Echo
NetDaily,
8
April 2022:
A
locally-based NSW Nationals MLC was recently pressured over his lack
of consultation with Indigenous custodians regarding the contentious
Dunoon Dam proposal.
According
to the February 24 Hansard transcript of NSW Parliament, Minister for
Aboriginal Affairs, Ben Franklin, was asked by Greens MP, Cate
Faehrmann, if he had attempted to meet with the Widjabul Wia-bal
people around their concerns about the impending destruction of 25
sacred sites, ‘should the Dunoon Dam go ahead’.
He
replied in part, ‘The short answer is that I have not met with them
yet. I do not think they have reached out to ask for a visit. I may
be wrong, but I do not think that is the case. Of course, I would be
happy to meet with them. I am happy to meet with any Aboriginal
organisation or community across this State as much as I possibly can
if my diary will allow’.
Mr
Franklin also refused to pre-empt the outcome of any meeting, and
said that, ‘We must genuinely collaborate and listen to their aims
and ambitions and concerns in order to address them effectively’.
I
am happy to meet with them
He
went on: ‘Can we do that in every situation? No, because there are
a range of competing interests within government and they must all be
balanced. But I make the commitment that I am happy to meet with
them’.
He
added there was no plan on the table for the Dunoon Dam, ‘though
there has certainly been discussion, and a different position has
been promulgated by Rous County Council after the recent local
government elections, which may lead to other actions. At the moment
there is no plan on the table’. for the Government’s
consideration. When there is one, obviously that will need to be
considered’……
Ben
Franklin has been a Nationals MLC for the last 7 years, first in
the NSW Baird Government, then the Berejiklian Government and finally in the Perrottet Government.
He has been Minister for Aboriginal Affairs as well as Minister for
the Arts since December 2021. These are his first ministerial roles.
Despite
living in Northern New South Wales, Mr. Franklin has a spotty voting
history when it comes to protecting the aesthetic, environmental,
cultural, social & economic values of local communities against
the interests of industry lobby groups and party political donors.
On
4 February 2022 in the NSW Legislative Council as he danced around the
issues of strong opposition of the Widjabul Wia-bal people to the
widespread inundation of sacred land in order to create a second dam
on Rocky Creek, along with the loss of 25 ancestral stone burial
sites, he clearly stated that he was; “a very proud member of
a resident of the northern rivers region of New South Wales and
member of the National Party. As such, I understand the critical
importance of building water infrastructure as well…..that we must
look at what we need to do to build water and other infrastructure in
this State”.
Mr.
Franklin further stated that; “we must also be incredibly
sympathetic to the concerns of Aboriginal people”.
Given
his advocacy on sensitive issues often does not survive when it comes
to the vote he casts in the Upper House, I am not all that hopeful
that he will genuinely assist the Widjabul Wia-bal people to protect
Country.
One suspects that he is likely to be more closely aligned with Kevin Hogan the Nationals MP for Page, one of only two federal electorates in the Northern Rivers, who clearly favours dam proposals.