The NLC responds to unfair claims by Equitorial Launch Australia

Yesterday, ELA announced its disappointing decision to immediately cease operations at the Arnhem Space Centre (ASC) in the NT and relocate the spaceport to a new site in Weipa, Queensland.

In a statement, ELA provided inaccurate, unrealistic timelines and unfairly blamed the NLC for delays as the reason for their decision.

The NLC has engaged proactively and positively to facilitate a substantial, swift and, most crucially, safe agreement being made between ASC and Traditional Owners.

The NLC, under its statutory obligations, is required to facilitate Section 19 Land Use Agreements between Aboriginal people and entities wishing to conduct business on their land, across the Top End of the NT.

Since September 2023, there have been ongoing negotiations to set the terms of an agreement to expand ASC, located on the Arnhem Land Aboriginal Land Trust, without resolution. The NLC has consistently requested essential information and terms to be provided, so that it could facilitate informative consultations with all Traditional Owners affected, including progressing the work of independent expert consultants.

The NLC highlights that these ASC negotiations have included further complications from ELA, such as attempts to circumvent sacred sites protection requirements, breaches of previous agreement conditions, requiring confidentiality agreements, and significantly delaying responses to crucial correspondence.

The NLC acknowledges the opportunities the ASC could present to Aboriginal people across the Top End in terms of economic development and education. For this reason, the NLC prioritised the initial agreement to establish the ASC, followed by the processing of this expansion agreement, and subsequently addressing complications as they have arisen.

However, the NLC takes its responsibility to obtain free, prior and informed consent from all affected parties seriously when it comes to any business on Aboriginal Lands. We facilitate a thorough system, supporting the effective review and processing of all agreement applications, and can only progress applications when all key components are received.

Quotes attributable to Matthew Ryan, NLC Chair:

“It is vital for Countrymen, and in the interest of all Australians, that sacred and cultural sites are protected and at the same time Aboriginal people are included in and benefit from economic developments on their Country. This can only be achieved through upholding the thorough Section 19 Agreement process, facilitated by the NLC.

“Our people will not be pushed into cutting corners for outside business timelines, nor can we jeopardise cultural obligations, our Country, or the hard-won Land Rights of our people.

“We stand with our East Arnhem-based Council Members and all the clans of East Arnhem Land, when we say that we are very disappointed with how ELA has handled this. Especially the false timeline they are sharing and how they have obviously been working behind-the-scenes with Queensland – where they don’t have the Aboriginal Land Rights Act to make sure Aboriginal Lands are respected and protected, and where they already have that appointed Coordinator to dangerously rush things through.

“The NLC has worked hard to keep this ASC agreement moving and always communicate with ELA through what has been a complicated but really important process.”