The Maralinga Tjarutja Council represents the traditional Anangu owners of the remote western areas of South Australia known as the Maralinga Tjarutja lands. Established in 1984, it is one of the four regions of South Australia classified as an Aboriginal Council. The area is not incorporated within a local government area and the Aboriginal Australian people whose historic rights over the land have been officially recognised belong to the southern branch of the Pitjantjatjara people. The land includes a large area contaminated by British nuclear testing in the 1950s, for which the inhabitants were compensated in 1991.
The Maralinga Tjarutja council area has a varied occupational landscape, including professionals, managers, and technicians. Key industries driving the economy are agriculture, manufacturing, and construction. Family households consist of childless couples, couples with children, and single parents. Renting is the primary tenure type, with a majority of households spending less than 30% of income on rent. The population distribution spans across different age groups, with a notable concentration above 50.
