Labor joins with the Anangu and Indigenous Australians right around the country in celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Uluru Handback on 26 October.

 

Labor congratulates and acknowledges the success, hard work and commitment of the Anangu, whose passion and connection to country have led to the continuation of a strong partnership with Parks Australia.

 

The 1985 Uluru Handback showed the strength of the Land Rights Movement, that throughout the late 70s and early 80s had lobbied against the exclusion of  Uluru from the Land Rights Act. This campaign was spearheaded by organisations such as the Central Land Council and the Pitjntjatjara Council.

 

Many people recall that journey and the emotion of that joyous day as hundreds of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people who had worked together attended the ceremony when Governor General Sir Ninian Stephen handed over the title deeds to Anangu traditional owners. Anangu then signed an agreement leasing the land back to the Australian Parks and Wildlife Service (now the Director of National Parks) for 99 years.

We are proud that it was the Federal Labor Government under Prime Minister Bob Hawke that agreed and supported the return of Uluru in the spirit of natural justice and land rights.

The Park is now jointly managed by a board made up of Anangu and Piranpa members, with their roles and responsibilities set out in both the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and the ALR Act. The EPBC Act ensures that visitors to the Park respect its natural and cultural values, while the ALR Act protects the property rights of Anangu.

This acknowledges the Anangu ownership of the park while at the same time recognising the value of their land as a national park of enormous significance.

 

SUNDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2015

 

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MADONNA OLIVER (NEUMANN) 0416 199 808

CHANSEY PAECH (SNOWDON) 0431 810 758

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