Aboriginal Law Bulletin --- "'Texas Tea' in Pitjantjatjara" [1986] AboriginalLawB 12; (1986) 1(19) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 3

• 'Texas Tea' In Pitjantjatjara

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'Texas Tea' in Pitjantjatjara

Yami Lester, the Chairman of the Pitjantjatjara land holding incorporation, Anangu Pitjantjatjara, announced an important breakthrough in resource development on Aboriginal land in November 1985.

In a major innovation, the Traditional Owners of 100,000 square kms of South Australia's For North-West have signed documents joining them in a consortium of four companies which will spend $32.5 million over the next five years exploring for petroleum in the Officer Basin.

The Petroleum Exploration Licence over 20,000 square kms of the Pitjantjaljara Freehold land was granted today of a ceremony attended by the Premier, Mr John Bannon, the Minister for Mines and Energy, Mr Ron Payne, and the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr Greg Crafter, to Amoco Australia Petroleum Company (the Operator), Crusader Resources NL and Quadrant Energy Development Limited and the Pitjantjatjara's own exploration company, A. P. Oil Pty Limited.

Mr Lester, speaking in Adelaide said, 'We have had to look at new ways to cope with companies wanting to enter and explore our lands. We knew it was inevitable that the search for oil would take place. A previous attempt to agree access with BHP failed in the face of that Company's inflexibilityand heavy handedness. After that bad experience we decided to take the initiative and apply for the Petroleum Licence ourselves. We went out to find companies to join us which could fund initial exploration and provide the necessary expertise. We did this with the assistance of Adelaide Consultants and Petroleum Management Associates. We think we have found the right companies. We shall begin to contribute financially at the production stage.

'We are very excited about this venture. We are full participants with a 20% share. We will have a vote on operating committee meetings. In addition we have a primary agreement guaranteeing that our sacred places and our communities will not be interfered with by this work'.

'The other companies ore also pleased. Under this deal they pay no compensation for disturbance as is ordinarily required. In addition they know that with the Land Owners as joint venturers there is a powerful Inducement for all parties to resolve any problems to achieve production.

The agreement, the first of its kind in Australia, is similar in some respects to agreements negotiated in North America between Indian groups and ail companies. It has widespread application and, once both Aboriginal Land Owners and the exploration industry become familiar with its benefits, is likely to be reproduced elsewhere.

Mr Lester concluded:' The handover of Uluru (Ayers Rock) to our relations last Saturday was a major historic event. We believe that the long term implications of Aboriginal participation in ajoint venture to explore for resources on their own land ore equally as significant. Today's agreement demonstrates that the aspirations and concerns of Aboriginal people and the mining industry need not be mutually exclusive. Given good faith on both sides and an imaginative approach to problem solving, they can both be accommodated.'