Martu spokesman to address federal cabinet, invite Prime Minister and ministers for return visit

Giovanni Torre
Giovanni Torre Published February 20, 2023 at 1.59pm (AWST)

Jamukurnu-Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation chairman Simon Frank will address federal cabinet's meeting in Port Hedland Tuesday and raise major issues of concern to the Martu nation.

Mr Frank will also extend a significant invitation to the Prime Minister and key figures in the federal government.

"I will be inviting Prime Minister Albanese and Ministers Linda Burney and Tanya Plibersek and Senator Pat Dodson to come to Martu ngurra (Country) later this year," he said.

"People from government need to meet with us on our country to see and hear for themselves about our opportunities, plans and problems.

"Martu on-country communities (Parnngurr, Punmu and Kunawarritji) have been neglected for decades and we have been negotiating and working with the Commonwealth and WA governments for more than four years to try and fix them."

Mr Frank identified Martu control of Karlamilyi National Park, the largest park in Western Australia, which the Martu people have sought since it was established without their agreement in 1977, as a key issue.

"It is an important place for all Martu, as well as being a conservation area and a remote tourist destination," he said.

Mr Frank will also raise the ongoing issue of mining companies on Martu ngurra.

"Martu are dealing with more than 80 companies and more than 500 mining and exploration tenements across ngurra," he said.

"These companies are swarming across our lands and we work hard to negotiate agreements about how they do their work."

The land council leader said Jamukurnu-Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation does not miss an opportunity to stand up for the interests of Martu people.

"We tell everyone – governments, companies and visitors – about our three priorities: Protect ngurra; Advance Martu; and, when one and two are in hand; generate wealth and opportunity," he said.

"We would really like Mr Albanese and the ministers to come and camp with us for a night and have a wangka around the waru (talk around the fire)."

National Indigenous Times has contacted the federal government for comment.

Jamukurnu-Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation (Grandfathers country-Grandmothers country) is the trustee for Martu lands, covering more than 150,000 square kilometres of the Western Desert in Western Australia (an area two thirds of the size of Victoria).

JYAC was formerly known as the Western Desert Lands Aboriginal Corporation.

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