Aborigines win deal over national park

By Bill Mason

Aborigines occupying the Lawn Hill National Park in northern Queensland began leaving their camp on October 28, after winning concessions from state environment minister Molly Robson and minerals and energy minister Tony McGrady.

The three-week occupation ended after the ministers agreed to establish an advisory committee to address joint management issues in the park.

The protesters, mostly from the Waanyi tribe, had been camping in the park, about 240 km north-west of Mt Isa, to demand a say in the park's administration.

Earlier, Carpentaria Land Council coordinator Murrandoo Yanner had angrily rejected a state government order to close the park because of alleged water contamination.

The Waanyi people had vowed that police would have to evict them to end the occupation.

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