Attorney General meets De Rose Hill native title holders

South Australia’s Attorney General, John Rau, visited De Rose Hill to meet with native title holders in December.

It was the first time the Attorney General had travelled ‘on-country’ to meet native title holders.

The Attorney General and the Attorney General’s Department provides high level advice to the South Australian

Government, including on native title and Aboriginal cultural heritage issues.

This was an important meeting that enabled the Traditional Owners to teach the newly appointed Attorney General

about things that are important to native title holders.

The Attorney General shared information about the role of the State Government in Aboriginal affairs, and native title holders shared information about their connection to Country.

The Attorney General learned how kangaroo is important to Anangu identity and how to make flour from collecting

and grinding seeds. A number of issues were also discussed, including the need for heritage protection, proper engagement in decision making, finding and maintaining sustainable sources of wealth creation, financial and administrative support of Aboriginal Corporations and settlement of outstanding native title issues.

Traditional Owners also took the Attorney General and his advisers to sites where acts by the State Government had extinguished native title, providing ablunt and first-hand account of the pain and suffering this has caused native title holders. This is relevant to the De Rose Hill native title compensation application.

This and future meetings will play a key role in ensuring that your issues are fully addressed by the State Government. Indeed, these ‘relationship-building’ activities better promote the plight of Aboriginal people in South Australia and are invaluable opportunities in removing any misconceptions about Aboriginal identity and connection to Country.