Indigenous groups angry over gas deal

Indigenous groups have accused the Queensland government and resources firms
involved in a $60 billion natural gas deal of ripping them off.
China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) on Wednesday signed an agreement to
buy $60 billion in LNG from Britain's BG Group developing a coal seam gas-to-LNG
project in Gladstone.
The development will include a 450km pipeline from the Surat Basin to Gladstone.
Members of the Port Curtis Coral Coast Native Title Claim Group, whose claim area
covers about 19,000 square kilometres around Bundaberg and Gladstone, say they are
entitled to a spin-off from the project, which will earn the government $200 million
a year in royalties.
The LNG plant will be built off Gladstone's coast on Curtis Island, which is home to
sacred indigenous sites used for ceremonial purposes.
"We have been given the bread crumbs," Cherissma Blackman, from the Gurang tribe,
told reporters on Friday outside the Santos office in Brisbane.
"I can't disclose the amount. It's not as substantial as $200 million a year that
the state government will be receiving out of this project."
Ms Blackman said a deal was signed off by 12 indigenous applicants on behalf of the
tribes.
"We had an authorisation meeting in Bundaberg on Saturday and it was not unanimous -
there was quite a number of us who were very unhappy (with the agreement)," she
said.
"We want to create a stable and positive future for our people."
Gladstone's Anne-Marie Johnson, from the Gooreng Gooreng tribe, said indigenous
groups will take the matter further and continue to lobby the government.
"The government and the proponents, including Santos, have ripped us off," Ms
Johnson said.
"We really can't put a figure on what we want, but we want to negotiate a deal for
our future generations not something just for now and only for a few."
Comment is being sought from the Queensland government.