Land rights reach into the sea
Natasha Robinson & Patricia Karvelas; 31/7/08
Aboriginal land rights in the Northern Territory have been extended to the sea for the first time in a landmark High Court ruling that gives traditional owners in northeast Arnhem Land control over fishing in tidal waters. Yesterday’s ruling by a majority of the High Court’s full bench sweeps away the common law right to fish in the Territory’s inter-tidal zone and grants traditional owners the right to exclude fishermen and others from tidal waters within Blue Mud Bay in northeast Arnhem Land. The ruling - which will apply to 80 per cent of the Territory’s inter-tidal waters - was welcomed by “overjoyed” Aboriginal leaders, who pledged to work co-operatively with fishing interests and the Territory Government to ensure recreational and commercial fishing could still take place in Aboriginal waters.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24104643-2702,00.html
‘Seas sing’ in coast decision; Lindsay Murdoch; 31/7/08; http://www.theage.com.au/national/seas-sing-in-coast-decision-20080730-3ngd.html
Jenny Macklin aims for future benefits from native title
Patricia Karvelas; 31/7/08
Indigenous people who secured native title agreements could be forced to ensure the long-term benefits of land tenure were enjoyed by future generations, Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin said yesterday. Mining bosses, lawyers and indigenous leaders met Ms Macklin in Canberra yesterday to begin the process of radically rewriting native title law. The Government has revealed it will overhaul native title legislation to allow compensation payments to be used for future generations. It is looking for tangible suggestions to ensure that the benefits of native title “contribute to addressing the economic and social disadvantage facing the indigenous community and are delivered to current and future generations”.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24104669-5013871,00.html
Kakadu tourism to go the indigenous way
Lindsay Murdoch; 31/7/08
Natasha Nadji sat for hours at the feet of her grandfather, the legendary “Kakadu Man”, as he told stories passed on through his Aboriginal ancestors over 50,000 years. “They were amazing … I wanted to hear more and more and my grandad spoke about wanting them to be passed on to white people as well,” she said. Among them was the story of the Rainbow Serpent, a powerful creation spirit that forged passages through rocks and formed waterholes in the land that is now Kakadu National Park.
See: http://www.theage.com.au/national/kakadu-tourism-to-go-the-indigenous-way-20080730-3nge.html
Tags: Aboriginal, Australia, Kakadu TourismAdd new tag, Reconciliation, Rights, Trade