Aboriginal Law Bulletin --- "NSW Aboriginal Land Council Responds to Press Campaign" [1985] AboriginalLawB 59; (1985) 1(16) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 4

• Nsw Aboriginal Land Council Responds To Press Campaign

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NSW Aboriginal Land Council Responds to Press Campaign

Recent reports on Aboriginal Land Councils in the popular press have sensationalised the teething problems that the councils are having with the NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act.

It is apparent that much of the information forming the basis for the attacks in the media have been selectively leaked by forces campaigning against the realisation of effective Aboriginal control of Land Councils.

There is no doubt that Aboriginal communities are concerned with the effectiveness of the Land Councils.

The Aboriginal Land Councils themselves have been taking firm and effective action to deal with the problems in some areas of operation of the Land Rights Act.

For example, in March this year, the NSW Aboriginal Land Council decided not to allocate further funds to Land Councils which had not fulfilled the Auditor General's requirements. This decision was made by Aboriginal leaders as an initial step.

Steps such as this have not been reported. Papers such as the Telegraph have not concerned themselves with all the facts. They have been invited to obtain the facts from the State Land Council: no approach has been made.

In a letter to Premier Neville Wran, Mr William Bates, Secretary of the Western Region Aboriginal Land Council. pointed out that:

The NSW Land Rights Act can work well. Aboriginal people in the Western Region have shown what good things it can do. We are just about tosetlle our contract to purchase 'Weinteriga' Station. Only last Thursday, Mrs Crosio gave approval to transfer. Local Land Councils in our Region pooled their money and want to continue to do solo buy snore land in the future. We have kept administration costs down and kept our target clear: LAND.

This is only possible because of the democratic structure of Local and Regional Land Councils and because money and power are in our hands to decide our projects as we wish.

This is AUTONOMY for Aboriginal people. It can only work at the Regional level, which is large enough to be strong but small enough to be non-bureaucratic and cost efficient. You said on Tuesday 17th that any amendments would not reduce Aboriginal autonomy ....

We stress the positive achievements we have made: WEINTERIGA STATION: 35,000 hectares; 48 kilometres of river frontage; sheep production; plans for children's service; plans to restore historic homestead for tourism; employment and training; future SECURITY. This could not have been achieved without Regional Land Council's control of funds and decisions.

You have given Aboriginal people a chance. We have shown it can work.

The press campaign has coincided with the State Government's consideration of amendments to the NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act. The NSW Government has declared that Land Councils are to be made more accountable for funds made available to them.

The response from Land Councils is not inconsistent with the Government's wish to see Aboriginal monies spent for the benefit of the Aboriginal community.

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council has outlined to the Government a series of proposalswhich would enhance the operation of the Act. The proposals are based on tough decisions and include the recognition that expenditure initiatives must be carefully devised and accounted for.

Proposals include the recognition for decisive action to be taken if funds are misused. The Land Councils believe that, given the power, they are the most competent bodies to counter adverse influences within the Land Council network. They conceded that if their attempts to solve difficulties failed, then governmental action would follow.

NSW Trade Unions Committee on Aboriginal Rights newsletter, October 1985.