Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (KAC) has been fighting to get a better deal for Kokatha People from BHP and the Olympic Dam mine for almost 20 years.
As members know, KAC is currently in negotiations with BHP for a new agreement to properly recognise and compensate Kokatha People for the impact Olympic Dam mine has had on our Country, our culture and our community.
Earlier this year, the South Australian Government and BHP made amendments to the Roxby Downs (Indenture Ratification) Act.
Kokatha People have a long history of protesting against the Indenture and the destruction of Kokatha land, starting in the 1980s, when the Indenture Act was passed by the Government to give Western Mining all the approval and rights it needed to establish Olympic Dam mine.
The KAC Board was very disappointed that these changes happened without properly talking to Kokatha People first and took action quickly to raise its concerns.
This included making a submission to Parliament to advocate for changes that would give Kokatha People a stronger voice, involvement in decision making and acknowledgement of the impact of the Indenture has on us.
A copy of the submission and further information about this can be found here 
https://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/…/Committees-Detail
https://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/…/Committees-DetailThe legislation was however quickly passed by the Government without any changes.
KAC has made it clear to BHP that a new Olympic Dam Agreement must recognise Kokatha People and our land, provide proper compensation, and a real place in decision-making.
In July, KAC Directors visited Olympic Dam to hear about BHP’s proposed Smelter and Refinery Expansion and Environmental Impact Statement and KAC representatives attended BHP’s Traditional Owners forum to talk to BHP executives about these important issues.
You can read the full story about the work KAC’s doing in our latest newsletter 
https://kokatha.com.au/july-newsletter-now-online/ and there will also be an update from the KAC negotiation team and BHP at the Common Law Holders’ Meeting tomorrow Saturday 8 August 2026.
https://kokatha.com.au/july-newsletter-now-online/ and there will also be an update from the KAC negotiation team and BHP at the Common Law Holders’ Meeting tomorrow Saturday 8 August 2026.Pictured – the KAC Olympic Dam negotiation team with lawyers Leonora and Stephen from Camatta Lempens