Kennedy, Aileen; Libesman, Teresa --- "Editorial" [1989] AboriginalLawB 33; (1989) 1(39) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 3

• Editorial

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Editorial

Aileen Kennedy and Teresa Libesman

The NT Government has consistently demonstrated disdain for the rights and claims of Aboriginal people. Generally speaking, the rights which have accrued to the Aboriginal people of the Northern Territory have come from the Federal Government. The NT Government's legislative powers are circumscribed by its Territorial status. In this context, the current campaign for statehood poses a threat to hard-won Aboriginal victories.

The new Sacred Sites legislation, and the restrictive guidelines for excision negotiations, both of which are NT Government initiatives, are but recent events in a long history of obstruction and denial of Aboriginal culture and their rightful place in the NT economic, political and social culture.

Part of this denial is apparent in the widespread myth that Aborigines do not contribute significantly to the economy of Central Australia. A recent Report, funded by the Combined Aboriginal Organisations of Alice Springs, destroys this myth by proving that the Aboriginal monies from a diverse range of sources constitute a third of the Central Australian economy.

In its words and actions, the NT Government has revealed its determination to hinder the objectives of Aboriginal people in gaining political and social freedom. The Commonwealth Government has pledged a commitment to Aboriginal self-determination and identity. The Central and Northern Land Councils have called on the Commonwealth to disallow the Aboriginal Sacred Sites (NT) Act 1989 and to intervene on behalf of Aborigines in what have largely become stagnant excision negotiations. Such intervention could bring sincerity and conviction to a commitment which has to date attracted scepticism.