Corina Abraham

Corina Patricia Abraham[1] is a Whadjuk Noongar woman. In 2016, she challenged the Western Australian Government for failure in procedural fairness during its change to the Aboriginal Heritage status of the land to be impacted by the extension to Roe Highway known as Roe 8.

Corina Patricia Abraham
Abraham at a protest at Bibra Lake.
Known forActivist

Personal life

Abraham is a custodian of the Whadjuk Noongar people descended from the Beeliar Whudjuk Noongar tribe.[2] She traces her family back many generations, and is directly related to Calyute, one of the few survivors of the Pinjarra massacre.[3] Her grandfather is Reverend Sealin Garlett.[4]

In 1997 Abraham, along with a number of other indigenous artists of the Djidij Djidji Arts Group, created a piece of artwork using linocut print, which is part of the City of Melville's art collection.[5]

In 2010 Abraham was co-chair of the City of Cockburn Aboriginal Advisory committee.[6]

Abraham was the Socialist Alliance candidate for the electoral district of Willagee in the 2017 Western Australian state election.[7]

Opposition to Roe 8
Protestors at Bibra Lake, 22 November 2015. Abraham is wearing a blue shirt; she's in the centre of this photo behind the white sign with "Say no to Roe 8".

In May 2014 the Barnett Government announced that the Perth Freight Link would go ahead; there had already been considerable concern over the plan's first section, an extension to Roe Highway known as Roe 8, that would run through the Beeliar Wetlands.[8]

Abraham has publicly opposed the Roe 8 extension.[3][9][6]

On 2 December 2015 Senator Scott Ludlam read a letter to the Australian Senate, written by Abraham to the Prime Minister of Australia about the Perth Freight link, in particular the area to be impacted by Roe 8.[4] The letter is a plea to the newly appointed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for intervention, in which she describes the cultural and historical significance of the wetlands to the Noongar people. She also expresses her concern about the removal of sites from the Department of Aboriginal Affairs registry and the West Australian Government's "manipulating, disrespect and lack of cultural respect to the ... Beelier Whadjuk Noongars".[2]

WA Supreme Court writs

On 30 March 2016 Greg McIntyre QC (the lawyer who also commenced the Mabo case), acting pro bono for Abraham,[3] lodged writs in the Supreme Court of Western Australia. The writs alleged that Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Peter Collier and the Department of Aboriginal Affairs cultural committee denied procedural fairness to Abraham when it failed to consult her. The failure occurred because Abraham was a party to original consultation that recognised the significance of the area.[3][10] On 24 August 2016 the Supreme Court dismissed Abraham's challenge.[11][1]

References
  1. Abraham -v- The Hon Peter Charles Collier MLC, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs [2016] WASC 269 (PDF), Supreme Court of Western Australia, 24 August 2016, p. 1, archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2018, retrieved 27 August 2016
  2. Letter from Corina Abraham to the Prime Minister of Australia, 30 November 2015
  3. Grant, Steve (1 April 2016). "ROE 8 The fight of my life". Fremantle Herald. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  4. "The community campaign to fight Roe 8". Scott Ludlam Greens MP. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  5. "City of Melville Art Collection". City of Melville. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  6. Boase, Ken (5 May 2010). "Pressure on to stop freeway" (PDF). Koori Mail (edition 475). Koori Mail. p. 15. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  7. "WA Election 2017: Willagee". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 25 February 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2017. Additional archives: 25 February 2017.
  8. "Perth Freight Link a boost for WA industry". Media Statements. Government of Western Australia. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  9. No Roe 8 Rally 2011 Elders. YouTube. 18 August 2011. Abraham begins speaking at 4:12.
  10. "Traditional owners continue to challenge the Aboriginal heritage approval for a major highway extension in WA". Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  11. Irena Ceranic (24 August 2016). "Perth Freight Link: Roe 8 Aboriginal heritage appeal thrown out". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
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