Policy Change and the Indigenous Land Corporation - by Patrick Sullivan(2009) (PDF, 423kb) http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/10746/AIATSIS_DP_25.pdf

Indigenous Land Corporation should be more accountable: Sullivan
http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/10747/2009_0907_ILCReport.pdf

Local Indigenous talent to shine at NAIDOC gig
http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/10744/2009-0807_NAIDOConthePeninsula.pdf

Bilingual the best way to learn English: AIATSIS Symposium
http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/10701/2009_2506_Bilingual.pdf

Bilingual education symposium to discuss NT policy
http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/10687/2009_2306_Bilingual_media.pdf

10th Annual Native Title Conference - 2009 Mabo Lecture
http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/10633/MaboLecture_2009x.pdf

Indigenous intervention, doing good and racism

The High Court has just handed down its decision on the constitutionality of the legislation enabling the Northern Territory intervention: Wurridjal v Commonwealth of Australia [2009] HCA 2. A majority of the Court ruled that the legislation was constitutional, with Kirby J delivering a last (and controversial) dissent. It is a fascinating decision, involving the question of whether the Commonwealth has acquired property by reason of the Northern Territory intervention, and, if so, whether it has done so under “just terms” as required by s 51(xxxi) of the Constitution. [The short answer, for those who can't be bothered reading through the entire post, is that the majority of the Court concluded that property was acquired by the Commonwealth as a result of the intervention, but that the terms were just.]

Indigenous Affairs Legislation Ammendment Bill 2008

A Bill for an Act to amend laws in relation to Aboriginal land in the Northern Territory, and for other purposes

Indigenous land use agreement signed in Toowoomba

27 February 2008

An indigenous land use agreement over the Battle of One Tree Hill site, 6.5 km south-east of Toowoomba, will be signed today to ensure the protection of significant Aboriginal places and broader community use of the area.

Webb v State of Western Australia [2007] FCA 1342

This case involved a native title determination application lodged by SWALSC over the southwest corner of Western Australia and follows the low water mark covering an area from Dunsboroough to Capel. The application was registered in October 2006 and consdieres the new s 94C enacted under the Native Title Amendment Act 2007. The Native Titel Registrar is resposible for notification under s 66 C of the NTA. The Court cosnidered the relationship between s 94 C and s 66C. It noted that the purpose of s 94 C is to ‘provide for summary
dismissal of native title determination applications that have been filed to secure procedural rights with respect to future acts covered by the right to negotiate provisions…the mecanism of summary ismissal enliven when, broadly speaking the procedureal rights are effectively exhausedted and the natvie title determination application is not beign pursued to a mediated or litigated determination’. The report provided by the native title registrar is a ‘styatutpry means for drawing the attention of the Court to applications which may meet the conditions of dismissal under s 94C’. The Court is not bound by the report and dimissal under s 94 is not considered unless there is failure to comply with direction under s 94C(1)(e)(i) of there has been a failure
to take steps to resolve the claim. and following the notification of proposed future acts. Justice French found that the area of the claim was much larger than areas covered by future act notices and the application was a part of regional work program. Accordingly he found that ther was no occasion for consideration of mandatory dismissal provisions.

CAEPR - What's New

CAEPR Topical Issue: Costing the NT Intervention 'Stabilise, normalise and exit = $4 billion. Cheap at the price?' by Jon Altman [29 June 2007]

CAEPR Topical Issue: Remote Education and Training Options for Warlpiri Education and Training a report by Jerry Schwab. [27 June 2007]

CAEPR Topical Issue: Land Rights Act Amendments Amended Land Rights Law will be Bad Law - a submission by Professor Jon Altman to the Senate Inquiry into proposed NT Land Rights Act amendments. [27 June 2007]

New Arrangements in Indigenous Affairs
'Yet another failed Howard government experiment in Indigenous affairs?'
by Jon Altman. An initial response to the Commonwealth's new approach to Indigenous Affairs, announced on 21 June 2007. [25 June 2007]


Indigenous plan 'to cost up to $4bn' The Australian, 26 Jun 2007.

Indigenous self determination and the federal intervention Australia Talks, Radio National, featuring Mal Brough, David Martin, Wesley Aird, 25 Jun 2007.

Budgeting for all Australians, except the Indigenous ones Australians All/Crikey, personal commentary by Jon Altman, 10 May 2007.

Native title report 2006

Tom Calma / Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
Economic development can and does happen on Indigenous land, and when the preconditions are right, Indigenous Australians can and do achieve great things on the land, writes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma in this report. The report also contains a national survey of Indigenous land owners, which found that although custodial responsibilities and land care were their first priority, nearly all respondents strongly supported economic development.