Here are the reasons, we believe, that go to the heart of the concerns for Traditional Owners in Australia about this bill, and the process surrounding it. We concentrate on the importance of native title and the Act first created by the Keating Government honouring the Mabo decision, and forming a compact between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

The points raised also encompass our present position and we outline briefly here how the development of this bill works against Wangan and Jagalingou Traditional Owners (W&J), and is inconsistent with our rights.

We have previously detailed our concerns and issues, and included a statement of rights under International law, in our submission and presentation to the Senate Inquiry – and to the UN Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights.

To read the statement in full download this document

We hope in this 25^th anniversary year of the Mabo decision that Senators will give native title reform a more thorough, genuine and worthy hearing than this cursory and limited process currently being run by the Government to secure the interests of a handful of lobbyists clamouring for ‘certainty’.

As Traditional Owners, we are entitled to know that our rights and interests in land, and our laws and customs that underpin them, are respected and protected by Australian law. We need the certainty that we can determine our own future, make our own decisions, and will be asked for our free prior and informed consent before Governments and other interests can impact upon our rights. This is especially so with legislation which is national in scope and far reaching in its effects such as the Native Title Act.

We ask Senators that they do all within their power to ensure the bill is not passed this week and that proper consultations on proposed amendments begin immediately. We encourage them to further use that opportunity, and the 25^th anniversary of the Mabo decision, to begin a national dialogue on substantial Native Title Act reform.