The Wire

Traditional owners and supporters staged a peaceful protest on the steps of South Australia’s Parliament yesterday, voicing their concerns about proposed changes to the Pitjantjatjara Land Rights Act. Critics of the planned amendments say the Government is trying to gain more control over traditional lands in the state’s north. Although few politicians fronted the crowd of singing and chanting protestors, no doubt the message was heard when traditional owners sitting in the gallery of Parliament broke into applause. Democrat’s MLC Kate Reynolds had just finished speaking on the truth behind the government’s move to change the Act. Gary Lewis from the Pukatja community says traditional owners have been kept in the dark. He says the government’s held no consultations with the owners and most of them just don’t understand what the amendments mean.