WA government stands firm in dispute over Margaret River Pro cultural heritage site
The Western Australian government is standing by its approval for a cultural heritage site to be used as overflow parking at the state's biggest surfing competition, the Margaret River Pro.
Representatives of Indigenous organisation Karri Karrak said they had not given the government or the World Surf League (WSL) permission to use the site, in WA's South West region.
The world's best surfers are in Margaret River, 275 kilometres south of Perth, for the WSL tournament.
WA Aboriginal Affairs Minister Don Punch said he had been advised all processes and approvals were followed, including Aboriginal heritage approvals.
"I'm also advised that traditional owners from the local area were consulted by World Surfing League and full support was provided by the Undalup Association for the proposed use, in line with their support for the event in previous years," he said.
The Karri Karrak Aboriginal Corporation represents more than 600 Wardandi, Piblemen and Kaneang people in southern WA and was established as part of the South West Native Title process.
The association's chief executive, Stephen Van Leeuwin, said the government and WSL were repeatedly told of opposition to the use of the site ahead of the surfing event.
"We feel like we've been ignored and not consulted regarding approvals to impact on a heritage site or a number of heritage sites in the Margaret River area," Mr Van Leeuwin said.
A year ago, Surfing Western Australia issued a formal apology to Karri Karrak Aboriginal Corporation for what it agreed was an "unauthorised use" of an Aboriginal heritage site.
'We extend our deepest apologies to the Karri Karrak Aboriginal Corporation and its members for any distress or inconvenience caused by our actions,' the organisers said at the time.
It committed to rectifying the situation and 'preventing similar occurrences in the future'.
Mr Leeuwin said the apology seemed genuine but the same issue had arisen again.
"We made our concerns clear. Well, we felt it was clear," he said.
"But the World Surf League, with endorsement from government, has just repeated what happened last time without any due regard for the heritage values."
The WSL said it received all necessary permits and approval for all heritage sites as advised by the state government.
The Undalup Association is based in Busselton and Margaret River, with the main aim of educating and sharing the cultural traditions and history of the Wadandi people.
The association hosts events including Bunuru Festival, which celebrates the changing of seasons.
Margaret River Pro organisers engage with the Undalup Asssociation over surf contest's opening ceremony, which includes a welcome to country.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
6 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Gosford, Ballina best bets, inside mail for Thursday, June 12, 2025
Form expert Adam Sherry analyses Thursday's card at Gosford, presenting his best bets, value selection, quaddie and jockey to follow as well as his best bets for Ballina. • GOSFORD BEST BET Race 4 No. 2: GOLDEN SMILE Big all-the-way win two runs back. Back to provincial grade and hard to beat. NEXT BEST Has improved with each run and scored a good win last start. Strong chance again. VALUE BET Race 2 No. 2: DONWON Coming off a nice win here last start. Nice chance again. QUADDIE Race 4: 1, 2 Race 5: 1, 2, 6 Race 6: 2, 6 Race 7: 1, 3, 6 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW KERRIN MCEVOY looks a good chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge. BALLINA BEST BET Race 7 No. 4: RAINBOW LASS Just beaten here before winning her next two all on heavy ground. Can bring up the hat-trick. NEXT BEST Race 6 No. 2: YALLA Solid winner two starts ago. Back slightly in trip from his fourth over the mile. INSIDE MAIL – GOSFORD ZING TO ME (3) debuted with a