White residents threaten to sue for racial discrimination after being kicked out of an opal-mining town on Aboriginal land
- Opal-mining town Mintabie, in South Australia’s north, had its lease terminated
- Land to return to Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) on July 1, 2019
- The report found an increase in ‘lawlessness, drug trafficking, and violence’
- The residents will be suing the state government for racial discrimination
A group of white residents are threatening to sue for racial discrimination after being kicked out of an opal-mining town on Aboriginal land.
Remote mining town Mintabie, in South Australia’s north, had its residential lease terminated by the state government a year ago following an independent review.
The damning report revealed the area had ‘increasing lawlessness, drug trafficking and violence in the area’ and recommended the Outback town’s closure.
But furious locals – some who have been given until today to leave their homes – say they are not to blame for the town’s problems and are being ‘treated like dogs’.
Opal-mining town Mintabie had its lease terminated following a report released a year ago revealing the area had ‘increasing lawlessness, drug trafficking and violence in the area’
The report concluded that the control of the land would be returned to Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) on July 1, 2019
Lawyer Todd Grant, who is representing the Mintabie Miners’ Progress Association, revealed he would be filing legal documents after a heated town hall meeting on Sunday.
‘I would hope it doesn’t come to this but sometimes you have to kick the schoolyard bully where it hurts, so to speak,’ Mr Grant told The Australian.
‘I think it’s overwhelmingly likely we’ll be filing documents in the Federal Court in the next two weeks.’
The government commissioned independent review concluded that control of the land would be returned to Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) on July 1, 2019.
The small dusty town is home to up to 60 residents, most who live in ‘substandard buildings and shacks’.
The report claimed that the residents were providing the Aboriginal people in neighbouring towns with drugs and alcohol.
They deny the claims and told the publication that they feel ‘unfairly demonised’.
Several residents have received a letter informing them that they were in town with no authority and are required to vacate by 5pm Monday
While most residents have been given until June 30 to leave their homes, those who are behind on their lease payments have been told they must leave by 5pm Monday.
Robert Haanstra has been living in Mintabie since he was a young boy and is now facing eviction.
He said he nor his parents have a criminal record and that he will remain in the town despite the eviction order.
‘For us it’s comfortable and we have the prospect of finding a million dollars whenever we go to mine opal. It’s like having an uncashed lottery ticket in your pocket,’ he told The Australian.