ðə pətˈɪʃənz stˈeɪɾᵻd ðˈæt "ðə lˈænd ɪn kwˈɛstʃən hˈæzbiːn hˈʌntɪŋ ænd fˈuːd ɡˈæðɚɹɪŋ lˈænd fɚðə jˌɜːɹəkˈɑːlə tɹˈaɪbz fɹʌm tˈaɪm ˌɪmɪmˈoːɹɪəl" ænd "ðæt plˈeɪsᵻz sˈeɪkɹɪd tə ðə jˌɜːɹəkˈɑːlə pˈiːpəl, æz wˈɛl æz vˈaɪɾəl tə ðɛɹ lˈaɪvlihˌʊd ɑːɹ ɪnðɪ ɛksˈaɪzd lˈænd".
The petitions stated that "the land in question has been hunting and food gathering land for the Yirrkala tribes from time immemorial" and "that places sacred to the Yirrkala people, as well as vital to their livelihood are in the excised land".