Traditional Owners are urging developer Defence Housing Australia to extend the pause on bulldozers clearing land at Binybara – Lee Point in Darwin.

Minister Plibersek is yet to provide Larrakia Danggalaba Traditional Owner, Tibby Quall with a
Statement of Reasons, explaining why she refused an application to declare that Lee Point is a significant Aboriginal area under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act.

On behalf of Larrakia-Dangalabba Traditional Owner Tibby Quall of the Batcho family, lawyers
from Environmental Justice Australia are calling on DHA to pause land clearing works while
Traditional Owners await the reasons and consider their legal options.

DHA could begin land clearing work on their multi-million-dollar development from today -
Monday 8 April 2024.

Traditional Owners are concerned the development would destroy a significant cultural
landscape where several Dreamings connect.

Larrakia Danggalaba Traditional owner Tibby Quall said:

“We haven't had a chance to consider all our legal options because we don’t even know the
Minister’s reasons for refusing our application. Until then, it would be unfair for DHA to begin
land clearing.

We are the Owners of this country. Our voices must be heard.

We cannot let our Country be destroyed for developer profits. The destruction of Lee Point will
not just be a tragedy for our people, but for all Australians.”

EJA Co-CEO Nicola Rivers said:

“Our client is yet to receive the Minister's reasons for refusing his application for cultural
heritage protection.

All land clearing works should be paused to allow our client to understand the basis for the Minister's decision and consider his options.

Our client is simply asking the developer to extend the pause on clearing to give him a fair
opportunity to receive and consider the Minister’s reasons for refusing the cultural heritage
application.”