albert Wiggan goes about life as an Indigenous ranger caring for Country. Having come an inch away from having the world’s largest LNG gas hub built in his backyard at the sacred James Price Point, the former activist now takes a hands-on approach to land management, vetting development proposals on his Country as the leading expert on the endangered bilby species in the region. Finding unauthorised workers taking samples on his Country, Albert makes contact with the mining company and secures the contract for bilby conservation on their mineral sands mine down the road. However as Albert learns the location of the mine site is to be Mt Jowlaenga, a cultural crossroads for the most significant songline connecting his mob from the desert to his family by the sea, he begins to have serious concerns. As the company begins to recruit friends and family with the lure of royalties, Albert sees that this development is becoming “JPP all over again, but more strategic this time.” But will it be effective to pick up the placards once again, or will Albert provide greater resistance from the inside? 6 Over the Napier Ranges in Bunuba Country, cattleman Kevin Oscar contemplates the fate of his family’s Leopold Downs station, on the brink of insolvency after a period of mismanagement by corrupt east-coast contractors. While Kevin has the gear, the expertise, and a family unit of highly-trained boys ready to go, he lacks the capital to approach banks for a business loan ahead of the muster. With mining down and beef prices up, a Pilbara-based mining company is diversifying into cattle and joining the billionaires thronging to the Kimberley – but with the unique offer of joint venture deals with Aboriginal-owned stations. Leopold Downs is on board and the Oscars are thrilled to be back working their Country in what is looking to be a bumper season. However two weeks out from the muster, the company’s front-man is nowhere to be seen. Rumours begin to reach Kevin of a deal gone sour up Gibb River Road between this company and the Ngarinyin people, which led to people being forcibly removed from the community. With the debt default deadline looming, will Bunuba be able to save their last asset? Over at a cattle station on Gooniyandi Country, Senior Elder June Davis looks longingly over the fence to her traditional homelands. She tells the story of how her ancestors built the old homestead as slaves, making each brick by hand using mud from the Fitzroy River. A successful Native Title determination for the Gooniyandi people gives June access to her Country for fishing, hunting and camping, but only with prior permission from the pastoralists. While June tries to make an appointment with one of the region’s billionaire investors, her ancestors’ sacred site is bulldozed to make way for a new airstrip. Meanwhile June can’t help but wonder if this billionaire’s interests in her land really are limited to what’s above the ground. Or do they extend to the rich coal, natural gas and uranium deposits below the surface? UNDERMINED investigates the politics of a vast and as-yet unspoiled area now under threat from mining, pastoralism and other large-scale development interests, with the backing of both state and federal governments. With the highest percentage of Aboriginal people living on Country in Australia, what will this mean for the Kimberley’s custodians, lands and cultures? Will they survive the economic pressures forced upon them?