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Corina Abraham

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Abraham at a protest at Bibra Lake

Corina Abraham is a Whadjuk Noongar woman. In 2016 she challenged the Western Australian Government for failure in procedural fairness during its change to the Aboriginal Heritage status of the land to be impacted by the extension to Roe Highway known as Roe 8.

Personal life

Abraham is a custodian of the Whadjuk Noongar people descended from the Beeliar Whudjuk Noongar tribe.[1] She also traces her family back many generations as a direct descendant of Calyute, one of the few survivors of the Pinjarra massacre.[2] Her grandfather is Reverend Sealin Garlett.[3]

In 1997 Abraham, along with a number of other indigenous artists of the Djidij Djidji Arts Group, created a piece of artwork using linocut print, which is part of the City of Melville's art collection.[4]

In 2010 Abraham was co-chair of the City of Cockburn Aboriginal Advisory committee.[5]

Opposition to Roe 8

Protestors at Bibra Lake, 22 November 2015. Corina Abraham is wearing a blue shirt; she's in the centre of this photo behind the white sign with "Say no to Roe 8".

In May 2014 the Barnett Government announced that the Perth Freight Link would go ahead; there had already been considerable concern over the plan's first section, an extension to Roe Highway known as Roe 8, that would run through the Beeliar Wetlands.[6] The 100+ community groups opposed to the plan formed a coalition called Rethink the Link, which was successful in having the environmental approvals overturned in the Supreme Court of Western Australia in December 2015.[7][3]

On 2 December 2015 Senator Scott Ludlum read a letter to the Australian Senate, written by Abraham to the Prime Minister of Australia opposing the Perth Freight link, in particular the area to be impacted by Roe 8. The letter is a plea to the newly appointed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for help and intervention; it starts by describing Abraham's position and standing within the Noongar community. She speaks of the significance of the area, of its connections to the Noongar dreamtime, local mythology and its ecological importance, which the freight link would disrupt.[3]

Beelier Wetlands plays a significant role in the creation of "our" Dreaming and Mythological stories, in particular the story of "Our Wargle" otherwise known as Our Rainbow Serpent. It plays an important spiritual role in maintaining the health of these local waterways.[1]

Abraham then discusses the archaeological findings about the area, focusing on the chert objects and noting that all known sources of chert for the region have been inaccessible for over 6000 years, since the Indian Ocean flooded parts of the Swan Coastal Plain. The sites where these were found were documented and registered on the national record according to the Aboriginal Heritage Act; in June 2015 the Barnett Government removed these sites from the record to facilitate the necessary approvals for the Roe 8 project.[8][3]

I believe if you took a short time to read the documented historical recorded factual information, which is readily available. You will start to question the process and the manipulating, disrespect and lack of cultural respect to the custodians and direct descendents of the Beelier Whadjuk Noongars, the actions our West Australian Government took in ensuring this project gets the necessary Federal funding and approvals it requires to complete Roe 8.[1]

Abraham concluded by again asking the Prime Minister to consider alternative proposals put forward and protect the area not only for Noongar people to but for all future generations of Western Australians.[3]

WA Supreme Court writs

On 30 March 2016 Greg McIntyre QC, the lawyer who also commenced the Mabo case and is acting pro bono for Abraham, lodged writs in the Supreme Court of Western Australia. The writs allege that Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Peter Collier and the Department of Aboriginal Affairs cultural committee denied procedural fairness to Abraham when it failed to consult her. The failure occurred because Abraham was a party to original consultation that recognised the significance of the area.[2][8]

References

  1. ^ a b c Letter from Corina Abraham to the Prime Minister of Australia, 30 November 2015
  2. ^ a b Grant, Steve (1 April 2016). "ROE 8 The fight of my life". Fremantle Herald. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e "The community campaign to fight Roe 8". Scott Ludlam Greens MP. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  4. ^ "City of Melville Art Collection". City of Melville. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  5. ^ Boase, Ken (5 May 2010). "Pressure on to stop freeway" (PDF). Koori Mail. No. edition 475. Koori Mail. p. 15. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  6. ^ "Perth Freight Link a boost for WA industry". Media Statements. Government of Western Australia. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  7. ^ Young, Emma (16 December 2016). "Supreme Court rules EPA approval of Roe 8 'invalid'". WA Today. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  8. ^ a b "Traditional owners continue to challenge the Aboriginal heritage approval for a major highway extension in WA". Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
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