First Nations

In this week’s Anangu Lands Paper Tracker radio program, we find out about the situation in Mintabie on the APY Lands.

After concerns had been raised for more than a decade with the Government about certain practices occurring in the Mintabie Township, in June 2017 the Labor State Government undertook to review the Mintabie Township Lease Agreement in partnership with the Anangu Pitjantatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Executive and the Federal Government. The Review included a focus on all commercial and residential licenses and the Mintabie lease arrangements.

The Review report recommended the formal closure of the Mintabie Township, indicating that this would remove the illegal and ‘unconscionable’ practices taking place.

The Review Report also proposed that consideration be given to the closure of the Mintabie Precious Stones Field at the same time or at an appropriate time in the future. The Report made 14 recommendations about the future management of the Mintabie township area.

The previous State Government adopted all 14 recommendations and announced that the lease of the Mintabie Township would be terminated. The Labor government undertook to give twelve months’ notice to non-Anangu people who live and work in the Township.

To find out about the current situation in Mintabie and the response of the Liberal State Government, we talk with the Minister responsible for the Mintabie lease, the Minister for Mining and Energy, the Honorable Dan van Holst Pellekaan.

^{This program was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at cbf.org.au}