closing second behind Agenda Setter at Hawkesbury last August and has been off the scene until stepping out in a Randwick trial on May 5. She shared the lead and held Glorious Moments. Led for a big win in her second trial at Rosehill from Infusion. JIMMY RECARD (5) was given a shot at the listed Debutant Stakes at Caulfield in the spring where he was eighth to Miss Celine. Closed nicely late for third to Quietly Arrogant in his May 30 Randwick trial. JUST LEGENDARY (6) is a first starter by Justify from the Waterhouse and Bott stable. Sat very wide in winning his Randwick trial then led all-the-way in his Rosehill heat. DONWON (2) resumed with a handy second behind Secure over 1100m at Canterbury. Battled away when fifth to the progressive Queen's Rhapsody at Hawkesbury before scoring a smart win from Hard Rattle over 1000m here last start. Drawn well and will give this a shake. HAWKER HALL (3) kicked off his campaign with a three-and-half length win from He's Cool over 900m at Newcastle on Apr 23. Didn't race again until a fifth to Prima Bella over the same track and distance on May 26. HONEY PERFUME (6) broke her maiden with a big win at Goulburn and followed with a nose second to Shropshire Lad at Scone and a second to Divine Bene here. LOUISBURGH (4) battled away when second behind Ninette in a Wyong Super Maiden first-up on May 8 before going don by a nose to Whispering Rupert over this track and distance three weeks later. Winkers go on. SIGNOR TORTONI (6) was pressured in front before going down by just over a half-length to Octa De Lago when resuming as a $1.35 favourite on a Heavy 9 at Goulburn on May 22. Given three weeks to get over the run. Was a close runner-up in two races on soft ground at Canterbury last time in. GOLDEN SMILE (2) ran nice placings at her first three runs back from a spell. Appreciated stepping up to 1890m with a big maiden win at Newcastle before a fifth on the Kensington. Back to provincial grade and up to 2100m looks ideal. BOLD SPLENDOR (1) returned from a let-up with a fourth over 1600m at Coonabarabran before a two-and-a-half length fourth to Okami Star over the same trip here on May 29. Ready to step up to the 2100m. MR CONSPIRACY (5) closed from near last when fourth to Ant over 200m at Kembla. UNUSUAL PROSPECT (1) was a close second over 2000m at his only run in England last November. Kicked off his Australian career with a strong closing head second to Gwendie over 1600m at Kembla on Jan 29. Hit the line smartly when third to Oso Spirited in his 1030m Rosehill trial. STEEL RAIN (8) boxed on okay for second behind Pick Up The Tab when resuming over 1200m at Kembla. Stepped up to 1500m and led when a head second to Fairhead at Goulburn last start. THE BEAST (3) has placed third in both run this campaign but hasn't looked entirely comfortable on the heavy tracks. He will appreciate getting back on a better surface. COVERT THINKING (6) settled last and made ground along the rails on debut at Hawkesbury before closing nicely for a half-length second to Elivina over 1500m at Newcastle. Backed it up with a handy win over this track and distance on May 29. Gets in well with the 3kg claim. SURREAL I AM (2) kicked off his campaign with a good win at Sunshine Coast before a fifth at the Gold Coast. Bounced back with another nice win at the Sunshine Coast. OAKFIELD MAMSELLE (1) resumes here. Is a first-up winner and unbeaten at the trip. BURJ (6) raced well in her first campaign including a debut win over 1300m in a Newcastle Super Maiden and a half-length second to C'mon mate at Kembla. Wasn't pushed when second to Sovereign Hill in her May 30 Randwick trial. DIDDLE DUMPLING (3) won her maiden over 1400m at Hawkesbury before a seventh in a Randwick Bm72 and fifth to Wooloowin at the Gold Coast. Kept under a hold with plenty to offer in both recent trials. POWER BALLARD (1) will appreciate a drop back to provincial grade and a claim.
