Senator HARRADINE(12.57 p.m.) —I think the minister has made it pretty clear. The assurance is now on the record.

Senator Minchin —I have accepted it.

Senator Bolkus —He is accepting the opposition amendment.

Senator HARRADINE —Well, that is excellent.

Amendment agreed to.

Amendment (by Senator Bolkus) agreed to:

(322)   Schedule 3, item 30, page 240 (after line 28), at the end of section 203B, add:

      Priorities of representative bodies

   (4)   A representative body:

      (a)   must from time to time determine the priorities it will give to performing its functions under this Part; and

      (b)   may allocate resources in the way it thinks fit so as to be able to perform its functions efficiently;

      but must give priority to the protection of the interests of native title holders.

Amendments (by Senator Bolkus) proposed:

(309)   Schedule 3, item 11, page 225 (after line 16), at the end of subsection (1), add:

         and

      (e)   the body will satisfactorily protect the interests of native title holders and other indigenous people interested in particular land within the area.

(321)   Schedule 3, item 30, page 240 (after line 16), at the end of subsection (1), add:

      (h)   to satisfactorily protect the interests of native title holders and other indigenous people interested in particular land or waters within its area.

(334)   Schedule 3, item 30, page 249 (line 15) to page 250 (line 12), omit section 203BJ, substitute:

203BJ Other functions

   (1)   The functions of representative bodies set out in this section are in addition to those referred to in sections 203BB to 203BI.

   (2)   A representative body may, whenever it considers it necessary in the performance of its functions, consult with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities that might be affected by the matters with which the body is dealing.

   (3)   A representative body must, as far as is reasonably practicable:

      (a)   enter into written arrangements with other representative bodies so that the representative body can exercise its facilitation and assistance functions in relation to a matter of a kind referred to in paragraph 203BD(a) or (b); and

      (b)   identify persons who may hold native title in the area for which the body is the representative body; and

      (c)   take such action as the body considers appropriate to promote understanding, among Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders living in the area, about matters relevant to the operation of this Act; and

      (d)   inform such of the following as the representative body knows are, in relation to the area:

         (i)   registered native title bodies corporate;

         (ii)   native title holders;

         (iii)   persons who may hold native title;

      of any matter that the representative body considers may relate to, or may have an impact upon, native title in the area; and

      (e)   co-operate with other representative bodies for the purpose of promoting the effective and efficient exercise of the functions and powers of representative bodies; and

      (f)   use its best endeavours to protect the interests of native title holders with respect to land or waters within its area; and

      (g)   use its best endeavours to protect the interests of indigenous people interested in particular land or waters within its area.