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Unanimous backing for Native Title legislation would send a message around the world
Download PDF Media Release Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
The Hon\Robert Tickner,MP
Sunday, 14 November 1993 ,-ttb. l~J- ~~ . UNANIMOUS BACKING FOR NATIVE TITLE LEGISLATION WOULD SEND A MESSAGE AROUND THE WORLD
The Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs , Robert Tickner, today issued a plea to the Federal Opposition to support the Federal Government's proposed native title legislation and work for the unanimous passage of the legislation through the Australian Parliament.
"Such unanimous backing would send a ringing message around the world that Australia had matured as a nation. It would show that all political parties represented in the Parliament were prepared to recognise native title and to put in place a national regime to respect what limited native title remains after 205 years of non-indigenous occupation, II Mr Tickner said.
II Such unanimous backing would lift the Mabo issue to where it ought to be seen - as an
epic issue of our time elevated above party political pointscoring and opportunism. II
The Minister said that the Australian Council of Churches had today highlighted the great ethical and moral importance of the Parliamentary vote on native title in letters sent to Coalition leaders , and to all Democrat, Green and Independent Senators.
liThe Parliamentary vote on native title would be, without doubt, the most significant ethical and moral decision that each member of the Federal Parliament would take during their term in Parliament, II Mr Tickner said.
IIThere will be no second chances and history will judge both individuals and political parties by the stand that they take in this crucial vote.
IIIt should be stressed that the fundamental principles of the Government's response to Mabo have been on the public record for months, as shown by the outline of the legislation issued on 2 September 1993, and as amended by the Prime Minister's statement on 18 October.
liAs a result, the conservative Premiers of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania have given those principles their broad endorsement, and even the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory , Marshall Perron, has not raised concerns about the Mabo legislation, focussin g instead on the provisions of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territ ory) A ct 1976.11
cont. ..
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Parli am ent H ouse, Ca nberra A C T 2600 Telephon e: (06) 277-7620 Facsimile: (06) 273-41 42
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Mr Tickner said there was simply no excuse for the Coalition to have failed to come to grips with the Government's response to Mabo, and to have taken decisions in principle on the Government's proposals, as have Premiers Fahey and Kennett.
"The Opposition will not be able to equivocate and cop out. The challenge is for them to either join in giving unanimous backing to the legislation or continue.to play a spoiling role when the Bill comes before the Parliament," he said.
"Every member of the Coalition should remember that when the legislation to establish the Council for Abonginal Reconciliation and to commence the reconciliation process came before the Federal Parliament in 1991, it received the unanimous support of the Liberal and National parties including Dr Hewson and Mr Fischer.
"The preamble to that legislation clearly states that the Commonwealth will seek an ongoing national commitment from all governments to work with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission to address Aboriginal disadvantage and aspirations in relation to land ... and other matters leading to the centenary of Federation, in 200l.
"There can be no excuse for the failure of the Coalition to give effect to that commitment on this, the most important legislative matter to come before the Australian Parliament.
"Dr Hewson and the Coalition are clearly aware that the Federal Government's proposals represent a negotiated outcome which does not meet all Aboriginal aspirations but represent a genuine balanced outcome. They include significant concessions to the political demands of both Labor and conservative State and Territory Governments, which in turn have been agreed to by Aboriginal negotiators as a part of that national outcome.
"On the occasion of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation legislation passing through the House of Representatives, Dr Wooldridge, the then-shadow Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, and I were able to reach across the dispatch box and shake hands in the knowledge that we had achieved something for the country.
"What a magnificent outcome it would be if Dr Hewson were able to extend his hand when the Mabo legislation passes through the Parliament. "
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Kirstie Parker, (06) 277 7431 -office (06) 287 2054 -home (018) 628 430 -mobile
