Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Rights Act 1981 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankuntjatjara Land Rights Act 1981 |
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| An Act to provide for the vesting of title to certain lands in the people known as Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara; and for other purposes | |
| Enacted by | Parliament of South Australia |
| Date signed | 19 March 1981 |
| Related legislation | |
| Mining Act 1971, Petroleum Act 1949 | |
The Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Rights Act 1981 (often called the APY Land Rights Act) is a special law in South Australia. It gives land and other important rights to the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara people. These people are also known as the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara communities.
This law started on 2 October 1981. Its main goal was to officially give land ownership to the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara people. The Act has been updated several times, with the most recent changes happening in 2017.
Contents
How the Land Rights Act Began
In 1976, the Pitjantjatjara Council was formed. This group worked hard to get full ownership of their traditional lands. Before this, the land was managed by the government. The Pitjantjatjara Council wanted the land to belong directly to all Pitjantjatjara people.
Don Dunstan, who was the Premier of South Australia at the time, set up a special committee. This committee looked into creating a new way for the Anangu people to own their land.
Discussions about the new law took a long time. The government changed in 1979, and David Tonkin became the new Premier. When the government suggested big changes to the law, over 100 Pitjantjatjara people protested. They camped at Victoria Park in Adelaide in February 1980 to show their strong feelings.
After many talks, Premier Tonkin played a big part in reaching an agreement. A new version of the law was introduced in October 1980.
The new law was finally approved in March 1981. It was first called the Pitjantjatjara Land Rights Act 1981. Later, its name was changed to the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjarra Land Rights Act 1981. The law officially started on 2 October 1981. This was exactly one year after Premier Tonkin and Mr. Kawaki Thompson, the head of the Pitjantjatjara Council, signed their agreement.
This new law was made to:
- Officially recognise that the Anangu people owned their land.
- Create a group called Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Management (APY). This group would help manage the lands.
- Make sure the lands were managed well and fairly by the Anangu people.
However, the law did not give the Anangu people the power to stop mining on their land. If there were disagreements about mining, an independent person would help solve them.
Why This Law Is Important
This Act was a huge step forward for Indigenous Australians. It brought in new ideas about how Indigenous people could own and control their land. It was important not just for the Anangu people but for Indigenous communities around the world.
When the law was being discussed, Premier David Tonkin said it was "one of the most significant pieces of legislation" ever in South Australia.
In 1984, Australia's highest court, the High Court of Australia, described the Act as a special way to help the Anangu Pitjantjatjara people. It gave legal recognition and protection to their traditional homelands. The court said it was a way for current and future generations to connect with their country. They could do this in their traditional ways, without being bothered by others.
In 2001, the Act's lasting importance was recognised in a big project. This project looked at key documents that helped shape Australian democracy.
Where the Land Is Located
The land given to the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara people was officially granted on 30 October 1981. It covers a very large area. This area is about 102,650 square kilometres (about 39,633 square miles). This is about 10.4% of the entire state of South Australia.
More than half of these lands used to be called the North West Aboriginal Reserve. This reserve was first set aside in 1921. Other lands that were once used for farming, like Everard Park, Kenmore Park, and Granite Downs, are also part of the APY Lands.
The mining town of Mintabie was leased back to the state government. This was part of the agreement for the new law. The lease was for 21 years at first. It was later extended. However, a report in 2017 found that Mintabie had become a place where things were happening that were not allowed on the APY Lands. Because of this, the lease was ended, and people had to leave by 31 December 2019.
Changes to the Act
The Act has been updated many times since 1981. Some of the more important changes include:
- The Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Rights (Mintabie) Amendment Act 2009 started in 2012. This change allowed people from outside to live and run businesses in Mintabie with a special permit.
- The Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands Rights (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2016 made important improvements. It set the boundaries for seven areas within the APY Lands. These areas would elect people to the APY Executive Board.
- The Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Rights (Suspension of Executive Board) Amendment Act 2017 gave the Premier of South Australia the power to temporarily suspend the APY Executive Board if needed. This power continues to be in place.
See also
