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.

Ever since that first agreement was made in 2008, we’ve been saying that Kokatha people have never been properly recognised or fairly compensated for the impact mining has had on our Country, our culture and our community.

That is why KAC has been working hard to improve our agreements with BHP and making sure Kokatha people have a stronger voice in decisions that affect our Country.

As many members will know, the Olympic Dam mine operates under a special piece of law called the Roxby Downs (Indenture Ratification) Act.

In 1982 the Indenture Act was passed by the Government to give Western Mining all the approval and rights it needed to establish the Olympic Dam mine.

Kokatha people protested against the Indenture and the destruction of Kokatha land in the 1980s.

Earlier this year, the State Government and BHP announced that they were making changes to the Indenture Act with short notice before the bill was put to Parliament.

The KAC Board was very disappointed that these changes happened without properly talking to Kokatha people first.

It took action quickly to obtain briefings, including from the Government on the amendments and to raise its concerns.

On behalf of KAC, Chairperson Nyani Thomas made a submission to the Parliamentary Select Committee considering the amendments and asked for important changes to be made before the Bill became law.

Some of the things KAC asked Parliament to do included:

• That the Indenture recognises Kokatha People as the native title holders of the land that Olympic Dam, Carrapateena and Oak Dam is on;
• Making sure Kokatha people receive fair compensation for the impact mining has had on our Country over many years;
• That BHP be required to enter into a new agreement with the Kokatha people before the Special Mining Lease is extended;
• Ensuring Kokatha people are involved in decisions that affect our land.
• Giving Kokatha people a seat at important decision-making tables.
• Creating more jobs, business opportunities and housing for Kokatha people;
• and Making sure KAC receives important reports and information about future mining plans and is consulted about project approvals that impact us.

These requests were all about giving Kokatha people a stronger voice, involvement in decision making and acknowledgement of the impact of the Indenture has on us.

You can read our submission by clicking on the button below.

The KAC Directors also met with BHP including BHP Copper SA Asset President Anna Wiley, to raise concerns about the Indenture and the process of how the amendments had been made.

The Bill Still Passed Even though KAC worked hard to have the Bill changed, Parliament quickly passed the new laws.

Although the outcome was disappointing, we will continue working with, and pushing, the Government and BHP to achieve better outcomes for Kokatha people.

Our job is to stand up for our community, protect our Country and make sure future generations are in a stronger position than those who came before us.

That work continues every day and is the focus of the new Olympic Dam Agreement that we’re currently negotiating with BHP.

KAC has made it clear that Kokatha people expect that BHP will engage respectfully through a new Olympic Dam Agreement that gives Kokatha people a stronger voice, proper compensation and a real place in future decision-making.