The people of Cabbage Tree Island have had enough of being pushed around – but a handful government departments, ministers and the local Jali Aboriginal Land Council (JALC) – only talk in terms of building new homes on the land currently housing dozens of Cabbage Tree residents in a pod village at Wardell.
At the time of the 2022 floods there were 220 Aboriginal people living on the island. Their houses are rented from JALC, who own and manage the land on behalf of the Aboriginal community.
Cabbage Tree resident Susan Anderson has been the tip of the spear fighting to get her community back to their homes on the island following what appears to be a done deal to keep them at Wardell.
Residents ignored
‘They’re talking about who owns the land at Wardell and what rights they have, and what they’re not hearing is the people of Cabbage Tree don’t want to move to Wardell. They just want to go home. It seems no matter how we phrase it, no one is listening.’
Member for Ballina Tamara Smith MP is one of the people who is listening. She has called on the NSW premier, and the Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Harris to undertake an urgent and independent review of the NSW government’s decision not to allow the residents of Cabbage Tree Island to return to live on the island after the 2022 floods.
Smith has pointed out that since April 2022, the former Liberal National government (and the current NSW Labor government) have claimed that they have consulted appropriately with the Cabbage Tree Island community, and that as Aboriginal people it would be the community of Cabbage Tree Island that would be determining their own future.
Clearly, this is not happening. Ms Smith told The Echo that she has heard directly from families and all but a few of the community want to return home to the island. She said they have been denied self-determination and agency in their own lives and it is unacceptable.
‘The premier and the minister must halt the path of dispossession and review the decision,’ she said.
‘I have seen the Water Technology report that the NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs commissioned at the behest of JALC to investigate options for the families to return to the island and there is a very clear pathway outlined for a return.
‘Why then did the Labor government override Aboriginal self-determination and processes at the 11th hour?’ she asks.
Susan Anderson says the Cabbage Tree residents have lost faith in JALC’s ability to advocate for them and feels residents have not been properly consulted in the process.
‘They sent a letter around that they want people to sign up for houses and where they want to live – what houses? Everyone’s been telling them: they want to go home.’
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