Wiradjuri Elder Roy Ah-See claims a mining company ordered him to remove a social media video discussing welfare dependency after he mentioned speaking at one of their sites. Ah-See, a former chairman of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council, posted the video for NAIDOC Week, detailing challenges faced by the Indigenous community in Australia.
"They say the biggest killer of Aboriginal people is alcohol, gambling and drugs," Ah-See stated in the video. "I beg to differ. From my experience it's absolute poverty and welfare dependency that's the scourge on our community."
He briefly referenced a visit to Newmont Cadia Operations' site near Orange, where he had been invited to share his life experiences. Ah-See said the company later contacted him and requested the video's removal.
"I was a bit taken aback," Ah-See told 2GB Breakfast host Ben Fordham. "I came through that scourge of welfare dependency and absolute poverty, so I know what it's like to live in a place where there is no hope, there is no opportunity. That's why I went and spoke on NAIDOC Day to this company, who told me to share my story of strength and hope. I did that and they loved it ... The feedback was unreal."
Ah-See suggested that the request to remove the video stemmed from pushback from one of Newmont's business partners. "The issue wasn't the post, it was the process," he said. "When you've got self-appointed people ... [who] think they're above the law and they don't have to answer to anybody, then they intimidate corporates and companies."
He added that he did not blame Newmont directly but urged the company to resist such intimidation. "There's processes and [they need to say], 'We're going to move forward. That includes engaging with First Nations people because it's really important."
Newmont Corporation, a global gold mining company, responded to Ah-See's claims, stating that it requires prior approval for content related to its operations. "In this instance, the matter was raised through the relevant business partner, and the post was subsequently removed," the company said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia. "Newmont Cadia continues to work closely with its Registered Aboriginal Party, the Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council."