Indigenous Law Bulletin
|
|
Home
| Databases
| WorldLII
| Search
| Feedback
Indigenous Law Bulletin |
|
The Supreme Court of Queensland decided that the Wet Tropics Ministerial Council had exceeded its authority in amending a Wet Tropics management plan, by removing a section dealing with the rights of indigenous people.
A study by the Australian Institute of Criminology found that while Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders make up only 2 per cent of the population, they represent 14 per cent of homicide victims and 18 per cent of perpetrators.
Warren Entsch, the chairman of the joint parliamentary committee on native title, called on rural Australia to boycott churchgoing, claiming that the churches were responsible for a 'scare campaign' on the native title issue. Later, Prime Minister John Howard caused controversy when he expressed support for the boycott saying that some church figures had displayed 'undue bias' and had 'given offence to many active churchgoers.
Australia's eight main religious bodies, including peak Protestant, Catholic, Islamic and Jewish organisations, combined to express their alarm at the possibility of a race-based election and to refute claims by politicians that religious bodies should not participate in debate of national importance.
ATSIC launched a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Industry Strategy, with its primary aim to increase the economic benefits of indigenous artists (a summary can be obtained by ringing (02) 6289 8881 or by visiting ATSIC's website - http://www.atsic.gov.au).
The Senate began debating the Government's amendments to the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth).
Aboriginal groups signed an agreement with Chevron Asiatic that will allow construction of a $2billion pipeline from Papua New Guinea, through the tip of Cape York, to Gladstone in Queensland.
Justice French, President of the National Native Title Tribunal, asserted that there is no question that freehold title extinguishes native title. The NNTT also clarified Deputy Prime Minister, Tim Fisher's statement that a claim had been lodged over residential land at Narrandeta by pointing out that as soon as it was discovered that there was a housing subdivision within the claim, it was withdrawn.
Senator Harradine, who was considered to hold the balance of power in the Senate, announced his amendments to the Native Title Amendment Bill.
Anita Keating, wife of former Prime Minister, Paul Keating, expressed her strong support for Aboriginal reconciliation when she joined Pat Dodson to launch the Spirit of the Land Foundation, a cross-cultural organisation aimed at promoting understanding and tolerance between white and black Australians.
Aboriginies protested against non-indigenous artist Elizabeth Durack's use of an Aboriginal alter ego 'Eddie Burrup' in a number of paintings exhibited in Perth.
In an address to the National Press Club, Prime Minister Howard rejected morality as an issue in the Wik debate.
The Federal Court made its first ratification of a native title claim - 110,000ha at Hopevale in far North Queensland.
Activist for Aboriginal rights, Dr Faith Bandler won the 1997 Human Rights Award medal. Dr Bandler was at the forefront of the 1967 Commonwealth referendum campaign.
A national summit of indigenous leaders was held in Parliament House, Canberra. The Summit released a statement expressing 'deep regret and sorrow about the Government's handling of indigenous issues and its grave concerns about where our nation is heading'.
AustLII:
Copyright Policy
|
Disclaimers
|
Privacy Policy
|
Feedback
URL: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/IndigLawB/1998/18.html