cA Urgent Action on a Land Rights Bill & Tomorrow, 8 Oct 8pm Speaking Out on RN & 27 Oct online event
Sabine Kacha
A call for URGENT Action & Support
The Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Amendment (Economic Empowerment) Bill 2021[1]
Will this economic empowerment Bill truly work for
Traditional Owners and Custodians or for others?
Friends
The above Bill to amend the 1976 Northern Territory Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NT ALRA) suddenly appeared before the Federal Parliament, the House of Representatives (HOR), in late August and is being rushed through the parliament. There are significant changes proposed to the 1976 Act, which we believe will be before the HOR for its 3rd reading, in just a few weeks.
The 1976 NT ALRA provided protections and rights for Traditional Aboriginal Owners (TOs). The Act has been amended over the years including in 2006 and 2007 but changes removed important protections. In 2006 e.g. (the government-imposed) the possibility for 99-year leasing of Aboriginal Townships into the legislation altering the nature of Aboriginal land tenure in the NT; in effect alienating freehold Aboriginal lands that are supposedly inalienable.[2] And, from 2006 the Aboriginal Benefit Account (ABA)[3] was used to fund these Commonwealth promoted township leases. Just a few have been taken out. This has cost the ABA a net $33 million to date, funds which should have supported the priorities of Aboriginal people in the NT.
To increase the rate of (this heavily resisted ) township-leasing model this bill - amongst significant other changes - seeks to increase the number of township leasing models through a commitment of transferring the leaseholder from a Commonwealth entity to an approved Aboriginal Organisation over time. A Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills has raised serious concerns about the lack of detail in this and more.[4]
There are many other changes including around how Land Councils choose to consult with TOs. To what extent have all TOs and Custodians been ‘consulted’? This is the first major amendment Bill in over 40 years that will not be subject to proper parliamentary scrutiny!
Given the significance of the 1976 ALRA Act to First Nations Peoples of the NT and the significance of the 2021 proposed amendments (as noted by the Minister and Opposition themselves) cA believe an inquiry is urgently required, hence we have called for a Senate Committee Inquiry. Please refer to our attached letter to Minister Ken Wyatt of 16th September which alludes to just a few of our concerns. We are asking friends to join us.
It is important to note also that this Bill has received insufficient parliamentary scrutiny and so far, attracted no media, public, academic, or Indigenous attention. This Bill has the support of ALP and Land Councils. We need your help and that of your organisations to get this to an inquiry.
Will this bill serve to economically empower or further disempower Traditional Owners and Custodians?
Request:
We are calling on you to please email your MP/ Senator (and then follow through with a phone call to their office requesting the secretary print your email off and bring it to the urgent attention of your Minister/ Senator as this will be before parliament again very soon). Please contact:
1) Your Federal Member of Parliament - details via electorate here and copy in Ken Wyatt MP Ken.wy...@aph.gov.au
2) Your State/ Territory Senators to raise awareness of the need for detailed inquiry of this bill via a Senate Committee Inquiry of this significant bill.
3) Any other Member of the Federal parliament that you may already have a relationship with, including Independents or the crossbench.
Add your contact details and ask for a response.
Please request their support calling and lobbying for a Senate Committee Inquiry into The Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Amendment (Economic Empowerment) Bill 2021
With Very Many ThanksGeorgina Gartland
‘concerned Australians’in...@concernedaustralians.org.au
'concerned Australians' acknowledge the First Nations Peoples, the Traditional Owners of this land and their many unique cultures and languages. We respect the knowledge and wisdom of Elders past and present. They have never ceded their sovereignty and we commit to walking with them in their quest for truth, justice and treaties.
[1] https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r6766
[2] Ian Viner AO QC former Aboriginal Affairs Minister 1975-1978. http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/media/Ian_Viner_Plan_to_undermine_Land_Rights_Act.pdf
[3]Ibid , Royalty monies received from mining on Aboriginal lands. See the 2006 Act .
[4] https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r6766 at Scrutiny Digest 15 of 2021 pp1-6.