After resigning, former employee Antonia Burke has taken a stand against the mining giant Santos to protect the ancestral waterways of the Tiwi Islands. Her struggle is symbolic of a larger issue that has impacted Indigenous communities across Australia for decades.
In this documentary, Antonia embarks on a journey to uncover the profound effects of mining on these communities and delve into the historical dynamics between Indigenous people and mining corporations. Mining has been the cornerstone of Australia’s economy, contributing substantially to GDP, exports, and employment. Australia is a leading global producer of minerals like iron ore, coal, gold, and bauxite, with mining revenues funding essential public services and infrastructure projects. But at what cost?
Antonia’s investigation will journey through numerous Indigenous communities, unfolding a range of critical issues for example: The consultation processes with traditional owners and who is consulted with, the divisions wrought by financial incentives and employment opportunities, the devastating destruction of sacred sites, the depletion of natural food sources, and the severe health implications these activities cause. She will also examine how mining royalties and infrastructure projects, while providing some benefits, ultimately offer unsustainable solutions, and she will highlight the long-term environmental degradation and show how Indigenous knowledge and practices can play a crucial role in mitigating climate change.
This documentary provides a comprehensive examination of the critical issues affecting first nation communities. It explores the reality that the most marginalised people in Australia bear the burden of the direct effects of mining so that the rest of society can flourish. Antonia will paint a national picture of the impact mining has on first nation peoples in Australia.