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Indigenous Law Bulletin

Indigenous Law Bulletin
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Federal Government of Australia --- "The Federal Government's 10 point Response to Wik" [1997] IndigLawB 46; (1997) 4(2) Indigenous Law Bulletin 12


The Federal Government's 10 Point Response to Wik

1. Validation of acts/grants between 1 January 1994 and 23 December 1994

Legislative action will be taken to ensure that the validity of any acts or grants made in relation to non-vacant Crown land in the period between passage of the Native Title Act and the Wik decision is put beyond doubt.

2. Confirmation of extinguishment of native title on 'exclusive' tenures

States and Territories would be able to confirm that 'exclusive' tenures such as freehold, residential, commercial and certain, agricultural leases and public works in existence on 1 January 1994 extinguish native title. Agricultural leases would be covered to the extent that it can reasonably be said that by reason of the grant or the nature of the permitted use of the land, exclusive possession must have been intended.

3. Towns and cities and municipal services

Impediments to the provision of municipal services on land in which native title may exist would be removed. The right to negotiate would be removed in relation to the acquisition of land for third parties in towns and cities, although native title holders would gain the same procedural and compensation rights as other landholders.

4. Co-existence of native title on pastoral leases

As provided in the Wik decision, native title rights over existing pastoral leases and any agricultural leases not covered under 2 above would be permanently extinguished to the extent that those rights are inconsistent with those of the pastoralist. All activities pursuant to, or incidental to, 'primary production' would be allowed on such leases, including farmstay tourism, even if native title exists, provided the dominant purpose of the activity is primary production.

However, future government action such as the upgrading of perpetual or 'exclusive' leases or freehold would necessitate the acquisition of native title rights and the application of the regime described in 7 below.

5. Statutory access rights

Before a native title claim is determined, claimants would be able to access the land for defined traditional purposes, provided the claim meets a higher registration test and they can demonstrate a current physical connection to the land.

6. Future mining activity

7. Future governments and commercial development

8. Water

The ability of governments to regulate and manage surface and subsurface water and water and off-shore resources and the rights of those with interests under any such regulatory or management regime would be put beyond doubt.

9. Management of claims

10. Agreements

Measures would be introduced to encourage the negotiation of voluntary but binding local and regional agreements as an alternative to more formal native title machinery.


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