Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe tabled a petition in Parliament on Thursday, calling for the return of Darwin's Binybara/Lee Point to Larrakia people.

Started in January by Larrakia artist and performer Laniyuk, the petition has more than 16,000 signatures stating their opposition to the controversial Defence Housing Australia (DFA) development on Larrakia country.

"Our goals are to protect Larrakia Country and culture, stop Defence Housing Australia from desecrating our sacred lands at Lee Point and ensure the return of Larrakia lands to Larrakia people," the petition states.

"For Larrakia people to look after these places based on thousands of years of knowledge, we need Country returned to our care. When this happens our people, Larrakia people, can again fully enact our responsibility and guardianship of the lands we all care about."

The DFA are attempting to clear 132 hectares of old growth coastal bushland to build 800 houses for the military and their families.

"Lee Point in Darwin is of immense cultural and spiritual significance to Larrakia people," Laniyuk said at Parliament House on Thursday.

"And right now, the Northern Territory government has approved Defence Housing Australia to demolish our ceremonial sites…our dreaming sites, to build 800 houses for the military for private profit."

She said Lee Point meant "everything" to Larrakia people.

"It is our language; it is our ceremony; it is our culture; it is our past, our present and our future," Laniyuk said.

@natindigtimes Larrakia people are fighting to protect culture from the controversial housing development at Lee Point. Their petition may be found here: https://www.change.org/p/return-lee-point-to-the-care-of-larrakia-people #larrakiacountry #larrakia #defencehousing #leepoint #northernterritory #indigenousaustralia #indigenousculture ♬ Pieces of Redemption - Carlos Carty

The area is home to the Kenbi Dreaming track and the Gouldian finch, which is listed as endangered according to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, and its development has caused significant consternation amongst Traditional Owners and environmental groups, with ongoing protests seeing people defending the site clash with police.

Last year, the Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation, the peak representative body of the Larrakia people, withdrew their support for the project, whilst in May, the Northern Land Council (NLC) slammed the Federal Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek, for not protecting the area, and threw their support behind calls by Larrakia Traditional Owners for an independent inquiry into unlawful land clearing.

Developments on the site have been delayed multiple times, first in 2022 when the Gouldian Finch was spotted in the area, and then again last year when Traditional Owners lodged an emergency application under the Heritage Act to protect the area on cultural grounds.

The latter was declined by Minister Plibersek in March.

Larrakia locals have also called for the Casuarina Coastal Reserve in Darwin to be returned to their ownership in a submission to the Northern Territory government.

On Lee Point, Senator Thorpe said: "We have a duty of care to save it".

"I'll be delivering a petition in parliament today," Senator Thorpe said, "and hope that we get the support of parliament to continue the preservation of this beautiful country".

National Indigenous Times understands the delegation were hoping to meet with Minister Plibersek, however she was unable to meet with them due to her commitments in the House of Representatives, instead meeting with a senior member of her staff.

It is understood the delegation are endeavouring to speak to people involved in the defence portfolio, and in a short statement, a spokesperson for Assistant Minister for Defence, Matt Thistlethwaite, said he had met with representatives of the Larrakia Nation and "would be happy to do so again".

"The Defence Housing Australia development at Lee Point in the Northern Territory will deliver much needed housing for Defence Force personnel and their families as well as the community at large," they told National Indigenous Times.