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Aboriginal Law Bulletin (ALB)
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Aboriginal Law Bulletin --- "Wreck Bay Land Rights" [1985] AboriginalLawB 35; (1985) 1(14) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 5


Wreck Bay Land Rights

by Alastair Walton

In June 1984, Mr Clyde Holding, the Aboriginal Affairs Minister, and Tom Uren, the Minister for Local Government and Administrative Services (then Territories and Local Government) sent a letter to the Wreck Bay community, in the Australian Capital Territory. The letter informed them that the Government proposed to provide a grant of inalienable freehold title to the community, by passing land rights legislation. Their intention was to 'hand title to the land to the Wreck Bay people at the earliest possible date'. The Ministers gave the community three months to prepare 'a clear response to the proposed grant'.

So far 12 months have lapsed and the corporate body necessary, according to the Ministers, to hold title and manage the land has not been formed.

Since that letter another Minister has assumed responsibility for the Territories: Mr Gordon Scholes. This further complicates matters as the community must now deal with three ministries.

One of the main factors affecting the process is that members of the community are not satisfled with the area that was proposed by the govemment as the land grant area. According to several members of the community important sacred areas and traditional fishing spots are not included. They are not satisfied with what they see as the typically historical attitude of the various governments in telling the community 'what they want'. They intend to prepare a package of what they want. So since June 1984, they have not had any dialogue with the Ministers despite several attempts.

Another concern of the Wreck Baycommunity is the increasing utilisation of the surrounding 'nature reserves' as tourist and camping areas. In addition, the local paper reported that the federal government intends to establish an ammunition storage site on a near nature reserve.

The Wreck Bay community is seeking legal support to undertake their difficult bureaucratic task and their situation will be reported in the next AboriginalLB.


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