Aboriginal Law Bulletin --- "Queensland Land Rights Conference" [1982] AboriginalLawB 15; (1982) 1(3) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 15

• Queensland Land Rights Conference

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Queensland Land Rights Conference

On 28-30 Auguft 1981 a Conference was held at Townsville under the title 'Land Rights and the Future of Australian Race Relations'. It was organized by the James Cook University of North Queensland Union and the Townsville Treaty Committee.

The Conference program was flexible and was, indeed, adjusted as the Conference proceeded. Topics discussed included 'History of White Settlement', 'Federal Government Policies', 'Federal Policy in Action: The Northern Territory', 'Queensland Government Policies', 'Islanders and Land Rights', 'Life on Queensland Reserves', 'Developments on Palm Island', 'Possibilities for Commonwealth Action', 'A High Court Test Case?', 'International Pressure'.

Some 100 people participated - black and white- including as speakers, Dr. H. C. Coombs, Senator Jim Keeffe, Al Grassby, Shorty O'Neill, Marcia Langton, Garth Nettheim, Barbara Hocking, Greg McIntyre, Eric Kyle, Henry Reynolds, Noel Loos, Eddie Mabo, Delphine Greia, Bertie Button and Lyndall Ryan. Not surprisingly, most attention was focused on issues of land rights and self-management in respect of Queensland Aboriginal and Island Reserves and the uncertain future of those reserves.

There is a prospect that papers will be published. Inquiries can be addressed to the Conference organizer: Erik Olbrei, James Cook University of North Queensland Union, James Cook University, Townsville Qld 4811.