BY JOHN McGILL
ADELAIDE — The home of Sandra Saunders, Aboriginal activist and former director of the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement, was raided by court officers on February 13. They were searching for notes and other material relating to a civil case by the developers against opponents of the Hindmarsh Island bridge.
Court officers, two solicitors and two private investigators searched Saunders home for almost six hours and went away empty handed. Saunders appeared in court on August 2 and was questioned about the material. She told the court she was unable to produce the material as it did not belong to her and she could not break the trust of the Ngarrindjeri community who had entrusted it to her. The judge passed the case to another court for a decision.
In October, Judge O'Loughlin agreed with Saunders' argument that producing the material would be in breach of the Aboriginal Heritage Act. The appeal court overturned this decision in November and returned the case to O'Loughlin. On February 2, O'Loughlin said he had no alternative but to reverse his decision.
Saunders described the home invasion as "horrible". Saunders has not been informed why the court wants the material or who would have access to it. She has been ordered to pay the developers' costs. The case against the opponents of the bridge is now hearing final submissions.