News.com.au
7 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Closing Bell: ASX crawls to the finish after touching new intraday high, up just 0.06pc
ASX sets new intraday high at 8639 points before sliding to 8598 Normalising US-China relations undercut gold, rare earth and uranium stocks Despite all that, ASX 200 Resources index gains 0.67pc The ASX had a very strong start to the day, rocketing up almost 0.5% in the first hour of trade. Unfortunately, it was pretty much all downhill from there. While the Aussie market managed to keep momentum just long enough to stay in positive territory, the bourse is up just 4.9 points or 0.06%. That puts us 0.54% off the 52-week average high, a range we've been hovering around for about a week now. Looking at the sectors, real estate, energy and materials made the biggest moves. Info tech and healthcare both dragged. Neither the Banks index nor Gold index were shown much love today, both in the negative alongside the All Tech. The ASX 200 Resources index was more of a bright spot, lifting 0.67% despite some geopolitical headwinds for several commodities. US-China trade deal moves toward final approval While details are thin, as of about midday AEST Chinese and US officials have agreed to a trade war truce. Reuters reports the two countries have agreed on a framework to remove export restrictions and boost trade volumes after a torrid four-month saga of retaliatory tariffs and general mudslinging. "We have reached a framework to implement the Geneva consensus and the call between the two presidents," US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said. "The idea is we're going to go back and speak to President Trump and make sure he approves it. They're going to go back and speak to President Xi and make sure he approves it, and if that is approved, we will then implement the framework." While good news for the general health of the global economy, it's taken the wind out of ASX resource stock sails, particularly gold, rare earths and uranium miners and explorers. Many were angling to become the new strategic sources of energy and critical minerals outside of China, but that's looking less necessary now. ASX resources stocks in the dumps Taking a look at our rare earths stocks, Lynas Rare Earths (ASX:LYC) has slumped more than 7%, joined by several of its small cap cousins. Arafura (ASX:ARU) has also shed 7%, while Northern Minerals (ASX:NTU) is down 5.8%, Dateline Resources (ASX:DTR) 20% and Eclipse Metals (ASX:EPM) 12%. Gold stocks are faring a little better. Mid cap Perseus Mining (ASX:PRU) has slipped 5% after releasing a five year production outlook. Fellow midcap Ramelius Resources (ASX:RMS) is down just 1.9%. On the other hand, some small cap gold stocks are struggling. Iceni Gold (ASX:ICL) has shed 16%, Solstice Minerals (ASX:SLS) 7% and Gorilla Gold Mines (ASX:GG8) 11%. Uranium stocks are taking a little less heat, ironically. Paladin Energy (ASX:PDN) is down 3.2%, Boss Energy (ASX:BOE) 2% and Deep Yellow (ASX:DYL) 2.7%. Bannerman Energy (ASX:BMN) has slumped 9.5%, however, and Lotus Resources (ASX:LOT) has slipped 7%. Despite all that the materials sector is very much in the green today, up 0.63%, with plenty of resource companies making strong gains. Look no further than our Small Cap Leaders table for the day for examples… ASX SMALL CAP LEADERS Today's best performing small cap stocks: Security Name Last % Change Volume Market Cap RAN Range International 0.0015 50% 17142 $939,290 PLY Playside Studios 0.21 45% 2923235 $59,337,210 KGD Kula Gold Limited 0.01 43% 17524286 $6,448,776 REZ Resourc & En Grp Ltd 0.018 38% 898234 $8,731,309 SLA Solara Minerals 0.195 26% 694247 $8,987,648 AAU Antilles Gold Ltd 0.005 25% 605718 $9,245,471 CTN Catalina Resources 0.005 25% 27442520 $9,704,076 MEM Memphasys Ltd 0.005 25% 1850532 $7,934,392 OVT Ovanti Limited 0.0025 25% 1300174 $5,587,030 ROG Red Sky Energy. 