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| February |
The High Court rejects a Northern Territory Government legal challenge
and rules that the Utopia pastoral lease is available for claim.
The decision also clears the way for hearings to commence on other
pastoral leases under claim. This is the first of a long string
of defeats for the Northern Territory Government in the Federal
and High Courts in relation to land claims. The CLC and traditional
landowners reach an agreement with Magellan Petroleum over the Mereenie
Oil and Gas Field. The Northern Territory Government establishes
an inquiry into pastoral land tenure. A committee chaired by Alice
Springs solicitor (now Chief Justice) Brian Martin and including
Surveyor General Peter Wells and NLC manager Wes Lanhupuy, will
report on a number of matters including 'the needs of Aboriginals'.
|
| March |
A thirty-ton boulder is taken
from Kunjarra - the 'Devils Pebbles' - and placed in a park in Tennant
Creek. Kunjarra is a sacred site of great significance to the Warumungu
people and the desecration is blamed for the death of a senior custodian.
The Warumungu campaign for fifteen months until the boulder is eventually
returned. The CLC lodges a land claim on behalf of Wakaya-Alyawarr
traditional landowners for the Wakaya Desert, 200 kilometres east
of Tennant Creek. |
| April |
Former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam meets with the CLC in Alice
Springs, and visits Yuendumu, Willowra, Utopia and Tennant Creek.
At Yuendumu he is shown a display of more than thirty painted shields.
|
| May |
The Willowra land claim hearing begins.
The hearing had been scheduled for December 1979 but was adjourned
because of the Northern Territory Government's challenge to the Utopia
land claim. The outstation or homelands movement is gaining momentum
and more and more Pintupi move to Kintore (near the Western Australian
border) from Papunya (a former government ration depot). About 150
Pintupi are living at Kintore at this time, but the community's only
resources are a hand-pump bore, thirteen iron humpies, one shed used
as a store and a two-way radio. After negotiations between the Land
Councils, the Commonwealth Government and the Northern Territory Government,
the Northern Territory Registrar General agrees to register the titles
to the areas of former Aboriginal reserves which became Aboriginal
land under the Land Rights Act. The Act is amended to ensure that
public roads are maintained. |
| June |
Aboriginal
Land Commissioner John Toohey recommends that the whole of the Willowra
land claim be granted to the traditional owners. |
| October |
The
Martin Committee delivers its report on pastoral land tenure in
the Northern Territory. The recommendations are very disappointing
for dispossessed traditional landowners since they rely on the agreement
of pastoralists to establish any living area.
In
the past the white man shot our people and took the country. They
didn't ask. They set up cattle stations and used the black people
to build the station up and make them rich. Now Aboriginal rights
have come. The Northern Territory Government wants to refuse the
right to claim freehold title to land and mining rights. Land is
important for Aboriginal people, to live there and have tribal customs
and culture and sacred things. We are not trying to kick white people
out. We can only buy stations when they are up for auction or sale.
It is important for Aboriginal people to go back to their own country.
If they have their own land they can stay away from trouble in towns.
We give the cattlemen money for land. They never gave money to us.
They just took it. We give them money and then we can try for Aboriginal
title. The late Jampijinpa Martin, CLC Delegate from Willowra
|
| November |
Mr
Barry Rowland QC delivers his report on the practical operation of
the Aboriginal Land Rights Act to the Commonwealth Government. After
a year-long examination he recommends no major changes to the legislation.
|
| October |
The
CLC meets in Alice Springs and elects Stanley Scrutton as Chairman.
Kunmanara Breaden is elected Deputy Chairman, and outgoing Chairman
Wenten Rubuntja remains on the CLC Executive and is employed as Special
Adviser. |
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