Opposition Indigenous affairs spokesperson Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has reiterated her calls for an inquiry into land councils, arguing the government needs to listen to the voices of Traditional Owners.
Holding a press conference alongside senior Arrernte Elders Veronica Ngkwarraye Lynch, Margaret Ngkwarraye Lynch and Sabella Ngkwarraye Turner in Mparntwe/Alice Springs on Tuesday, Senator Price specifically called for an inquiry into the Central Land Council (CLC).
"They've had enough of it," the Warlpiri-Celtic senator said.
"The bullying, the poor governance and lack of accountability has reached a breaking point with the Central Land Council's treatment of Chair Matthew Palmer."
"It is symptomatic of Land Councils' dysfunction more broadly and it is why we need an Inquiry. The Prime Minister and the Australian Parliament cannot ignore this call from Veronica, Margaret, and Sabella," Senator Price said.
The Elders said their voices were not being heard, with accusations they were asked to leave a CLC meeting in July. They argued the CLC was in breach of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976.
Furthermore, they called for a breakaway land council in line with different language groups.
The CLC categorically rejected "untrue media statements" that three Arrernte constituents were asked to leave a council meeting at Watarrka (King's Canyon) in July.
CLC executive committee member Barbara Shaw from Alice Springs said it was "untrue," and said she was there during the meeting.
"Nobody was removed from the meeting. On the contrary, the women in question were heard at length and treated with politeness and respect," Ms Shaw said.
The CLC said the July council meeting featured a discussion by the elected members from the CLC's Alice Springs region about an upcoming review of how the council members are chosen, which normally would take place before an election.
The next CLC election is scheduled for April next year.
"We welcomed the women into the group and listened for a long time to their reasons why their outstation should have its own, separate representation on the council," Ms Shaw said.
The Land Council said the visitors left the group on their own accord during a break in the meeting, and as members of the region wished to complete the discussion without visitors, Ms Shaw said they asked the women to "politely not to re-join the group after the break".
The CLC said any constituent can attend council meetings and speak at non-confidential parts of these meetings with the permission of the chair or the council.
Ingrid Williams from Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) said many witnesses could testify to this fact.
"I am surprised and hurt that, after giving them so much of our time, they are now attacking us with false media statements," she said.
The Central Land Council said they hadn't received any complaints about the July meeting and encouraged the women to put their concerns in writing or meet with the CLC's executive committee and senior management.
Senator Price said the CLC had "for too long" been the focal point for conflict, and claimed members had told her that "this sort of conflict is in fact weaponised by members to achieve certain goals".
"Devolved Land Councils based on language groups, with greater transparency and accountability measures desperately need to be on the table," she said.
"The Prime Minister and the bureaucracy may not like it, but the path towards closing the gap amongst the most marginalised Indigenous Australians leads through scrutiny of the Land Councils.
"They are the most important organisations in the lives of our most marginalised and cannot be left to operate as they have been."
Senator Price and the CLC have a history of animosity, with the land council calling out comments she made about the lack of continual negative impacts of colonisation in the lead up to last year's referendum.
Speaking to Sky news on Tuesday evening, Senator Price said many land councils "are doing a great job," and needed to be highlighted.
"But we need an inquiry to understand who is doing a great job and who requires reform," she said.