0.005 25% 8341400 $21,688,909 OLY Olympio Metals Ltd 0.036 24% 25625 $2,553,952 HFR Highfield Res Ltd 0.155 24% 439824 $59,259,630 DAL Dalaroometalsltd 0.042 24% 2253388 $8,464,365 ATG Articore Group Ltd 0.225 22% 155114 $52,676,230 ADG Adelong Gold Limited 0.006 20% 802466 $10,343,383 ALY Alchemy Resource Ltd 0.006 20% 200000 $5,890,381 BLZ Blaze Minerals Ltd 0.003 20% 16939864 $3,917,370 GLL Galilee Energy Ltd 0.006 20% 200000 $3,535,964 ICG Inca Minerals Ltd 0.006 20% 3043331 $7,881,950 RDN Raiden Resources Ltd 0.006 20% 10880428 $17,254,457 TON Triton Min Ltd 0.006 20% 200000 $7,841,944 NSB Neuroscientific 0.067 20% 872198 $8,097,873 HTM High-Tech Metals Ltd 0.23 18% 137280 $10,763,210 SIO Simonds Grp Ltd 0.165 18% 69553 $50,386,903 CCM Cadoux Limited 0.035 17% 601741 $11,127,528 Making news… Blaze Minerals (ASX:BLZ) is turning heads after hitting gallium and rubidium mineralisation at its Ntungamo project in Uganda. While the mineralisation isn't particularly high grade in this first pass of drilling, the price of gallium has surged 23% since January last year, marking the critical mineral as a lucrative exploration target. BLZ's drilling also encountered scandium mineralisation, but no neodymium or praseodymium of any economic significance. Olympio Metals (ASX:OLY) has locked in a 38-hole drilling program at the Bousquet gold project after nabbing the necessary drilling approvals. The company is particularly interested in investigating the Paquin gold prospect, which has already offered up a promising drill result of 9m at 16.96 g/t gold. The project sits on the incredibly fertile Cadillac Break formation, home to gold resources exceeding 110Moz gold. ASX SMALL CAP LAGGARDS Today's worst performing small cap stocks: Security Name Last % Change Volume Market Cap DGR DGR Global Ltd 0.003 -40% 6327345 $5,218,480 FHS Freehill Mining Ltd. 0.005 -38% 5297011 $25,868,222 BMO Bastion Minerals 0.002 -33% 66886718 $2,710,883 PAB Patrys Limited 0.001 -33% 43052603 $3,086,171 SFG Seafarms Group Ltd 0.001 -33% 1880561 $7,254,899 G50 G50Corp Ltd 0.14 -26% 2354159 $30,513,555 RDS Redstone Resources 0.003 -25% 971324 $4,137,069 SP8 Streamplay Studio 0.007 -22% 2727401 $11,532,281 VPR Voltgroupltd 0.145 -22% 219023 $19,825,007 GAS State GAS Limited 0.019 -21% 631079 $9,422,421 W2V Way2Vatltd 0.006 -20% 600000 $10,596,436 CZN Corazon Ltd 0.002 -20% 550949 $2,961,431 MGU Magnum Mining & Exp 0.004 -20% 10853500 $5,608,254 MRD Mount Ridley Mines 0.002 -20% 292846 $1,946,223 SKK Stakk Limited 0.004 -20% 52435 $10,375,398 TYX Tyranna Res Ltd 0.004 -20% 1119997 $16,442,127 VRC Volt Resources Ltd 0.004 -20% 2771856 $23,423,890 FCT Firstwave Cloud Tech 0.013 -19% 911424 $27,416,299 RAS Ragusa Minerals Ltd 0.013 -19% 351938 $2,281,581 CKA Cokal Ltd 0.03 -17% 1590245 $38,842,163 ICE Icetana Limited 0.025 -17% 1569979 $13,144,280 ANR Anatara Ls Ltd 0.005 -17% 290750 $1,280,302 GGE Grand Gulf Energy 0.0025 -17% 1516666 $8,461,275 LIT Livium Ltd 0.01 -17% 13819883 $20,286,085 OLH Oldfields Holdings 0.02 -17% 347666 $5,113,419 G50 Corp's (ASX:G50) has also released a gallium-based announcement, although the market wasn't quite as impressed with the results as in BLZ's case. While G50's mineralogy study has confirmed the presence of gallium in three types of mineral samples at its Golconda gold-silver-zinc project, the content is fairly low, represented in just 38% of the host rock. The mineral type with the best gallium content of 55 parts per million accounts for just 7% of the rock content, meaning G50 will need to extract and concentrate the critical mineral before it can be sold on to off takers. Freehill Mining (ASX:FHS) has taken another step to expand its aggregate materials business in Chile, selecting a third site in the La Serena region. Investors seem unimpressed with the company's cash generating efforts, which are focused on providing construction materials to local customers to fund development of the Yerbas Buenas magnetite mine. A new resource estimate for the ICE copper-gold project wasn't enough to wow Bastion Minerals (ASX:BMO) shareholders. The new JORC estimate confirmed the volume of the historical estimate at 5.76Mt at 1.09% copper. Perhaps investors were hoping for a little more. Management says they've got plenty of reason to hope, as most exploration on the project has been concentrated around the ICE deposit. BMO reckons there's potential for more in 11 targets, which have had no follow up investigation as yet. TRADING HALTS IN CASE YOU MISSED IT St George Mining (ASX:SGQ) Araxá rare earths and niobium play in Brazil.
