|
October
2000
|
|
|
BEATTIE SELLS-OUT FEDERAL LABOR? The passage of QLD’s Native Title Resolution Act 2000 through state parliament puts Labor federal-state relations under the spotlight. Will traditional owners again be the casuality or will it be the Premier’s legislation? The Queensland Indigenous Working Group says Premier Peter Beattie has failed to honour the commitment he gave to Federal Labor on QLD’s native title regime. On 30 August this year in the Senate, the Federal Opposition voted with government to allow parts of the regime In a doorstop interview that day the Federal Opposition Leader said, “Premier Beattie has agreed that he will, before the end of this year, and, in fact, very soon, amend the 26a proposition that has come forward from Queensland to a position where it is at least as good for the parties concerned as the proposition forthcoming from NSW. On 8 September 2000 the Native Title Resolution Act was passed by the Queensland Parliament, QIWG saying by the Act the State claimed to honour the Premier’s undertakings. But the Working Group says the Premier has clearly failed to uphold his undertaking to Mr Beazley as the Act fails to achieve the required acceptable standard as set by the NSW legislation. The QIWG has written to Premier Beattie and Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley outlining the shortcomings of the NTR Act 2000. The deal between the Mr Beattie and Mr Beazley caused a shake-up in the Labor Party, leading to the resignation of then Shadow Spokesperson for Indigenous Affairs Daryl Melham. Mr Melham said “I did so (resigned) because it’s a matter of principle for me. I was unable to support the Shadow Cabinet’s decision on Queensland Native Title”. His decision is understood to have been based around the right to negotiate.
|
|
HOME | NEWSROOM | LAND RIGHTS FRONT PAGE | ABOUT FAIRA | ISSUES |
|
|
 |
FAIRA
Aboriginal Corporation |