Page 3477 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 11 October 1994
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The objectives of the agenda are, firstly, to redress the disadvantage that is faced by Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders in the ACT; to enhance empowerment and participation in decisions that affect Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders; to support the maintenance and development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to recognise the particular concerns of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders in relation to land, encompassing traditional affiliations as well as the role of secure access to land. Madam Speaker, that draft agenda has been before the community for comment since 20 June and it is now being refined in close consultation with the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council.
In conclusion, I believe that this Native Title Bill is just one of a number of steps that are needed for our community to deal in a comprehensive fashion with the many issues facing the indigenous peoples of our nation. An ongoing process of dialogue, of policy development to redress disadvantage, and of positive measures to encourage reconciliation is required to fully achieve justice and empowerment for ACT Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders. Again, Madam Speaker, I welcome the support for the Bill and I certainly look forward to making progress on the other steps that I have outlined as well.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Detail Stage
Bill, by leave, taken as a whole
MR HUMPHRIES (11.09): Madam Speaker, I want to refer to page 9 of the explanatory memorandum, where the ACT's position is summarised. It says there in bold type:
It is very unlikely a Native Title Decision style claim for the ACT's residential, commercial and rural lands will succeed.
I assume that that means "... all rural lands will succeed". It seems to me that that is a slight variation on what was originally said about the position. It was put that there was no possibility of a native title-style claim for any of those areas succeeding. I welcome the fact that there is an acknowledgment of that slight uncertainty, because that is precisely why legislation like this is necessary. The Chief Minister says that she chooses to ignore the comments I have made. I invite her, however, to justify what she said to the Assembly and to cite anything which I have said in the past in respect of native title in this debate with which she now disagrees. The challenge is on the Government to show that that has occurred; and, of course, it has not occurred.
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