National Indigenous Working Group on Native Title

LOCAL GOVERNMENT WELCOMES RECOGNITION OF REGIONAL AND LOCAL AGREEMENTS

Australian Local Government Association

21 April 1997

Press Releases
The Australian Local Government Association welcomes the Government's reported proposal to include recognition of regional and local agreements in the amendments to the Native Title Act. Local Government is keen to participate fully in the response to Native Title and are proposing to work with all significant groups to develop a considered response to native title with the focus on negotiated outcomes.

Local Government is keen to work with the commonwealth, State and Territory governments and believes we are best placed strategically to provide the local and regional support. We are keen to maximise the negotiation and mediation processes as inclusive processes at the community level.

ALGA made our position very clear to the Prime Minister's Wik Task Force in March. We are keen to develop within Local Government a wide body of knowledge on native title and have been negotiating a strategy with the National Native Title Tribunal. Our joint aim is to deliver seminars at the local, regional and State levels as well as develop information kits for Local Government that will provide them with the necessary information to respond to this very important issue.

Local Government has placed an emphasis on the development of negotiated regional agreements as an alternative to the claims process. Certainty must be delivered to all parties: leaseholders, developers, and native title holders. Local and Regional agreements are one tool in this process and Local Government are keen to research and explore this issue.

John Campbell, Business Hours: 07 340035531, After Hours: 07 33989203, Mobile: 0419 709283