Last week, seven Executive Members went to Adelaide to complete petroleum negotiations with Ahava Energy and to obtain certain legal advice from Ron Myrkle QC, a former Federal Court Judge from the Victorian Bar.
The Executive completed the Petroleum negotiations and signed off on the conjunctive oil land access agreement with Ahava. This means that the Petroleum exploration will now commence on the Lands. Tjilpis will be employed to supervise the exploration work. APY obtained a letter of comfort from the State to ensure that our 1/3 share of royalties under the Petroleum Act is passed on to Anangu. In addition, APY negotiated substantial additional royalty and other benefits.
Because of the potential income streams from petroleum and mineral exploration, APY is putting together a meeting of Traditional owners in Umuwa followed by Lands-wide consultations with all communities to provide information and to seek Anangu views and opinions about a suitable royalty distribution model and our future vision for our Lands.
APY has laid the foundations for development of an MOU with the State Government for future development of our Lands and to ensure that this development remains firmly under the control and direction of the Traditional Owners.
The legal advice was to confirm what we already knew. The Traditional Owners are the boss on the Lands. The APY Lands are Anangu private property. We are in charge of our own destiny and future on our private lands.
We must all obey the law, support our Police and follow Police directions. However, apart from this, Government Ministers or agencies do not control or direct our daily lives on our Lands. We have the same rights as all other Australian citizens on our private property.
As the financial benefits from resources exploration come into being, Government agencies and dependence on welfare will become increasingly irrelevant. There are many who will be scared about losing influence as Anangu become stronger. Now we need to concentrate on building our vision for the future.
Many, many Anangu are disappointed and offended by the decision to give AP Services the MUNS Funding without a procurement process or consultation with Anangu. Those Anangu are right to be concerned. However this is just a short term nuisance and distraction which we will have to put up with while we concentrate on the bigger picture - Our future vision for our people and our Lands.
This is a time for Anangu to be excited and unified. Stick together or they will stick it to us. The Executive Board has built many powerful allies and friends over the last two years. Do not be distracted or fight about unnecessary things like AP Services, silly rumours about why the Executive was in Adelaide last week or changes made by government parties without your consent.
Speak to your Executive Board member about any concerns. Or call me or Rex at Umuwa.
I will keep you regularly updated.
Bernard Singer, APY Chairperson