Native title in the spotlight
A Broome gathering of indigenous leaders and politicians has been heralded as a "new beginning" when it comes to discussing the economic empowerment of Australia's indigenous people.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda and Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson convened the meeting last Tuesday in a bid to address indigenous property rights after native title.
The two-day Indigenous Leaders Roundtable included about 60 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives, discussing issues facing indigenous Australians in exercising their native title and property rights, and the need for reform.
Attorney-General Senator George Brandis said the meeting highlighted a clear frustration among indigenous communities.
"The recognition of native title by the High Court 23 years ago was a landmark event, but there is an obvious frustration among indigenous people … that the expectations created by the written condition of native title have not been fully realised," he said.
"So much of the discussion … reflected an acknowledgement of the fact we shouldn't be talking about native title as a theoretical right but as an actual property right."
After the meeting, Sen. Brandis said discussions would be raised about the upcoming referendum in 2017 to recognise indigenous people in the Constitution.
He said Prime Minister Tony Abbott would be hosting an important meeting with indigenous leaders within weeks.
Mr Wilson said there had been an "overwhelming enthusiasm to talk about these issues in a constructive way to effect change".
"This is the beginning of a process where we have leaders meeting to raise the profile of the issue," he said.
"We've committed to a process to affect change which is going to mean ongoing dialogue … secondly with Government and start to identify the key barriers, the key bits of red tape and key bits of legislation that make it harder for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to develop their lands, to create economic opportunities for their people."
Nyamba Buru Yawuru community programs general manager Tony Lee said he was hoping there would be some really positive things to come out of the meeting as the "engagement has been long overdue".
"It's also historic in that the senior Government minister is prepared to sit down with this leadership and to actually look at some of those really important issues that are affecting community, native title, particularly like Broome," he said.
