 |
|
| May |
The
Northern Territory Government increases the size of Territory town
boundaries to include large areas of land under claim. The move
is an attempt to frustrate the claims - under the Aboriginal Land
Rights Act areas inside town boundaries can't be claimed. The town
of Tennant Creek (population 3,100) suddenly covers 710 square kilometres
- thirty times larger than the old boundaries. Darwin is made four
times the size of Greater London and Katherine becomes the world's
largest city! Later, the Alice Springs Town Council attempts to
have that town's area expanded from sixty to 1,600 square kilometres.
All these boundary changes are later declared invalid by the courts
but they do succeed in delaying and frustrating claims through long
and expensive legal actions.
|
| June |
The
mining lobby and the Northern Territory Government campaign for amendments
to the Land Rights Act to remove traditional landowners' control over
access for exploration and mining. They claim that 'black tape' is
tying up the land, but Aboriginal Affairs Minister Fred Chaney says
the hold-up is caused by mining companies' unwillingness to negotiate:
the companies have been encouraged by industry bodies and the Northern
Territory Government to stall negotiations as a tactic in the push
for amendments. Mr Chaney says the Act will not be changed and that
miners should get back to work. Magellan Petroleum, which has taken
a leading role in the campaign, resumes its talks with CLC over the
Mereenie Oil and Gas Field. |
| August |
The
Governor-General, Sir Zelman Cowan, executes deeds of grant to Aboriginal
land trusts for former Aboriginal reserve land at Amoonguna, Haasts
Bluff, Hooker Creek (Lajamanu), Iwupataka, Lake Mackay, Petermann
Reserve, Santa Teresa and Yuendumu. The Northern Territory Registrar-General
refuses to register these deeds.
|
| September |
The
Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act 1979 (NT) comes into effect, establishing
the Aboriginal Sacred Sites Protection Authority (ASSPA). The CLC
have continually argued that protection of sacred sites should be
a Commonwealth responsibility and an earlier draft of the Bill was
rejected by a Commonwealth parliamentary committee because it gave
the Northern Territory minister control over the protection of sacred
sites. In this version of the Act the ASSPA is controlled by Aboriginal
people but its powers are limited and it does not ensure that new
works are subject to a sacred sites clearance. |
| October |
The
Northern Territory Government notifies the Gurindji traditional landowners
that it intends to take back Daguragu Station. In 1975 Prime Minister
Whitlam told the Gurindji that the land would belong 'to you and your
children forever', but the Northern Territory Government says it will
be resumed in twenty-eight days because the traditional landowners
have not kept to the pastoral lease conditions. The Gurindji prevent
the resumption when they demonstrate that not only have lease conditions
been met but the property is well managed. To secure the title to
their land the Gurindji lodge a land claim over the property. The
Warlmanpa land claim hearing begins in Alice Springs and takes evidence
at Alekarenge and in the Tennant Creek area |
| November |
Aboriginal
Affairs Minister Fred Chaney appoints Barry Rowland QC, the former
Chairman of the Western Australian Law Reform Commission, to review
the practical implementation of the Land Rights Act. The review is
established in response to political pressure from the Northern Territory
Government for changes to the Act, but the Government makes no submission
to Mr Rowland. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
