Senate Standing Committee on Economics

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
Resources, Energy and Tourism Portfolio
Supplementary Budget Estimates 2008-09

23 October 2008

Question: SR-19

Topic: Communications with estate groups

Proof Hansard Page: E118

Senator Ludlam asked:

Senator LUDLAM-Communications from-I will give you the names in particular. There is a number of family groups, I am sure you would be aware, responsible for landscape under the Muckaty Land Trust-in particular, the Ngapa, the Millway, the Ngarrka, Wantagu and the Yapa Yapa family groups. I have probably mangled the pronunciation. Are you aware of representations within those groups?

Mr Davoren-Yes, we have prepared draft responses to some of those representations, Senator.

Senator LUDLAM-Can you identify for us, perhaps on notice-we will not put you through doing that now-those communications? I am not asking you to table the communications themselves, but the dates and the order in which they were received and transmitted.

Ms Taylor-We would have to take that on notice.

Answer:

A letter, dated 8 May 2008, from members of the Ngapa group was received in the Minister's Office on 9 May 2008. A response was sent on 22 May 2008.

Two letters, dated 22 April 2008, from a number of traditional owners of land at Muckaty Station were received in the Minister's Office on 27 June 2008. Signatories to these letters identified themselves as members of the following estate groups: Ngarrka, Yapayapa, Milwayi and Wirntiku. A response to each signatory was sent on
22 July 2008.

Further correspondence, dated 30 July 2008, was received in the Minister's Office from one traditional owner (of the Yapayapa group) on 4 August 2008. A response was sent on 10 September 2008.