NT blackfellas labour for a better life

1. Confirms its policy that there should be no amendments to the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (“ALRA”) without the informed consent of all traditional owners;
2. Opposes any amendments to ALRA which has the effect of changing or replacing the existing leasing and licencing arrangements provided for in section 19 of ALRA, EXCEPT for the amendments to sub-section 19(8) agreed between the Northern Territory Land Councils and the Northern Territory Government in the 2003 joint submission to the Commonwealth;
3. Opposes the establishment of any special stand alone Northern Territory Government entity for the purpose of holding leasehold title to and administering ALRA land; and
4. Endorses and encourages the negotiation by existing Northern Territory Government departments and agencies (including Territory Housing) of subsection 19(3) leases from Aboriginal Land Trusts.

What the motion does is to block the publicly announced deal between the Howard and Martin governments to set up an NT entity to control the head leases proposed under the recently announced changes to the ALRA.

Most political pundits know that such motions have little effect on most governments. Most just ignore them and merrily go about their business. Unfortunately for Ms Martin, the motion adds weight to the political arm of an increasingly strident Labor Caucus, which includes those five Aboriginal MPs.

I understand the proposal was originally knocked back in Cabinet and a caucus committee established to investigate the land rights changes. The caucus committee has since advised the chief minister that it has no confidence in the establishment of the entity and recently adopted a motion ensuring that all future negotiations on these issues would be referred to caucus. The committee also ensured all work on the establishment of said entity was stopped.

Where Ms Martin goes from here is anyone’s guess. One thing is certain.

The bush is biting back.