Respect Our Land

This week we hear about two campaigns at the forefront of opposition to the military expansion on this continent.  ‘Native Title Rockets’ Campaign Coordinator and documentary Director Rocky speaks with Priya Kunjan (Thursday Breakfast) about Southern Launch’s Koonibba rocket testing range that has begun commercial operation with its first rocket launch this week on Kokatha lands near Ceduna, South Australia.  Kokatha elder Aunty Sue Haseldine brings us a call out for supporters to protect country from damage by the rocket testing operations.  Then we hear an interview from Phuong Tran (Tuesday Breakfast) with Larrakia, Kungarakan, Gurindji and French political creative Laniyuk about the sacred lands of the Larrakia people, which are currently under threat of being destroyed by Defence Housing Australia. Binybara 'Lee Point' near Darwin is an area of deep cultural significance to the Larrakia Peoples and is also an internationally-significant site for migratory shorebirds and home to the rare and endangered Gouldian Finch. Larrakia people are being supported by community groups to have Lee Point protected and returned to traditional custodianship, after the Federal government gave Defence Housing Australia permission to develop the site 800 homes in 2018.  Last week Environmental Justice Australia made an application to the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (AAPA) to recognise sacred sites in the Lee Point development zone, including the Danggalaba Dreaming track, a sacred waterway and traditional camping places and ceremonial grounds on behalf of Larrakia Danggalaba Traditional Owner Tibby Quall.Support the campaign by signing the petition to Return Lee Point to the Care of Larrakia People.