Fortescue Future Industries' memorandum of understanding with the First Nations Bailai, Gurang, Gooreng Gooreng, Taribelang Bunda Peoples Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (PBC) marks a key foundation step in developing renewable energy projects on their Country in Gladstone.
The company said the MoU, signed in October, demonstrates a commitment to "co-design initiatives where shared values exist, including connection to culture, shared prosperity, community and economic development and project engagement".
FFI Australia East Director Felicity Underhill, a Ngati Raukawa woman from an iwi north of Wellington in Aotearoa/New Zealand, told National Indigenous Times the clean energy industry has a "once in a generation" opportunity to get the relationship with Traditional Owners right from the beginning.
"FFI is promoting decarbonisation for Australia and the rest of the world through growth of renewable electricity at scale, but there are times where electricity is not enough and you need fuel for shipping, trucks etc, and we see green hydrogen working side by side along with renewable electricity," she said.
"Queensland is beautifully set up, great sun, ports, infrastructure and workforce, and industry that could really do with de-carbonisation. At the beginning of this energy transition, we are going to be relying on these fantastic resources, and it is important that we include those people who have taken care of those resources for tens of thousands of years."
PBC chairman Matthew Cooke said the MoU was an important initial step in building engagement and collaboration between the two organisations.
"This is a monumental shift in the relationship between major industry and Traditional Owners. It is an opportunity to ensure that Traditional Owners share in the prosperity of economic development and the transition to renewables," he said.
"This partnership is about ensuring that the push towards green energy and the obvious benefits that come from sustainability for the Australian economy is progressed in a way that ensures respect for the land and culture of the Traditional Owners.
"It is very fitting to be entering into this MoU at the launch of the First Nations Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Gladstone during Indigenous Business Month."
Ms Underhill said FFI is acutely aware that this kind of investment and energy transition is "not something that comes along every day".
"This is a once in a generation opportunity to get it right, to build those voices into the way we develop these opportunities, and maximise shared wealth creation," she said.
"What we have done in Gladstone is worked with the PBC. This is a group of First Nations people who have had a number of interactions with industry over the years and we think we can do a hell of a lot better this time around.
"With FMG's history of employing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on our mine sites, the Billion Opportunities program we have spent $4billion in contracts with 140 Aboriginal businesses overt the last ten years, and with that experience we believe that is going to help us work closely with Aboriginal groups on this side of the country as well."
FFI recognised its existing Green Energy Manufacturing Centre and other potential green energy projects in Gladstone are on the traditional Country of the First Nations Bailai, Gurang, Gooreng Gooreng, Taribelang Bunda Peoples who have inherent rights and responsibility for Country and people.
Ms Underhill said FFI sat down and engaged with the PBC from the beginning to co-create opportunities for co-investment.
"FFI is a global operation, where we are working with multiple groups of First Nations people around the world, and that gives us the opportunity to learn from different experiences and groups for best practice and lessons learned."
