❓ WA Parliament QoN addresses Aboriginal Lands Trust pastoral lease management, compliance, mining permits, stock levels, wild horse culling, and funding. Reveals non-compliance issues and lack of ALT involvement in livestock sales.
AnsweredQoN 1314Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Which pastoral leases are held by the Aboriginal Lands Trust (ALT)? (2) Of the pastoral leases held by the ALT I ask: (a) is each pastoral lease compliant with the legal requirements under each lease, and if the answer is no: (i) which pastoral leases are not compliant; (ii) what specific terms/ legal requirements are not being met on each lease; and (iii) has any specific notice of breach or default been issued to the Aboriginal Lands Trust for each pastoral lease, and if so, when was each breach/default notice given and what was the reason for each breach/default notice? (3) How many entry permits for mining companies to access each pastoral lease held by the ALT have been recommended for approval by the ALT in each of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013? (4) Of those entry permits to pastoral leases recommended by the ALT for approval, on how many occasions was the entry permit denied by Government? (5) How many entry permits for mining companies to access each pastoral lease held by the ALT have been recommended for rejection by the ALT in each of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013? (6) Of those entry permits recommended by the ALT for rejection, on how many occasions was the entry permit granted by Government? (7) On each pastoral lease held by the ALT what is the current head of stock (both cattle and sheep)? (8) On each pastoral lease held by the ALT how many head of stock (both cattle and sheep) were sold in each of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013? (9) What is the current estimated head count of wild horses on each station held by the ALT? (10) What is the amount of wild horses that have been culled on each station held by the ALT in each of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013? (11) How many times has the ALT applied for approval to cull wild horses on each pastoral lease held by the ALT in each of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013? (12) In respect of the applications to cull wild horses referred to in question (11), on how many occasions was the approval granted by Government? (13) What is the amount of resources that have been provided to the ALT to ensure adequate management of each pastoral lease, as per the terms of each pastoral lease, in each of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013? (14) What is the total balance in funds that are held by the Western Australian Government, in any of its departments or agencies, as a result of mining or resource applications, exploration or activities carried out on: (a) Aboriginal Reserve Lands; and (b) Pastoral Leases held by the WA Government for Aboriginal people? (15) In each of the last five years, what amounts have been (a) expended and (b) for what purpose from the funds referred to in question 14 above? (16) In each of the last five years, what funds have been (a) allocated and (b) spent by which Western Australian state government departments or agencies to assist in the successful management and operation of pastoral leases held by, or on behalf of, Aboriginal people?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
27 November 2013
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Response time
36 days
1. The Aboriginal Lands Trust holds six pastoral leases, being: Doon Doon, Glen Hill, Billiluna and Lake Gregory in the Kimberley along with, Walagunya and Pippingarra in the Pilbara. Doon Doon and Glen Hill are currently subleased to Aboriginal Pastoral Corporations.
2. (a) No.
(i) The Pastoral Lands Board issued Directives and Default Notices regarding the Lake Gregory, Billiluna, Walagunya and Pippingarra pastoral leases.
(ii) See answer to (iii) below
(iii) The specifics of each Directive or Default Notice are as follows:
Pastoral Station
Reasons for Directive/Default Notice
Lake Gregory
· The Pastoral Lands Board issued a directive to the Aboriginal Lands Trust on 14 October 2008 to remove all feral horses by 31 October 2009.
· A Default Notice was issued on 6 April 2010 to remove all feral horses from the pastoral lease within 3 months of the date of the notice.
Billiluna
· The Pastoral Lands Board issued a directive to the Aboriginal Lands Trust on 25 August 2008 to submit an appropriate pastoral management plan within three months addressing: the need for regular mustering and recording of stock numbers; uncontrolled grazing along flood out areas of the Sturt Creek land system; poor pasture condition of the Sturt Creek land system; too frequent burning of the rangelands; and improved monitoring of changes in rangeland condition.
Walagunya
· The Pastoral Lands Board issued directives to the Aboriginal Lands Trust on 17 September 2008 to demonstrate to the Pastoral Lands Board that appropriate and competent management has been put in place; provide the operational status of all watering points and the capacity of each on the lease; livestock numbers to be reduced to 1590 and maintained until advised by the Pastoral Lands Board that an increase is permitted.
· A further directive was issued on 19 March 2009 requiring the Aboriginal Lands Trust by 31 March 2009 to provide evidence that it had applied to all relevant agencies to change the tenure of the Walagunya pastoral lease or, alternatively, to put in place competent pastoral management.
