NT: Powerful Aboriginal leader fights for return of gun licence

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2009
NT: Powerful Aboriginal leader fights for return of gun licence

By Tara Ravens

DARWIN, April 2 AAP - Galarrwuy Yunupingu is adamant he can tell his pet croc from
the rogues at his remote Arnhem Land home.

Even so, they're all shifty creatures, and he can't be sure his pet reptile wasn't
the one that recently made a meal of his dog.

With crocs around, and charging buffaloes to boot, you've simply got to have a gun,
the Aboriginal leader has told a tribunal where he's fighting for the return of his shooter's
licence.

The 61-year-old wants the Northern Territory Firearms Tribunal to restore his right
to have guns so he can protect and provide for 30 family members who live with him at
the Dhanaya outstation.

The former Australian of the Year, considered the Northern Territory's most influential
Aboriginal leader, told the tribunal that crocs in particular were a constant threat.

"My little puppy dog was taken in front of my house, a little dog for my kids," he
told the hearing on Thursday.

"Since my gun was taken away I have to sit out there with a spear and keep an eye on
the little ones and make sure there is no danger."

Mr Yunupingu had his firearms licence revoked as part of a restraining order in 2006.

The order was later quashed but he was forced to surrender his licence and firearms
after it emerged a number of them were missing - given away to friends or family while
others were discarded in billabongs or swamps.

The prominent Arnhem Land leader, who is the head ceremonial man for up to 1,000 Yolngu
people, sought to have his licence reinstated in 2008.

But his application was denied and he's now appealing the decision and seeking a shooter's
licence at the tribunal in the Darwin Magistrates Court.

Mr Yunupingu said he was responsible for funerals, marriages and sickness ceremonies
and that it was his "job" to provide for the clans.

"I take full responsibility for leadership," he said, adding he needed to use firearms
"to hunt fresh meat and for protection".

"I can't protect myself if there is a charging bull because I simply won't have a weapon
..." he said.

But lawyer Peter Barr, representing the Northern Territory police, told the tribunal
that Mr Yunupingu was known to feed a pet crocodile on the beach near his community.

"You are courting, to some extent, the hazard that you are using to justify your need
for a shooter's licence," he said.

Mr Yunupingu replied: "I can identify my pet crocodile, I can identify the wild ones
- not that I would feed my pet dogs to them!"

But he added: "You can't trust them, they don't think like us."

Mr Yunupingu told the tribunal he now realised he needed to take particular care with
his weapons and had not realised he'd breached any gun laws in the past.

He said he would not let the same situation happen again.

"I have learnt a lot of lessons. I think I have not enjoyed (my time) without guns," he said.

"I will tell all my people and my family to leave my guns. I will protect my guns."

Mr Yunupingu's lawyer John Lawrence said his client intended to store his firearms
in a locked safe in his house.

"He totally accepts that in the past he has transgressed the act ... mainly giving
them (guns) to people and the method he disposed of them," he said.

"He has a number of responsibilities: personal, cultural and national."

The tribunal, chaired by Magistrate Dick Wallace, continues on Friday.

AAP tr/tnf/de

KEYWORD: YUNUPINGU WRAP

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