Native Title, a legal recognition of Aboriginal rights over an area, is set to cover 60 per cent of Australia’s landmass in the next 15 years – as Labor announces an inquiry into the legislation’s ‘inequality and unfairness’. Native title holders can get compensation for things the government has done to stop them from exercising their rights, such as building a bridge or a road. A map prepared by the National Native Title Tribunal shows that almost 50 per cent of Australia is currently under native title.
The sections are divided by dark and light green to distinguish between ‘exclusive’ and ‘non-exclusive’ zones. A further 12 per cent of land is being assessed for native title, with these areas coded in blue patches or stripes. That means that native title will cover 60 per cent of Australia’s landmass within the next 15 years. However, less than nine per cent of Indigenous people are members of a native title corporation and only half of these companies generate any money due to strict laws governing how the land can be used, according to the Australian Financial Review. On Tuesday, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus announced a $550,000 inquiry into the Native Title Act, with the Australian Law Reform Commission tasked with identifying any ‘inequality, unfairness or weaknesses’ in the legislation.
A stunning map has revealed native title extends over half of Australia with more claims currently being assessed in other parts of the country It is important to note that native title can only be claimed for Crown land and is not applicable to privately held properties. When a native title determination specifies ‘exclusive’ rights, it means the Indigenous group has exclusive ownership and control over the area in question, excluding all others, including government authorities and non-Indigenous individuals or entities.
Non-exclusive native title in Australia grants Indigenous groups shared rights and interests in land without exclusive control. It can grant native title holders the right to local cultural practices, such as the right to live in the area, hunt, fish, gather food or teach law and custom on country. It does not, however, give them rights to minerals: those rights are reserved by the Crown. Less than nine per cent of Indigenous people are members of a native title corporation and only half of these companies generate any money due to strict laws governing how the land can be used Shadow Indigenous affairs minister Jacinta Nampijinpa Price(pictured) has called for reform to the Native Title Act for the ‘land rich, dirt poor’ Indigenous communities And since their rights relate to traditional laws and customs they would not be able to build a casino like first nations people in America.
To claim native title, it is necessary to show an enduring connection to the land through pre-European settlement tribal laws and demo slot anti rungkad customs. Claims are registered with the National Native Title Tribunal and determined in courts, including the Federal or High Court and state Supreme Courts. After the inquiry was announced, Shadow Indigenous affairs minister Jacinta Nampijinpa Price called for reform to the Native Title Act for the ‘land rich, dirt poor’ Indigenous communities.