‘Qlders need to have access’: David Crisafulli outlines view on native title

David Crisafulli says that Queenslanders “need access to the areas that they’ve always had access to” in response to a Courier-Mail reader question on native title.

Qld leaders Steven Miles and David Crisafulli have responded to a reader question about native title.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli says Queenslanders need to “have access to’’ areas they have been used to visiting, as the premier danced around the thorny question of native title rights.

Mr Crisafulli said while everyone’s views needed to be respected, he did not back “locking up’’ areas.

“Queenslanders need to have access to the areas that they’ve always had access to,’’ he said in response to a question from The Courier-Mail reader Graham McDougall of the Sunshine Coast.

But he added that Queenslanders “need to live as one’’.

“It’s important that every Queenslander feels part of being valued and respected in this state and that’s my ongoing position on all of those (native title) discussions,’’ he said.

His comments come after the Labor government has vowed to press ahead with a “pathway to treaty’’ despite widespread criticism.

It followed the decisive rejection of the referendum on a Voice to Parliament, one year ago next week.

As part of the treaty process, a landmark First Nations truth-telling inquiry began hearing submissions in Brisbane last month.

Premier Steven Miles, when asked Graham’s question “given the decisive result of the voice referendum, where do you stand on the continuing issue of native title?’’ said his government believed in negotiation.

“At a state level, we facilitate processes to negotiate outcomes where that’s possible and to represent the public interest throughout that process,’’ he said.