Land Use and Resources in Desert Homelands

Abstract

On 26th January 1984, The Department of Aboriginal Affairs accepted a tender from the North Australia Research Unit (NARU) of the Australian National University to undertake a study of land use practices and related matters in the outstations in Central Australia. The terms of reference required that the Unit report to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs on the following matters, as aids to policy making:- 1. The locations of outstations and their extent amongst the various language groups. 2. The demographic characteristics of outstations. 3. The histories of outstations and of their resources. 4. The histories and current traditional and European land management practices. 5. The availability and quality of land, water, animal and vegetable resources.

Further, the study was to comment on the economic and social dynamics of outstations and make recommendations on policy matters.