Latest news with #Butchulla
News.com.au
16 hours ago
- General
- News.com.au
Native title group condemns ‘anti-social' behaviour after residents chased away from beach
An Indigenous group holding exclusive native title to a strip of land near a Queensland beach has assured locals that the public may use the land, despite claims that residents have been chased away and made to feel unsafe while attempting to cross the area. The long-running stoush over access to a Burrum Heads beach, near Hervey Bay, was addressed at a community meeting held last month. In 2019, the Butchulla people were granted almost 100,000 hectares of native title land on the Fraser Coast in 2019, which includes 17,000 hectares of exclusive use. Part of the exclusive use land includes a strip of 20-metre wide foreshore in front of Burrum Heads residents' homes. In 2022, a small group of Butchulla people established a camp near the idyllic beach and were chasing away residents. This came despite criticism from the Butchulla Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (BNTAC), which insisted there was a way for 'all to enjoy this beautiful country'. Following the community meeting held at Burrum Heads Community Hall on May 14, 2025, the BNTAC released a statement on Wednesday reaffirming its position. 'We understand the concerns raised at the meeting regarding the actions taken over the last four years to prevent access to the beach at Burrum Heads through an area of exclusive possession of native title land,' the statement said. 'Our position has always been, and continues to be, that the Butchulla people do not seek to prevent the public from accessing public access routes to the beach at Burrum Heads. 'Butchulla people are collectively responsible for our land and all decisions about how land is to be used. 'No one native title holder is able to make final decisions about how the land is to be used or to prevent people from accessing the land. 'All decisions about how land is used must be made in accordance with Butchulla traditional decision-making processes.' BNTAC urged police to 'take action and protect the Burrum Heads community'. 'We understand that the public have made several complaints to the Queensland Police Service over the past four years to report incidents that have occurred while attempting to access the beach at Burrum Heads through an area of exclusive possession of native title land,' the statement said. 'Our position has always been, and continues to be, that the Butchulla People's exclusive possession does not prevent the police from exercising their powers to respond to anti-social incidents and take appropriate action where people are fearful, in peril, or have made a complaint. 'We call upon the police to use the enforcement powers at their disposal to maintain community safety for Burrum Heads residents. 'We are dedicated to working together with the people of Burrum Heads to achieve a respectful, sensitive, and lasting resolution to the concerns that have been raised. 'The Butchulla Court Determination was brought on behalf of all Butchulla People, not one or a few Butchulla persons.' The statement added that 'one of the aspects of Butchulla Peoples' native title is the right of exclusive possession'. 'Butchulla People have the right to exclusive possession and use of land and waters where it has been determined our native title rights and interests are recognised under our traditional laws and customs,' it said. 'However, the right of exclusive possession is not absolute and it is subject to laws of the State of Queensland. 'Specifically, the State of Queensland passed legislation in 1993 to confirm existing public rights of access to beaches and these are capable of being recognised as an 'interest' for the purposes of our determination. 'Butchulla People do not have the right to restrict such interests, and actions to do so are outside Queensland law as well as our traditional laws and customs.' Fraser Coast Councillor Michelle Byrne said in a statement to The Courier-Mail on Wednesday that council's powers were limited but it was engaging with 'all parties to try and find a positive resolution to the concerns of residents'. 'Council appreciates the efforts of BNTAC and the State Government, who hold the tenure of the land, and is actively working with both parties within the limits of our responsibilities for the land parcels in question,' she said. Former federal MP Keith Pitt previously argued that the best solution for the conflict was for the small stretch near the beach to be removed from the exclusive use ruling. Mr Pitt told The Daily Mail in 2023 that his office had been inundated by 'concerned Burrum Heads residents' who 'contacted my office about an area of land under native title'. 'It has resulted in restricted access to the beach and older constituents being chased off the beach,' he said. 'Every Australian is expected to abide by Australian laws and regulations, without exception.'
The Age
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
There's a story in that: Brisbane Comedy Festival puts life at the centre of laughs
If the adage that 'you're never too old to try something new' applies to anyone on this year's Brisbane Comedy Festival line-up, it's definitely Janty Blair. Blair, a proud Butchulla, Mununjali and Woppaburra woman, spent more than three decades working as a nurse and midwife. Supporting birthing mothers was her area of expertise. But a series of events in her mid-50s changed her course towards comedy. Or as she puts it: 'comedy found me'. 'I had just gotten back into [nursing and midwifery] and I had moved up to Hervey Bay,' she explains. 'Then my sister cousin who I was very close to passed away. 'And I said to myself, 'what would I do if I couldn't fail?'' Loading A few months after COVID ended, Blair helped her sister produce a comedy show in Townsville. It was a huge success. By the time she found herself on a Bumble date in Byron Bay at a comedy afternoon, her destiny was all but writing itself. 'There were all these non-Indigenous women performing, and I thought, no one looks like me,' Blair says.
