THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN THE ANANGU PITJANTJATJARA YANKUNYTJATJARA (APY) LANDS: A FRONT LINE IN TENSIONS BETWEEN TRADITIONAL ABORIGINAL CULTURE AND THE CRIMINAL LAW Peter Whellum LLB (Hons 1) (CDU), GDLP (ANU), Assoc. Dip. Arts (UNISA) A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Faculty of Professions University of Adelaide, August 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: Thesis Introduction ..................................................................................... v Abstract ............................................................................................................................. v Declaration of Originality ............................................................................................... vii Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................... ix Glossary of Terms ............................................................................................................ xi Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara Words ...................................................................... xiv Map of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands of South Australia .. xvii Map of the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands of SA, NT and WA . xviii I Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 II Research Methodology ............................................................................................. 4 A Empirical Research ............................................................................................... 4 B Statistical Data ...................................................................................................... 6 C Literature Review ................................................................................................. 6 III Thesis Outline ......................................................................................................... 20 Chapter 2: Sovereignty, Legal Pluralism and Criminal Justice ............................... 25 I Introduction ............................................................................................................. 25 II Sovereignty ............................................................................................................. 26 A Western Concepts of Sovereignty ....................................................................... 27 B Rejection of Aboriginal Sovereignty by Australian Courts ................................ 28 C Rethinking Absolute Sovereignty ....................................................................... 30 D Indigenous Concepts of Sovereignty .................................................................. 31 III Legal Pluralism ....................................................................................................... 41 A Introduction ......................................................................................................... 41 B Legal Pluralism and Indigenous Customary Law ............................................... 42 IV Questions of Sovereignty and Legal Pluralism in the Administration of Criminal Justice in inter se Aboriginal Disputes ........................................................................... 45 A Early Colonial Cases and Legislation ................................................................. 45 B Post-Settlement Pluralism ................................................................................... 51 V Conclusions ............................................................................................................. 54 i Chapter 3: The APY Lands in Context ...................................................................... 55 I Introduction ............................................................................................................. 55 II APY Lands — Overview ........................................................................................ 55 A Traditional Lifestyle ........................................................................................... 56 B Traditional Culture and Law ............................................................................... 57 C Traditional Sanctions/Punishments..................................................................... 60 D Post-European Settlement ................................................................................... 62 E Inalienable Freehold Title ................................................................................... 63 F APY Lands — Demographics ............................................................................ 65 G Employment ........................................................................................................ 68 H Other Sources of Income .................................................................................... 68 I Self-Determination .............................................................................................. 70 J Challenges and Strengths .................................................................................... 71 III Health and Welfare Dilemmas ................................................................................ 73 A Life Expectancy .................................................................................................. 73 B Suicide and Self-Harm ........................................................................................ 74 C Hearing Loss ....................................................................................................... 75 D Petrol Sniffing ..................................................................................................... 77 E Violence and Sexual Abuse ................................................................................ 79 F Illicit Drugs ......................................................................................................... 82 G Alcohol ................................................................................................................ 82 H Gambling ............................................................................................................ 83 IV Crime Statistics ....................................................................................................... 84 A APY Lands .......................................................................................................... 84 B South Australia ................................................................................................... 85 C Over-Representation in the Criminal Justice System ......................................... 86 V Conclusions ............................................................................................................. 88 ii Chapter 4: Policing the APY Lands ............................................................................ 89 I Introduction ............................................................................................................. 89 II APY Lands Policing — Overview.......................................................................... 90 A Policing the North West ...................................................................................... 90 B Increasing Police Presence in the APY Lands .................................................... 91 C Aboriginal Police and Community Constables Programs .................................. 93 D Community Safety Programs .............................................................................. 99 III APY Policing Issues ............................................................................................. 105 A Staffing Remote Police Stations ....................................................................... 105 B APY Lands Police Recruiting Incentives ......................................................... 106 C FIFO Policing ................................................................................................... 108 D Police Stations in the APY Lands ..................................................................... 111 IV Language and Culture Issues ................................................................................ 116 A Introduction ....................................................................................................... 116 B Cultural Training for APY Lands Police .......................................................... 119 C Police Cautions, Interpreters and Bail .............................................................. 123 D Police Prosecutors ............................................................................................. 141 V Conclusions ........................................................................................................... 142 Chapter 5: The Administration of Justice in the APY Lands ................................ 144 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 144 Part 1 ............................................................................................................................. 144 I APY Lands Criminal Courts ................................................................................. 144 A APY Criminal Courts Today ............................................................................ 147 II Current Issues — APY Criminal Courts .............................................................