Iga Warta

In reply to the Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (7 July 2016).

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy): The Aboriginal Lands Trust (ALT) granted a 99-year head lease to Nepabunna Aboriginal community from 1982-2081. Iga Warta Homelands Aboriginal Corporation was granted a 30-year sublease over a small parcel of land within Nepabunna’s head lease from 1995- 2025, which received consent from the ALT and the Minister (under the previous ALT Act 1966). Iga Warta has expressed a wish to have long-term access and control of this land.

The Iga Warta Homelands Aboriginal Corporation operates an Adnyamathanha cultural tourism business at Iga Warta, and is seeking long-term security of land tenure to support their business operations. I consider this to be a legitimate business aspiration to progress Iga Warta’s economic development, however, over many years there have been unresolved issues between the Nepabunna community and Iga Warta.

I do not have the power to grant freehold title of ALT land to another entity and whilst the State Government has provided ongoing assistance towards the resolution of this issue, given the Aboriginal Lands Trust’s custodianship of the land, the contractual nature of the leasing arrangements and the provisions of the Aboriginal Lands Trust Act 2013, it is ultimately for the ALT, the Nepabunna community and Iga Warta to come to an agreement.

I have been advised from the ALT that they have recently had constructive discussions with both Nepabunna and Iga Warta, having met with them on 7 and 8 July 2016 respectively and are working towards a positive outcome.