· A Default Notice was issued on 12 June 2010 requiring the Aboriginal Lands Trust to implement proper pastoral management as required by the directives of 17 September 2008 within three months of the date of the Notice.
Pippingarra
· The Pastoral Lands Board issued directives to the Aboriginal Lands Trust on 15 August 2007 to develop a plan to repair some or all of the remaining water points.
· A further directive was issued on 19 March 2009 requiring the Aboriginal Lands Trust to provide evidence by 31 March 2009 that it had applied to all relevant agencies to change the tenure of the Pippingarra pastoral lease to an alternative tenure or, alternatively, it had put in place competent pastoral management.
The Aboriginal Lands Trust and the Department of Aboriginal Affairs are actively working to resolve all directives and defaults on the four pastoral leases and have discussed these steps with the Pastoral Lands Board.
3. None. Entry permit requirements apply only to Crown Reserves proclaimed under Part III of the
Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act 1972
.
4- 6. Not applicable.
7. The Annual Returns of Livestock and Improvements for the period to 30 June 2013 give the following approximate figures:
Pastoral Station
Current Head of Stock
Glen Hill
1200 head of cattle (no sheep)
Doon Doon
2000 head of cattle (no sheep)
Billiluna
5000 head of cattle (no sheep)
Walagunya
760 head of cattle (no sheep)
Lake Gregory
990 head of cattle (no sheep)
Pippingarra
220ad of cattle (no sheep)
8. The Aboriginal Lands Trust does not own the livestock referred to in question 7 and it is not advised of any sales.
9. In September 2013, an aerial census estimated there were approximately 6000 feral horses on the Lake Gregory and Billiluna pastoral leases. There is no current estimate of feral horses on the other four pastoral leases held by the Aboriginal Lands Trust.
10. 7016 feral horses were culled on the Aboriginal Lands Trust's Lake Gregory and Billiluna pastoral leases in 2013. The Aboriginal Lands Trust is not aware of any cull of feral horses on its other four pastoral leases during 2008-2013.
11-12. Since 2010, the Aboriginal Lands Trust has investigated a number of control methodologies for the management of feral horses. In 2013, Government noted that the Aboriginal Lands Trust had commissioned an aerial cull to manage the feral horse population on its Lake Gregory and Billiluna pastoral leases and supported the decision on the basis that the operation met RSPCA requirements.
13. The Aboriginal Lands Trust manages its estate, including its six pastoral leases, by allocating funds as required it receives from Mining Rents and Royalties and the Department of Aboriginal Affairs. Mining Rents and Royalties received by Aboriginal Lands Trust is tabled below:
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Mining Rents and Royalties
$243,322
$314,956
$323,369
$336,309
Yet to receive
14. (a) The Department of Aboriginal Affairs is unable to provide information on funds held by other government departments or agencies. The Aboriginal Lands Trust received $336,309 in Mining Rents and Royalties in 2012, for 2011. The Aboriginal Lands Trust is yet to receive funds for 2012.
(b) Not applicable.
15. Over the last five years the Aboriginal Lands Trust has spent approximately $2.7 million, from funds it receives from Mining Rents and Royalties and the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, on grants, maintenance costs associated with its estate and general projects considered to be for the benefit of Aboriginal people.
The Department of Aboriginal Affairs has allocated $650,000 for infrastructure upgrades and management of the Aboriginal Lands Trust's Lake Gregory and Billiluna pastoral leases. The Department of Aboriginal Affairs also pays for the rent associated with the Aboriginal Lands Trust's pastoral leases (approximately $71,000 per annum). The Department of Aboriginal Affairs is unable to provide information relating to funds that may have been allocated or spent by other areas of government.
2. (a) No.
(i) The Pastoral Lands Board issued Directives and Default Notices regarding the Lake Gregory, Billiluna, Walagunya and Pippingarra pastoral leases.
(ii) See answer to (iii) below
(iii) The specifics of each Directive or Default Notice are as follows:
Pastoral Station
Reasons for Directive/Default Notice
Lake Gregory
· The Pastoral Lands Board issued a directive to the Aboriginal Lands Trust on 14 October 2008 to remove all feral horses by 31 October 2009.
· A Default Notice was issued on 6 April 2010 to remove all feral horses from the pastoral lease within 3 months of the date of the notice.
