Media Release

LAST month, the Gudang/Yadhaykenu Aboriginal Corporation took tenure of 211 ha of land in Cape York, including the abandoned Pajinka Resort and it is reported that Chinese investors are negotiating with the Traditional Owners to purchase the land.

KAP Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter shares the concerns of Northern Peninsula Area Mayor, Eddie Newman, that a takeover of the resort by offshore Chinese investors would lead to a dire situation for the Traditional Owners, and would be a major national security threat for Australia.

"I have been reliably informed that Chinese buyers have visited the northern tip of Cape York on at least two occasions to inspect the abandoned resort, with a particular interest in photographing the northern rugged coastline," Mr Katter said.

“Concerns raised by Mayor Eddie Newman are that due to no consultation there has been no safeguards for local jobs and no reassurance that the profits will actually go back into the local community.”

Options for rebuilding the resort will be discussed at the Gudang/Yadhaykenu Aboriginal Corporation's annual general meeting tomorrow, Friday December 6.

"Why would they want the most northern point of Australia? The closest point to Papua New Guinea," asked Mr Katter.

"There are numerous questions here and I would think the answers are pretty ugly."

Mr Katter has taken the step of meeting with Home Affairs Minister, Peter Dutton, who has the power to block such foreign investment if it were to proceed.

"Losing control of the Torres Straits would be a national security disaster," Mr Katter said.

"They've already handed over the Port of Darwin and given away the Ord in Western Australia. Almost every big cattle aggregation is foreign owned.

"The defence and security of this nation is precipitation for extreme anger in the United States and, infinitely more importantly, for every Australian who is just simply fed up with watching day after day the sell off of their country.

"The suits are parading around saying isn't this foreign investment marvellous, but one day they'll wake up to a country that isn't their own."

—ENDS—