JusticeAboriginal

South Australian Native Title Services since 2008 supporting first nations groups to regain their land heritage rights

South Australian Native Title Services since 2008 supporting first nations groups to regain their land heritage rights
South Australian Native Title Services was preceded by the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement native title unit with Parry Agius (bottom left) and manager. Bottom right: Keith Thomas, South Australian Native Title Services chief executive in 2023, and a previous chair April Lawrie.
Images courtesSouth Australian Native Title Services

South Australian Native Title Services (SANTS) became the native title service provider for the state in 2008, taking over the role from the native title unit of the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement.

The native title unit operated largely independently but under the direction of the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement board and its chief executive. Parry Agius managed the native title unit's strategy. A stand-alone organisation to deliver native title services was agreed on by the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement and Congress (South Australia's forum for native title groups) in 2007 and completed a year later.

The South Australian Native Title Services Ltd, primarily funded by the National Indigenous Australians Agency, was a not-for-profit company assisting Aboriginal people in South Australia to gain recognition and to protect their native title rights and interests. It delivered a range of services to Aboriginal nations to achieve their social, cultural and economic aspirations.

In South Australia, a cooperative strategic approach to resolving native title was applied by the federal court, South Australian government and South Australian Native Title Services. More than 30 decisions or determinations of native title had been made since South Australian Native Title Services started operating. Most of these had been achieved through consent or agreement.

South Australian Native Title Services also assisted native title claim groups to negotiate Indigenous land use agreements that recognised the rights of native title groups in a practical and detailed way. South Australia had more than 60% of its area resolved for native title purposes.

As a common law right, native title might exist over areas of South Australian crown land or waters whether or not there were any native title claims or determinations in the area. The South Australian government environment and water department wasn’t responsible for negotiating native title rights but managed crown land consistently with the Commonwealth Native Title Act 1993 and it was fundamental to assessing applications for crown land tenure or permitting activity on crown land.

The South Australian Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 protected and preserved Aboriginal heritage and was separate to native title. Aboriginal heritage rights applied to all lands and waters within South Australia, not just crown lands. It was an offence to damage, disturb or interfere with any Aboriginal site, damage any Aboriginal object or damage or interfere with or remove any Aboriginal object or remains.

Other related ADELAIDE AZ articles

Ernabella Arts, at Pukatja, on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in South Australai's far northwest built a reputation on its innovative artists  adapting to many different mediums. At right; Among the Ernabella collection at the National Musuem of Australia in Canberra is Kungkarangkalpa Attila by Derek Jungarrayi Thompson.
Aboriginal >
Ernabella Arts in South Australia's APY Lands from 1948 reputed as innovative, adaptable in culture, contemporary
READ MORE+
Martha Berkeley large watercolour image (top) of The First Dinner Given to the Aborigines in the Adelaide park lands in 1838 shows governor George Gawler's paternal benevolence but he was most criticised for sending Thomas O'Halloran (below) to the Coorong to dispense summary justice on the Milmendjeri people.
Aboriginal >
George Gawler as South Australia governor (1838-41) reflects settlers' confused view of Aboriginal people
READ MORE+
At the opening on the Port Lincoln Nunga Court in 2023. 
Aboriginal >
New Port Lincoln Nunga Court and Aboriginal sentencing officially in South Australian judicial system in 2023
READ MORE+
The Letters Patent, under the great seal of King William IV, establishing South Australia in 1836. Coming to Terms (Wakefield Press, 2010), edited by Shaun Berg, examines how the promise of that document was ignored.
Aboriginal >
Humanitarians in the colonial office get word 'occupied' into 1836 Letters Patent charter for South Australia
READ MORE+
Samuel Way and wife Katherine at their Montefiore, North Adelaide, home in 1890. Right: Way (in top hat) with the governor of South Australia Henry Galway and his wife in the grandstand at Adelaide Oval in 1914. Images courtesy State Library of South Australia
Class >
Samuel Way's mistress and their family kept a secret before his Adelaide high-society life with wife Katherine
READ MORE+
Hermannsburg Lutheran missionary pastor Carl Strehlow (inset) and Pastor F.W. Albrecht (on left) with Bert Bond and Aboriginal children playing in the yard at the mission. Images courtesy State Library of South Australia
Aboriginal >
Carl Strehlow and F.W. Albrecht bring care at Hermannsburg mission to Aboriginal people and their culture
READ MORE+

 

 
©2025 Adelaide AZ | Privacy | Terms & Disclaimer | PWA 1.1.58