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Bungarun Memorandum of Understanding

Date: 14 October 2005
Sub Category:Memorandum of Understanding
Place:Bungarun, Derby
State/Country:Western Australia, Australia
Bungarun is situated near Derby, about 250 kilometres east-north-east of Broome in Western Australia (Government of Western Australia 2006).
Alternative Names:
  • Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Justice and the Aboriginal Lands Trust
  • Memorandum of Understanding between the DOJ and the ALT
  • Subject Matter:Cultural Heritage | Health and Community Services
    Summary Information:
    The Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Justice, Western Australia (DOJ) and the Aboriginal Lands Trust, Western Australia (ALT) ('the MOU') was signed at Bungarun on 14 October 2005.

    Bungarun
    Between 1936 and 1986, Bungarun was the site of a leprosarium. In 1987, control and care of the property was given to the ALT. Bungarun and surrounding Crown Reserve Land is of 'significant historical and heritage value to Aboriginal people and the St John of God sisters who provided medical care for leprosy patients' (DIA 2005).

    Since 2001, part of the land has been the site of a DOJ work camp, which was established with the support of the Warrawa and Nyigina traditional owners (Department of the Attorney General 2005). Work camps are designed to 'provide select minimum-security prisoners with the opportunity to live in the bush away from the normal prison environment, to work on rewarding projects, and interact with the community on a daily basis' (Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services 2006, 2). The Bungarun work camp houses Indigenous prisoners from Broome Regional Prison (ALT 2005); as at June 2006, the work camp housed 15 prisoners (Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services 2006, 4).

    The MOU
    The MOU 'defines the scope of work undertaken by the work camp prisoners to maintain [the] heritage site' at Bungarun (Department of the Attorney General 2005). Along with a three-year lease, the MOU provides for the use of facilities for the DOJ work camp (ALT 2005). The MOU was made following communications from 'local Indigenous people … to the [ALT] asking for every effort to be made to keep the work camp at the property for as long as possible' (ALT 2005).

    Related Entries

    Organisation
  • Aboriginal Lands Trust (WA) - Signatory
  • Department of Justice (WA) - Signatory

  • References

    Media Release
    Department of the Attorney General, Government of Western Australia (2005) Aboriginal Lands Trust partnership in Kimberley
    Department of Indigenous Affairs, Western Australia (2005) Views sought on Bungarun memorial plan
    Report
    Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services, Government of Western Australia (2006) Digest of Findings Relating to Work Camps as Reported in Published Inspection Reports 2000-2005
    Resource
    Department of Corrective Services, Western Australia Work Camps
    Aboriginal Lands Trust Western Australia (2005) Land News

    Glossary

    Memorandum of Understanding

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