Sacred Lake Torrens at centre of legal battle over Argonaut Resources drilling proposal
updated 4
MarMarch 2021 at 10:42pm
The Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation has launched a bid for a judicial review into the decision to allowing drilling on Lake Torrens
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Legal proceedings have been launched against a minerals exploration company drilling for ore on the surface of Australia s second largest salt lake.
Key points:
In late 2020, Premier Steven Marshall approved the exploratory drilling, despite opposition from Aboriginal groups
Despite the bid for a judicial review, the State Government has confirmed the company will be allowed to continue drilling
Aboriginal leaders in South Australia say they want to see the “highest level of accountability and transparency” in community organisations, but have criticised an inquiry into issues of governance approved by the Marshall government last week.
The South Australian Parliament approved a formal inquiry into the “governance standards” of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations across the state, after a campaign from Aboriginal community members.
The inquiry will review the accountability, transparency, cultural authority and financial obligations of community controlled organisations and will be conducted by the Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee.
It’s a move that has been criticised by Indigenous leaders across the state as “undermining” Aboriginal people’s ability to self-govern and impeding on their path to self-determination.
Calls for South Australian MP to resign from corruption committee after ICAC charges
South Australian MP Fraser Ellis has resigned from the Liberal Party, but pressure is mounting for him to be removed from a body that investigates corruption.
This week Mr Ellis was charged with 23 counts of deception by the ICAC, accused of misusing an accommodation allowance to the tune of $18,000.
He is still a member of the Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee.
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Mr Ellis with the Premier Steven Marshall.(Facebook) It is completely untenable that Fraser Ellis remains on this committee, Shadow Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher said today.
The SA Opposition says it is "completely untenable" for Member for Narungga Fraser Ellis to remain on a parliamentary committee tasked with looking into alleged corruption at the same time as he faces deception charges following an ICAC probe.