Apology for administrative error over reserve

31/1/94

Environment Minister and former Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kevin Minson has acknowledged an administrative error which wrongly indicated that permission had been refused for a Kimberley horticultural project on traditional Aboriginal land.

The error occurred during the finalising of correspondence in the hand-over of the Aboriginal Affairs portfolio to the new Minister, Kevin Prince.

Mr Minson said he had extended an apology for any misunderstanding which had been caused to Aboriginal people involved.

The Aboriginal Legal Service had been contacted by Mr Prince to explain the situation, which centres on long-standing discussions about 260 hectares of land in two separate parcels at River Farm Road and Buttons Crossing on the east bank of the Ord River.

The negotiations centred on a proposal for the land to be released for intensive horticulture, in return for the setting aside of 1840 hectares of adjacent land as a reserve which protected Aboriginal heritage and recreation.

Mr Minson said negotiations with the Aboriginal community had been proceeding since early 1991 and he hoped they would continue.

A letter had inadvertently been sent from his office to the ALS indicating that the River Farm Road/Buttons Crossing project had been refused.

"This was an administrative error because a process had been established for continuing negotiations and significant agreement had already been reached," Mr Minson said.

"The final decision now rests with the new Aboriginal Affairs Minister, Kevin Prince, who will consider the issue after the proper process has been completed."

Media contact:  Diana Callander 222 9595