A report into native title agreements has recommended a new approach to
lifting the prosperity of Indigenous communities.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner,
Tom Calma, has released a report on the operation of native title laws.
Commissioner Calma says he intends to discuss with Commonwealth, state
and territory governments options for the native title system, including
the selling and leasing of Indigenous land.
"Native title has been distanced from debate about addressing Indigenous
disadvantage and has not been considered a tool for achieving economic
prosperity," he said.
"This needs to change."
Commissioner Calma also says he has put the Federal Government on notice
that he will closely monitor the administration of Indigenous affairs.
He says the abolition of ATSIC and the "main streaming" of the
administration of Indigenous programs raises many challenges for
governments.
"There's a number of ways of being able to, in the immediate term, of
addressing the needs of getting a representative Indigenous voice to
government," he said.
"That is by holding a number of national conferences each year where
people, representative bodies can express their views and government can
listen to those views." |
