APY LANDS

467 Mr HANNA (Mitchell) (31 March 2009).

1. Who has the grazing rights on the APY lands?

2. Who approved these individual rights and how were they acquired?

3. Which individuals are paid by external pastoral companies and graziers to agist cattle on these lands?

4. How much are they paid to agist cattle and where does this money go?

5. How much of this money is paid to communities or traditional owners?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Early Childhood Development, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister Assisting the Premier in Cabinet Business and Public Sector Management): The APY Lands is owned by all Anangu held in trust and managed by the APY Executive (sections 4A & 15 and Schedule 1 of the APY Land Rights Act 1981) (the Act).

The APY Executive has statutory powers to manage and utilise the lands in the best interests of all Anangu, including the granting of leases and licenses over any part of the lands (section 6 of the Act).

Prior to the granting of any leases and licenses, the APY Executive is required to consult with traditional owners to ensure they are managing and utilising any part of the lands in a culturally responsible manner (section 7 of the Act).

According to the APY Annual Report for 2007-08 (at p16), grazing rights are held by:

the Hudson Lennon Family for the Watinuma area, and

Donald Fraser for the Kenmore Park area.

Traditional owner identification and consultations are continuing in relation to grazing rights over Bully's Paddock, Lennon's Swamp, Yellow Dam, Perentie Bore, No.13 West and Corkwood Bore.

Subject to consultations with traditional owners, the APY Executive approves the granting of grazing licenses and leases (sections 6(2)(b) and 7 of the Act).

Mr Donald Fraser runs his own herd, and provides agistment grazing to pastoral companies operating outside of the APY Lands.

I understand that Mr Donald Fraser is the only APY Lands based licensee who agists cattle to external pastoral companies and graziers for a fee.

Contractually determined fees are paid by the grazing licensee to the licensor (APY) who then applies and acquits these monies.