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Talks seek to ease way on land rights | theage.com.au

Talks seek to ease way on land rights *
The Age Jewel Topsfield * November 12, 2008VICTORIA would become the first state in Australia where Aboriginal people could establish land rights without pursuing onerous native title cases in the Federal Court under a ground-breaking deal being negotiated with the State Government.Former social justice commissioner Mick Dodson, who is chairing a committee to develop a framework for the alternative land settlements, described the proposal as a “huge breakthrough”.”It would be the first in Australia where there would be an agreement to negotiate land justice outside of native title or land rights law,” he said……………………………

Under the draft framework, which will be presented to the State Government next month, Aboriginal people could negotiate to obtain access to land on the basis of cultural heritage or traditional claims.

Professor Dodson said this would mean they had other options besides the “expensive and cumbersome” native title process, in which connection to the land must be proved in the Federal Court.

“We might find the Government is prepared to look at a different way of connecting people to the country than the native title test does,” he said.

A possibility could involve traditional owners jointly managing national parks.

Talks seek to ease way on land rights | theage.com.au

November 13, 2008 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized