The land council’s mine was expected to produce $1 billion in revenue and the chief executive asked for his own cut.
Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.In late September 2023, as the hot north-east winds whipped over the Gulf of Carpentaria, the chief executive of one of the Northern Territory’s powerful land councils pressed for a payday that stood to make him a multimillionaire.
But this was not the private sector, and the share plan unravelled after a young land council lawyer discovered the deal, sparking claims of impropriety and, recently, a confidential investigation by the Albanese government. “One thing that needs to happen is the mob need to be informed about their rights, the principles of free, prior and informed consent, and how they can use their rights to achieve better outcomes for community and Country.”
News that same year that the mine would shut down in 2031 prompted traditional owners to back a new mining proposal, on neighbouring Winchelsea Island, with estimates it could extract manganese worth more than $1 billion if successful.This venture, too, would be different. For the first time, the Anindilyakwa would be in the driving seat as mine owners.
Anindilyakwa Advancement Aboriginal Corporation chairman Bradley Bara in a manganese deposit on Groote EylandtThis left Hewitt in an increasingly difficult position when he sought appointment in 2018 as co-CEO of the company responsible for developing the Winchelsea mine, a firm over which the land council, which Hewitt would continue to head, would hold significant sway.
It was “very important to note the significance of the Winchelsea Mining proposal to the future financial stability of the Groote Archipelago”, he told the committee.Internal records leaked to this masthead reveal that in late September and early October 2023, Hewitt twice met with traditional owners in charge of the Aboriginal corporation responsible for overseeing the 70 per cent stake in Winchelsea Mining “for the benefit of all the traditional owners of the ALC region”.
Once the shareholding was granted, the documents reveal Hewitt would focus only on the mine “for the future generations of Groote Traditional Owners” and “transition out of his CEO role in the Anindilyakwa Land Council”. This argument resonated with the Anindilyakwa. The leaked records reveal that on October 4, the traditional owners “agreed to transfer 7 per cent” of their shareholding on the condition the mine’s Chinese co-owner handed over 3 per cent of his one-third stake in the company. Two days later, the deal appeared sealed.
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