An Aboriginal elder has criticised plans to transfer a large plot of land in a remote part of Queensland to an indigenous group, calling it a “waste of time and money”.
Rex McGrady has opposed plans to hand over the 210ha Toobeah Reserve, near the New South Wales-Queensland border, to the Bigambul Aboriginal Native Title Corporation.
Local publican Michael Offerdahl previously described it as a “secret Aboriginal land grab” that will hand over 95 per cent of the town and $2 million worth of land.
Toobeah has a population of just 149 people and is currently one of 15 towns in Queensland where Aboriginal corporations have applied to have state land handed over to them. Courier mail reported.
Mr McGrady said he believed handing over the land would create division.
“I don’t think further division through policies like this will have any positive benefit for my people and the Toobeah community in particular,” he said.
‘I stand with the Toobeah community and the Gamilaroi people in our opposition to this transfer and the waste of time and money that could have been spent achieving positive outcomes for my people.’
Mr McGrady said the “recent wave of crime” in the area showed that both money and local voice were needed to help “break the cycle”.
The small rural town of Toobeah in Queensland (pictured) has had a native title claim made, with a local elder voicing concerns
The area has significance not only to the Bigambul but also to the Gamilaroi Nation, but the Gamilaroi Elder claims their voices were ignored in the claim (pictured, the native title claim in the town of Toobeah)
The elder said this will give “our people” a purpose, as well as being an incentive and direction for residents, something that has been lost.
Mr McGrady said the application was submitted by the Bigambul people, although the land also has significance for the Gamilaroi people.
The elder, who grew up in Toobeah, said the Gamilaroi Nation had been excluded and “not allowed” to talk about their connection to the area or tell their stories.
Growing up in a small town without electricity, his family would often eat outside around a campfire, and he would listen to his parents’ stories about their connection to the land, their culture, their tribe, and the stars.
Toobeah residents said they would not be part of any future negotiations in their small, rural town, saying the state needed to “wake up.”
A joint statement said people needed to stand up and fight for equality.
The city community also said Aboriginal ownership only provides an economic advantage to an Aboriginal corporation that only represents 20 percent of Indigenous people.
Toobeah residents said they will not benefit directly as the land will be solely in the corporation’s name.
Mr. Offerdahl said that if the city land is handed over, only 33 property titles and one public toilet would remain in the city.
Michael Offerdahl (left) and Gamilaroi elder Rex McGrady have criticised the land claim.
He said they had all been using the reserve together for more than a century.
But Bigambul Native Title Corporation executive director Justin Saunders said the reserve represents less than one percent of the Toobeah district.
Mr Saunders said the Toobeah Reserve is culturally significant to the Bigambul people and the land has a connection to song, land and waters, ceremony and marriage.
He said the site could be turned into an eco-cultural tourist attraction and that the people of Bigambul want to work with the community.
Goondiwindi Mayor Lawrence Springborg, a former state LNP leader whose council area includes Toobeah, has defended the deal.
Daly Mail Australia has contacted Bigambul Native Title Aboriginal Corporation for comment.