The State Government must bring errant pastoralists and police officers into line with regard Aboriginal people’s right to pursue traditional activities on pastoral leases, says Executive Director Brian Wyatt.  

Under the Land Administration Act traditional land owners are permitted hunting and other cultural pursuits on certain pastoral leases that have embraced their lands.  

The GLSC is writing to Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan and Police Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan complaining about a recent incident where police were unnecessarily heavy-handed with a group of traditional landowners returning to Leonora from a hunting trip at Sturt Meadows Station. The group, including a well-known elder of the Koara people, had been hunting in an unfenced area of the station adjacent to a gazetted public road.  

“Despite the Act giving the people hunting rights, and despite their activities on the day being peaceful and in no way threatening to station livestock or property, station staff appear to have alerted police at Leonora, two car loads of whom then set out to intercept the group at a roadblock.  

“The police reaction was way over the top and indicates they need to be familiarised with both the Land Administration Act and gain cultural sensitivity. Of particular concern is the report of immature behaviour by the police, which included a provocative eye-balling of the Koara elder by one police officer.  

“We call on the Police Commissioner to intervene on all these matters.  

“Sturt Meadows Station has a track record of refusing to observe traditional people’s rights. It has been the subject of several previous complaints to the State Government.  

“It is time for Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan to demand that station owners comply with their legal obligations or face forfeiture of the lease.  

“Most station owners comply with the Act and are respectful of Aboriginal people’s need to have access for hunting and care of culturally important sites. It is unacceptable for Sturt Meadows or anyone else to refuse to acknowledge other people’s legal rights. Such behaviour brings the pastoral industry into disrepute.  

“Sturt Meadows’ belligerence is contrary to the spirit of the Pastoral Access Protocol of 2004, to which the State Government, GLSC and Pastoralists and Graziers Association were all signatories,” Mr Wyatt said.

Media Contact:  Brian Wyatt 0417 970413;    David Berry 0417 963089, 9263 8715