Media releases

National Broadband Network

Since 2012 the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (AAPA) has been working with the National Broadband Network Company (NBNCo) to provide sacred site clearance for NBNCo infrastructure in towns and regions of the Northern Territory. In 2014-2015 the AAPA completed Authority Certificates for the NBN Project over the townships of Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Nhulunbuy and parts of Darwin.

Historic conviction of miner for desecrating sacred site

The historic prosecution of a Singapore-based mining company for the desecration of an Aboriginal sacred site in the Northern Territory has prompted the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (AAPA) to call for miners to respect the law and honour their agreements, in the middle of a national mining boom. OM Manganese Ltd was today fined $150,000 in the Darwin Magistrates’ Court...

Bootu Creek - Alleged desecration of a sacred site

The Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority has taken legal action against a mining company following damage to a sacred site in the Barkly Region of the Northern Territory. The Authority has charged OM (Manganese) Ltd with two offences under the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act 1989: desecrate a sacred site; and contravene an Authority Certificate.

Successful prosecution for damage to Alice Springs Sacred Site

In the Alice Springs Magistrates Court today, Mrs Julie Sanderson was found guilty of a charge under Section 34 of the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act for damage caused to a sacred site. Charges were brought against Mrs Sanderson under the Sacred Sites Act relating to damage to the sacred ironwood tree during construction works.

Successful prosecution for damage to Alice Springs Sacred Site

In the Alice Springs Magistrates Court today, Mr Stephen Carson pleaded guilty to two charges under the Sacred Sites Act for damaging a sacred site. Mr Carson had an Authority Certificate permitting him to prune a sacred ironwood tree adjacent to his house but Mr Carson lopped the tree so severely that it died.

Arrernte Council Guilty of Damage to Sacred Sites

In the Alice Springs Magistrates Court today, the Arrernte Council pleaded guilty to two charges under the Sacred Sites Act, contravening five conditions of an Authority Certificate. The Magistrate recorded convictions and fined the Arrernte Council $1000 on each charge.