Ryan, Susan --- "The Makarrata: Labor's Policy" [1982] AboriginalLawB 37; (1982) 1(4) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 14

• The Makarrata: Labor’s Policy

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The Makarrata: Labor’s Policy

by Susan Ryan

The Australian Labor Party is committed to fully investigating the principle of a treaty of commitment to set out the legal and cultural relationships between the Aboriginal and Islander peoples and the wider Australian community. Further development of Labor policy on the proposed treaty is very much dependent on the wishes and desires of the Aboriginal and Islander people. Because the proposal is currently under discussion amongst Aboriginal people we consider it premature at this stage to make any proposals about the content of such an agreement.

The national representative body for Aboriginal and Islander people, the National Aboriginal Conference, is currently discussing the content of the proposed treaty. When these discussions are finalised we will he in a position to respond to them. Also the Senate Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs is currently investigating the legal and constitutional implications of such a treaty. The Committee, of which I am a member, is consulting with Aboriginals all over Australia on this reference.

At this stage, while the proposal has been supported by some Aboriginals, there is also a great deal of uncertainty, particularly amongst Aboriginals living in remote areas.

In summary, the ALP position is that the Aboriginal people need a lot more time and opportunity to determine their response to the proposal, and we will keep the matter under review.