new ann , page-46

Callback

Yes fifteen years for the Trepang Project. Fifteen long years of negotiation (and with a TO- Lionel-with an interest!)...a lesson there for GOT or anybody else negotiating with the local mob.

Lionel is a Ceremonial man...along with my wife co secratary for the TO's in Matters of Sea Country. As with her vehemently anti GOT (had a big say in Winchelsea Island for example). Despite the cynicism of posters here with him its all about the song lines...the whole issue for them is about the song lines. They are religious fundamentalists, each and every one of them. And their religion has got nothing to do with being pious (as with Christianity), I mean living in Darwin you'd be aware of that; it's all about the ability to be reborn. It's all about those song lines...as my wife tells me about two hundtred times a year- "it's all about the songs, if you know the songs you know the culture".

And sorry mate, even though once again this will be seen as an argument of convenience, you can't mine around or between the song lines. Song lines don't work like that.

To them this whole issue is a matter of life and death. Why do you think they're kicking up such a stink?