Bill returned from the Senate with amendments, together with a message acquainting the House that the Senate had agreed to the following resolution:

That the following matter be referred to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund for inquiry and report on or before the last day of sitting in 1997:

The urgent need for amendments to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984, consistent with the report of the Review of that Act by Justice Elizabeth Evatt, in order to avoid or minimise the repetition of any further incidents, such as the Hindmarsh Island Bridge situation, in which the spiritual and cultural beliefs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are not able to be properly considered under existing legislative arrangements.

Ordered that the amendments be taken into consideration forthwith.

Senate's amendments—

(1)   Page 1 (after line 8), after clause 2, insert:

   2A Racial Discrimination Act to prevail

(1)   For the avoidance of doubt, it is expressly declared to be the intention of the Parliament that the terms of the Racial Discrimination Act shall prevail over the provisions of this Act.

(2)   Nothing in this Act shall be taken to authorise any conduct, whether legislative, executive or judicial, that is inconsistent with the operation of the Racial Discrimination Act.

(2)   Clause 3, page 2 (after line 7), after the definition of pit area , insert:

Racial Discrimination Act means the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 .