Sydney Morning Herald
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
There's a story in that: Brisbane Comedy Festival puts life at the centre of laughs
If the adage that 'you're never too old to try something new' applies to anyone on this year's Brisbane Comedy Festival line-up, it's definitely Janty Blair. Blair, a proud Butchulla, Mununjali and Woppaburra woman, spent more than three decades working as a nurse and midwife. Supporting birthing mothers was her area of expertise. But a series of events in her mid-50s changed her course towards comedy. Or as she puts it: 'comedy found me'. 'I had just gotten back into [nursing and midwifery] and I had moved up to Hervey Bay,' she explains. 'Then my sister cousin who I was very close to passed away. 'And I said to myself, 'what would I do if I couldn't fail?'' Loading A few months after COVID ended, Blair helped her sister produce a comedy show in Townsville. It was a huge success. By the time she found herself on a Bumble date in Byron Bay at a comedy afternoon, her destiny was all but writing itself. 'There were all these non-Indigenous women performing, and I thought, no one looks like me,' Blair says.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fred Leone Hits Back At Senator's Claims Of Antisemitism: 'That Ain't Me'
Fred Leone has taken to social media to refute claims made by Liberal Senator Claire Chandler during senate estimates this week, who attacked the Butchulla singer for what she deemed to be 'antisemitic' social media posts that were made in support of the people of Palestine. In a since-removed post, Leone had previously called for a boycott of Zionists in Australia – which, Chandler claimed, was a call for a 'boycott of Jewish people'. Senator Chandler took issue with Leone's posts on account of him being an advisory board member for Music Australia, the Australian Government's principal arts investment and advisory body – which, per their website, 'uphold[s] and promote[s] freedom of expression in the arts and to support Australian arts practice that reflects the diversity of Australia.' 'The Albanese government needs to send a strong message that antisemitic behaviour is not acceptable in the community, not acceptable in the arts sector, and especially not acceptable from a taxpayer funded council member appointed by the Minister,' said Chandler this week (per the Herald Sun). In response, Leone asked Chandler and his detractors to 'show [him] anywhere' he had either written or said a negative word about Jewish people at any point. 'I have never made that statement or a blanket statement like that,' he wrote. 'That ain't me. Zionism and Israel? Yes, I have – and with very colourful language, due to the frustration of watching a live streamed genocide. The conflation of Zionism and Judaism at this time in history is literally sickening. I have never made any statement against Jewish people in general or Jewish artists ever. To be dragged like this in Parliament over something I've never said is insanity. To be held up like this on show to the country as an antisemite is appalling.' Leone went on to note his work with the organisation Courage to Care, which is an anti-racism and anti-discrimination not-for-profit founded and run by Holocaust survivors. 'Speaking out about ultra-right Zionism, and Zionism as a colonial construct, or Israel, is not a statement on Jews,' he said. 'Not all Jews support Israel's genocide, and a statement on Israel or Zionism is not and should not ever be conflated as a statement on Judaism. It is a comment on the oppression and genocide of Palestinian woman, men and children. Nothing more and nothing less.' Leone is one of several Australian artists who have been outspoken in their support of Palestine. During his appearance with Electric Fields at last year's Eurovision song contest, Leone painted a watermelon on his chest to show support for Palestine as well as protesting Israel's ongoing inclusion in the contest. Other acts, such as The Herd and Teenage Joans, have released protest songs in solidarity with the Palestinian people: 'Soul Of My Soul' and 'Intifada', respectively. Urthboy of The Herd has been particularly critical of the Australian music industry for largely not platforming the issue publicly. 'The silence has been deafening,' he said in June 2024. 'A sector that prides itself on being at the forefront of progressive movements, recognising the value of representation from different cultures, is strangely silent on a matter that the entire world is grappling with. 'Artistic expression in Australia is under threat, with many anti-genocide creatives experiencing or being threatened with loss of funding and platforms. The absence of Arab voices, let alone Palestinians, in boardrooms and leadership positions may have more than a small part to play in this.' Speed Depart From UK Download Festival In Protest Of Barclays Sponsorship Thousands of Musicians Call for Gaza Ceasefire, Including Kid Cudi, Zack de la Rocha, Denzel Curry – 'We Cannot Be Silent' Barkaa Announces New EP 'Big Tidda': 'A Celebration Of Blak Joy' The post Fred Leone Hits Back At Senator's Claims Of Antisemitism: 'That Ain't Me' appeared first on Music Feeds.
