The Hindmarsh Island affair and Australian anthropology

Abstract

The Hindmarsh Island Bridge affair began in 1988 as a simple development approval for a marina but became a major Australian controversy when the construction of a bridge between Goolwa and the island was stopped because of secret concerns held by Ngarrindjeri women. Investigative journalist Margaret Simons has now published The Meeting of The Waters: Secret Women's Business (Hodder), after four years examining the case, and concludes that there were fundamental flaws in the rule of law, parliamentary democracy and the media's coverage of the affair. Anthropologist Dr Ron Brunton, a critic of opponents to the building of the Hindmarsh Island Bridge, sees the affair differently. On Wednesday, 30 July 2003, Ron Brunton and Margaret Simons addressed The Sydney Institute to debate the issue.