China wants to acquire Horn Island International Airport
By Jim OToole
Moves are underway for Torres Strait communities to join the Yidinji sovereign nation, established in Cairns nearly a decade ago, to break away from Australian government rule.
The Chinese government has been asked to bankroll the proposed Torres Strait nation which has already elected its political representatives.
Gudang and Kaurareg elders at a recent Cairns meeting said they wanted to break free from reliance on the Australian government and take charge of their own affairs.
This could be a noble sentiment to give Islanders a warm and fuzzy feeling about managing their own affairs, but if China pays the bills what does the Communist government of Bejiing want in return?
It seems China could already have negotiated a 99 year lease over Pajinka, Aboriginal freehold land at the Tip of Cape York, in a similar fashion to the Chinese lease of the Port of Darwin.
This deal would just be an entrée for unscrupulous Chinese businessmen backed by the communist government.
Recently the Chinese Consul visited the Torres Strait ostensibly to pave the way for massive Chinese investment in a new sea port on Hammond Island among other projects.
Consul Dr Ruan Zonzge’s visit was for “courtesy meetings with local authorities and communities but not for the specific projects as listed in your letter,” the Consulate claimed after Cairns News send a list of questions to the Consul.
Torres Strait elder Seriat Young told Torres News he wanted to see positive change in his communities for his children’s sake.
He said that was why they had appointed Ministerial roles and begun the process of establishing a sovereign government structure.
“We are going to do it all by ourselves, we will do this thing for our glory,” he said.
“We want the [Australian government] to look at us and see how [they] have oppressed us for a very long time in [our] own country.
Mr Young made no mention of the annual $40 billion Australian Government budget allocation for the national Aboriginal industry or the $2m recently handed out by government to the owners of Pajinka land at the Tip.
Michael Soloman is a Bamaga resident and one of the title holders of Pajinka whose family is from the Solomon Islands.
He said they had been meeting with Chinese investors to discuss the development of dilapidated infrastructure at significant sites of high tourism value. (Pajinka. Ed)
“They’re willing to help us move forward very fast, no games,” Mr Solomon said.
“We want to show the outcomes to our people and all the jobs and things we’ve been talking about for many years.”
Chairman of Kaurareg Native Title Aboriginal Corporation, Mr Eliza Wasaga said Milton Savage did not represent anyone in Kaurareg and was “running off on his own with Thomas Savage and Michael Solomon.”
“Milton and (Member for Cook) Cynthia Lui and Ned David Chairman of GBK (Gur A Baradharaw Kod Torres Strait Sea and Land Council Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal Corporation) are working behind closed doors with the Chinese,” Mr Wasaga said.
“Thomas Savage (aka Munggudah, who is Milton Savage’s younger brother) has supposedly been appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs to work directly with the Consul Dr. Ruan Zongze concerning any investment in the top end and outside of the Australian Government’s knowledge and control.
“I question why Thomas Savage is foreign minister when he is illiterate.
“Why is the Commonwealth funding the GBK when they are assisting Cynthia facilitating meetings with China? Three years ago Cynthia brought Chinese investors from Daru to Yam Island to set up a large scale fishing enterprise in the Torres St which was exposed and stopped by Bob Katter (Member for Kennedy).
“Now Cynthia is trying to do the same with the Chinese and establish a major port facility on Hammond Island and a large-scale fuel depot at Goodes Island on land and sea country that traditionally belongs to Kaurareg Aboriginal people without any consultation with Aboriginal people.
“Why is the Commonwealth continuing to fund GBK when it has failed auditor’s reports in the past?
“James Ji has visited the NPA (Northern Peninsula Area) to consult with Bernard Charlie about buying Pajinka. Mr Ji is an advisor to the Chinese Consul.
“China has expressed interest in buying Horn Island airport and have been dealing with Milton Savage, Michael Solomon, Domanic Lewin, Seriat Young and Thomas Savage.”
Meanwhile the Yidindji Government said 13 Indigenous nations from across the continent attended the Cairns event early in September to talk about sovereignty, statehood and self-determination into the future.
International law experts, former employees of international banks and technology experts were among the professionals invited to facilitate the discussions.
Yidinji Government Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Murrumu of Walubara (Cairns) said the Yidindji nation had been on their journey as a sovereign nation government for more than a decade.
While the federal government has yet to agree to a treaty with any indigenous groups the states have started their own treaty making processes.
Unsurprisingly Victoria led the way with its own treaty which passed in 2018.
Queensland’s Path to Treaty Act was passed in parliament in May 2023 supported by Labor and the LNP Opposition which should come back to haunt them in light of the embarrassing, massive no vote in the Voice referendum last year.
It is interesting the Liberal National Party has not made mention of the Queensland Treaty it originally supported during their election campaign now underway. This treaty will enable indigenous communities to create separate sovereign states.
The duplicitous Liberals claim to no longer support the Treaty enabling legislation they voted for in Queensland Parliament last year.
No federal government response has yet been made but Bob Katter said he had sent a number of questions to the Home Affairs Minister asking how China can get ownership of vital infrastructure in the Torres Strait.
“This Chinese investment has again become a matter of national security,” Mr Katter said.
