What you said about Native Title claim on Qld town Toobeah

The Native Title debate across Australia continues to spark a war of words. HAVE YOUR SAY

It’s the Native Title debate that continues to divide a nation.

In early 2024 a war erupted in the tiny Queensland town of Toobeah, 330km southwest of Brisbane, over a controversial freehold transfer of land to the local Indigenous corporation – a move that was described as an “insane” precedent for other parts of the state.

Residents claimed in March that the Goondiwindi Regional Council – led by high-profile mayor Lawrence Springborg – failed to consult the 300-strong community on the imminent State Government transfer of the 220ha Toobeah Reserve to the Bigambul Aboriginal Corporation (BAC).

Currently, only a few places in the state’s northern tip around Cape York are designated Indigenous freehold.

In July it was revealed that concern was mounting that “95 per cent” of the town will be handed over to an Aboriginal corporation after it announced moves to develop a “master plan” before the state government formally approved a controversial proposed “land transfer”.

■ Will I lose my home? Native title questions answered

A former Queensland federal MP also slammed the controversial proposal to hand over 95 per cent “madness”.

Controversial One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson had previously weighed in, demanding the transfer be halted.

However in July Mr Springborg defended the controversial land transfer.

Many readers piled on the issue, with some suggesting it was yet another case of the issue going too far.

Others, though, insisted now is the time for unity.

More than 95 per cent of voters in an online poll were opposed to the idea of more Native Title claims.

See what you had to say below and join the conversation >>>

WHAT YOU SAID

More of the same

Mea Sententia

If Australia was to be taken over by another foreign power, all of us, regardless of race, colour, religion or political persuasion would be thrown into the same POW camp.

John

What an absolute farce.... stop this craziness.

Dave

Good to see that the Referendum has been totally ignored by Labor Govts. Hopefully, Australians will ignore them the same way at every election for years to come. Divided, we fall under Labor. That’s for sure.

Old moldy brick

Burrum Heads, same transfer, now cant get across the land to get to the beach, abuse and threats and mismanagement already

Pieeater

Sounds like what happened with Stradbroke Island. Now it is a mess.

Denise

Where does Stephen Miles live? I hope to see a Native Title claim on his house and land. This might be the wake up call he needs

Maria

This BS has to stop, Burrum Heads is a perfect example of what can happen as has in many other places where we Australians have been denied access to our once popular tourism destinations. We are slowly but surely becoming divided by race and we the 97% of Australians are becoming the minority

John

just another ridiculous woke action which will hurt the other 97% of Australians. Why do we allow this craziness to happen???

Let’s all share

James

We need to change the legislation so that all raced based legislation is totally removed - Australia for ALL Australians, indigenous

Mea Sententia

Fuel for a civil war in Australia.

mark

wouldn’t it be a smarter for this bloke to join the community consultative group than rail against it? That way he can influence decisions that affect the community and him personally

For the love of it

There is one nation here and that is Australia. All land is Australian land and should not belong to indigenous people only. Here is an idea. If we are to have separate land etc then we have separate health systems, court systems etc. So indigenous people will have their hospitals and health services that they pay for as well as a legal system based on indigenous beliefs with indigenous paneities.

Robyn

Why can’t it be given to the whole community and property of the whole community. Why one group whom says they will allow all, but we all know that is only for an admission price.

Ron

The majority of Australians voted No now they are just doing what we voted against by stealth We are ONE

mark

Australia belongs to ALL Australians. 1 country, 1 flag, 1 people. We don’t need or want 2 states.

Jennifer

I don’t live there & I vote with the town – NO. How dare this decision be even considered. Everyone knows that as soon as the 3% gets their hands on it it will be closed off to the 97% of Australians who are being discriminated against by stupid decisions like this.

Time for change

Boswoz

To all those struggling to understand this, go and read up on the Mabo decision. It is as a result of that decision that land claims are being made and State Land is being granted to those with a successful claim.

This has nothing to do with the Voice referendum. So stop bleating about 70% saying no.

Realist

Lucky for those affected and the community there is a Council election coming up. Vote them out!

Nick

Can someone please highlight an example when land has been handed back to an Indigenous group that they have put the town “back on the map as an eco and cultural tourism destination.”? This is the standard line they throw out. Yet nothing EVER happens.

Doug

Things will only get worse. Nearly 70% of Queenslanders voted No to Voice, Treaty and Truth telling. Yet our Labor government is pushing ahead with treaty and truth telling. And in Canberra, Minister Burney is going to shove Truth telling ie indigenous propaganda, in the national schools curriculum.

Judith

Australia getting just like NZ has been for many years.

NZ is now fighting back with their change of government to remove all the race based legislation and policies brought in by woke labor.

So a change of government can work, if they have the b*lls to do it.