Billiluna
· The Pastoral Lands Board issued a directive to the Aboriginal Lands Trust on 25 August 2008 to submit an appropriate pastoral management plan within three months addressing: the need for regular mustering and recording of stock numbers; uncontrolled grazing along flood out areas of the Sturt Creek land system; poor pasture condition of the Sturt Creek land system; too frequent burning of the rangelands; and improved monitoring of changes in rangeland condition.
Walagunya
· The Pastoral Lands Board issued directives to the Aboriginal Lands Trust on 17 September 2008 to demonstrate to the Pastoral Lands Board that appropriate and competent management has been put in place; provide the operational status of all watering points and the capacity of each on the lease; livestock numbers to be reduced to 1590 and maintained until advised by the Pastoral Lands Board that an increase is permitted.
· A further directive was issued on 19 March 2009 requiring the Aboriginal Lands Trust by 31 March 2009 to provide evidence that it had applied to all relevant agencies to change the tenure of the Walagunya pastoral lease or, alternatively, to put in place competent pastoral management.
· A Default Notice was issued on 12 June 2010 requiring the Aboriginal Lands Trust to implement proper pastoral management as required by the directives of 17 September 2008 within three months of the date of the Notice.
Pippingarra
· The Pastoral Lands Board issued directives to the Aboriginal Lands Trust on 15 August 2007 to develop a plan to repair some or all of the remaining water points.
· A further directive was issued on 19 March 2009 requiring the Aboriginal Lands Trust to provide evidence by 31 March 2009 that it had applied to all relevant agencies to change the tenure of the Pippingarra pastoral lease to an alternative tenure or, alternatively, it had put in place competent pastoral management.
The Aboriginal Lands Trust and the Department of Aboriginal Affairs are actively working to resolve all directives and defaults on the four pastoral leases and have discussed these steps with the Pastoral Lands Board.
3. None. Entry permit requirements apply only to Crown Reserves proclaimed under Part III of the
Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act 1972
.
4- 6. Not applicable.
7. The Annual Returns of Livestock and Improvements for the period to 30 June 2013 give the following approximate figures:
Pastoral Station
Current Head of Stock
Glen Hill
1200 head of cattle (no sheep)
Doon Doon
2000 head of cattle (no sheep)
Billiluna
5000 head of cattle (no sheep)
Walagunya
760 head of cattle (no sheep)
Lake Gregory
990 head of cattle (no sheep)
Pippingarra
220ad of cattle (no sheep)
8. The Aboriginal Lands Trust does not own the livestock referred to in question 7 and it is not advised of any sales.
9. In September 2013, an aerial census estimated there were approximately 6000 feral horses on the Lake Gregory and Billiluna pastoral leases. There is no current estimate of feral horses on the other four pastoral leases held by the Aboriginal Lands Trust.
10. 7016 feral horses were culled on the Aboriginal Lands Trust's Lake Gregory and Billiluna pastoral leases in 2013. The Aboriginal Lands Trust is not aware of any cull of feral horses on its other four pastoral leases during 2008-2013.
11-12. Since 2010, the Aboriginal Lands Trust has investigated a number of control methodologies for the management of feral horses. In 2013, Government noted that the Aboriginal Lands Trust had commissioned an aerial cull to manage the feral horse population on its Lake Gregory and Billiluna pastoral leases and supported the decision on the basis that the operation met RSPCA requirements.
13. The Aboriginal Lands Trust manages its estate, including its six pastoral leases, by allocating funds as required it receives from Mining Rents and Royalties and the Department of Aboriginal Affairs. Mining Rents and Royalties received by Aboriginal Lands Trust is tabled below:
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Mining Rents and Royalties
$243,322
$314,956
$323,369
$336,309
Yet to receive
14. (a) The Department of Aboriginal Affairs is unable to provide information on funds held by other government departments or agencies. The Aboriginal Lands Trust received $336,309 in Mining Rents and Royalties in 2012, for 2011. The Aboriginal Lands Trust is yet to receive funds for 2012.
(b) Not applicable.
15. Over the last five years the Aboriginal Lands Trust has spent approximately $2.7 million, from funds it receives from Mining Rents and Royalties and the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, on grants, maintenance costs associated with its estate and general projects considered to be for the benefit of Aboriginal people.
The Department of Aboriginal Affairs has allocated $650,000 for infrastructure upgrades and management of the Aboriginal Lands Trust's Lake Gregory and Billiluna pastoral leases. The Department of Aboriginal Affairs also pays for the rent associated with the Aboriginal Lands Trust's pastoral leases (approximately $71,000 per annum). The Department of Aboriginal Affairs is unable to provide information relating to funds that may have been allocated or spent by other areas of government.
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