Darebin Greens call on Ferguson to explain Kimberley decision

The Darebin Greens are deeply concerned about the recent exposure, in the Wikileaks release of US diplomatic cables, of Martin Ferguson's involvement in the environmental destruction of the Kimberley coastline at James Price Point or Walmadan.

According to the Age, Mr Ferguson ignored less envionmentally damaging alternatives, such as the offshore LNG processing plant proposed by Shell corporation, in favour of consortium leader Woodside Petroleum's bid to develop the onshore Kimberley LNG precinct also favoured by WA Premier Colin Barnett, who has described the coastline, which features dinosaur imprints, as 'unremarkable'.

The Darebin Greens are deeply concerned for the welfare and rights of Traditional Owners of Walmadan (James Price Point), including those who now reside in Ferguson's seat of Batman, on the far side of the country. 

We have drawn up a sample letter and are encouraging Batman residents to sign this: 

 

Dear Mr Ferguson,

I write to inform you of my objection to your involvement in the destruction of the Kimberley coastline at Walmadan/James Price Point.   

I was disturbed to read that in your support of Woodside Petroleum’s bid to develop the onshore Kimberley LNG precinct, through your actions as Minister, you apparently effectively forced Woodside’s partner corporations into this option against their better judgment, while ignoring other, less environmentally damaging alternatives, such as the offshore processing plant proposed by Shell corporation.   

As a constituent in the seat of Batman, I wish to know why you chose to support the Woodside bid and prevented the implementation of less environmentally damaging options?

And I wish to lodge the strongest possible objections to your actions as Minister for Energy and Resources,