ABC News
16 minutes ago
- ABC News
Moira Deeming offers to delay John Pesutto bankruptcy proceedings for preselection guarantee
Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming has offered to delay bankruptcy proceedings against former opposition leader John Pesutto if the party bypasses its rules and guarantees her preselection for next year's state election. Mr Pesutto tried to expel Ms Deeming, an outspoken first-term MP, over her attendance at an anti-trans-right rally in March 2023. The event, entitled Let Women Speak and categorised by supporters as a women's rights event, was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis. But Mr Pesutto's expulsion attempts backfired, and the Federal Court ultimately found he had defamed Ms Deeming on multiple occasions by conveying that she associated with neo-Nazis. Earlier this year, the court ordered Mr Pesutto pay Ms Deeming $2.3 million in legal costs, which he cannot afford. Lawyers for Ms Deeming have begun bankruptcy proceedings against the Hawthorn MP. He has less than three weeks to stump up the money or he'll be expelled from parliament. As part of his efforts to avoid bankruptcy, Mr Pesutto and his backers have approached the Liberal Party to provide a loan. While the proposal is still in development, it has growing support, with many Liberals keen to avoid a by-election in Hawthorn that would be triggered if Mr Pesutto declared bankruptcy. The fracas has derailed Opposition Leader Brad Battin's attempts to present the Coalition as an alternative government and is the latest front in a long-running internal factional fight. Ms Deeming and her supporters do not believe the party should be using members' money to assist Mr Pesutto. On Monday, Ms Deeming wrote to Mr Pesutto, Mr Battin and party officials outlining a proposal to withdraw the bankruptcy proceedings if her conditions were met, including the party guaranteeing her preselection. It's understood a challenge on her preselection has been prepared by local members and has a strong chance of succeeding. Ms Deeming asked the party to endorse by "special resolution however described in constitutional terms so that I enjoy the right to serve my community without any internal distractions, which is something denied to me to date". She also wanted Mr Pesutto to pay all the available funds he has, which she believes is $750,000, and that the remainder of his debt be deferred until March 30, 2027 to "give him sufficient time to secure the necessary funds and avoid bankruptcy". Ms Deeming also wanted the Liberal Party, through Mr Battin, to provide her and her family an "unreserved written and public apology for the way I have been treated, for the imputations against my reputations, and that all the false allegations and defamatory slurs directed towards me are rejected". Her other demands included all parties drawing a line under events and focusing on the election. "It is because of the extraordinary support that I have received from rank-and-file members that I make this offer with the intention that the funds they have raised to fight the Labor Party remain solely directed to that important objective,'' she wrote. The offer was expected to expire at 5pm on Wednesday. Liberal sources said the offer has gone down like a lead balloon, with one source labelling it "preposterous". "It hasn't sparked much interest at all,'' one senior party figure said. Others are enraged that Ms Deeming is trying to override the party's preselection processes. Mr Battin has been contacted for comment. Both Ms Deeming and Mr Pesutto declined to comment.
