Aboriginal Law Bulletin --- "Recent Happenings" [1995] AboriginalLawB 69; (1995) 3(78) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 16

• Recent Happenings
• 26 October
• 26 October
• 10 November
• 6 December
• 7 December
• 15 December

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Recent Happenings

26 October

Tenth anniversary of handing back of Uluru and Kata Tjuta in the Northern Territory to its Anangu traditional owners under inalienable freehold title. The sites were immediately leased back to the Federal Government under a 99 year lease.

26 October

James Bay Cree in Quebec vote overwhelmingly in favour (96.3%) of their territory remaining in Canada in the event of a vote by other Quebecois to secede from the nation. The Quebecois very narrowly voted in favour of remaining in the Canadian federation.

10 November

Traditional Aboriginal owners of the Mara, Ngalakan, Wandarang and Alawa peoples and CRA Ltd sign an exploration agreement concerning land located near the Roper River in the Northern Territory. The land is on a former pastoral lease, St Vidgeon. This agreement represents the first such arrangement concerning land which is subject to a native title claim in Australia. The traditional owners are to receive compensation for exploration, as well as inclusion in the development of any mining activities which result.

6 December

Enactment of the Aboriginal Lands Act 1995 (Tas). This Act returns approximately 0.06% of the state of Tasmania, or 3,800ha, to Indigenous people. Sites include Kutikina and Ballawinne Caves in the south-west wilderness areas, Great Dog, Mt Chappell and Babel Islands in Bass Strait, and locations in Risdon and Oyster Coves near Hobart.

7 December

Decision in the Hindmarsh Island Bridge Case appeal were handed down by Black CJ, Burchett and Kiefel JJ of the Federal Court of Australia. In the matter at first instance, O'Loughlin J dealt with a declaration made by the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs as a response to an application made under s10 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 (Cth) that prohibited work on the construction of a bridge over the Murray River between Hindmarsh Island and Goolwa in South Australia for 25 years. O'Loughlin J found that the requirements of s10 of the Act had not been complied with. The Minister's appeal was dismissed by all three justices.

15 December

Decision regarding special leave application to appeal to the High Court from the decision by Jenkinson, Lee and Hill JJ of the Federal Court in in the Waanyi case to be made (see page 17).