Aboriginal land rights and housing

Aboriginal land rights and housing Mr Justice Woodward s inquiry on Indigenous land rights had recommended in 1974 that freehold title to Aboriginal reserves and certain other lands in the Northern Territory should be vested in Land Trusts and administered by Land Councils acting on the advice and consent of the traditional owners. The proposed legislation did not please the Minister for the Northern Territory (Evan Adermann) and the elected members of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, who argued that it would be deeply resented by a large majority of the local community. Instead they recommended that the Commonwealth pass only framework legislation, leaving the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly to legislate for areas other than existing reserves to minimise discrimination as between Aboriginals and other citizens. Treasury and National Resources also opposed an Aboriginal right of veto over mining. Cabinet nevertheless decided on 25 May 1976 (Decision 896 on Submissions 265 and 287) to proceed with legislation covering all NT Aboriginal reserves, the Hermannsburg and Santa Teresa mission leases, and the Kildurk, Willowra and Wave Hill Aboriginal pastoral leases. Exploration and mining rights would require the agreement of the relevant Land Councils and communities, although the Government could override in the national interest a refusal to grant rights. Attempts to exclude the three pastoral properties, remove or modify the mining veto and clarify the rights of existing miners continued, but the basic principles survived and the Act was finally signed by the Governor-General on 16 December. The 1976 77 Budget gave the Department of Aboriginal Affairs some $26 million less than its actual 1975 76 expenditure, but after a review Cabinet decided to increase 1976 77 funding by $25 million, mainly for housing. Submission 438 reviews progress in Aboriginal housing. Selected documents Submission 265, Implementation of Party Policy on Aboriginal Land Rights 150 Submission 287, Aboriginal Land Rights 158 Decision 896, Submissions 265, 287 and 314, Implementation of Party Policy on Aboriginal Land Rights 163 Submission 438, Aboriginal Housing 168 1976 CABINET RECORDS SELECTED DOCUMENTS 149

Submission 265, Implementation of Party Policy on Aboriginal Land Rights [A12909, 265] 150 1976 CABINET RECORDS SELECTED DOCUMENTS

Submission 265 cont d 1976 CABINET RECORDS SELECTED DOCUMENTS 151

Submission 265 cont d 152 1976 CABINET RECORDS SELECTED DOCUMENTS

Submission 287, Aboriginal Land Rights [A12909, 287] 158 1976 CABINET RECORDS SELECTED DOCUMENTS

Decision 896, Submissions 265, 287 and 314, Implementation of Party Policy on Aboriginal Land Rights [A12909, 265] 1976 CABINET RECORDS SELECTED DOCUMENTS 163

Decision 896 cont d 164 1976 CABINET RECORDS SELECTED DOCUMENTS

Decision 896 cont d 1976 CABINET RECORDS SELECTED DOCUMENTS 165

Decision 896 cont d 166 1976 CABINET RECORDS SELECTED DOCUMENTS

Decision 896 cont d 1976 CABINET RECORDS SELECTED DOCUMENTS 167

Submission 438, Aboriginal Housing [A12909, 438] 168 1976 CABINET RECORDS SELECTED DOCUMENTS