Land council boss Nathan Moran wants Aboriginal body to weed out ‘stat dec blackfellas’

A prominent Indigenous leader is calling for ‘kinship councils’ to stamp out people falsely claiming to be Aboriginal. And politicians are listening.

A prominent Aboriginal leader is lobbying the Albanese and Minns governments to create a special First Nations-led council to rule on the Aboriginality of Australians.

Nathan Moran, chief executive of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC), raised the proposal for a “Kinship Council” with federal Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy and NSW Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Harris.

The bid to stamp about “Aboriginal fraud” comes after land council leaders from across the state blasted Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek for ignoring their views on cultural heritage claims.

Ms Plibersek has been dogged by her controversial decision to stall a gold mine in Blayney based on the views of an Aboriginal corporation and not the Orange LALC.

At a fiery meeting earlier this week, Mr Moran said governments accepted the views of “stat dec blackfellas” who had no proven ties to Aboriginal culture.

Metropolitan Aboriginal Land Council’s Nathan Moran. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek. Picture: Martin Ollman

Mr Moran says the existing three-part test for Aboriginality was not being enforced, and a special council of elders and Aboriginal leaders could ensure only those meeting the test could call themselves Indigenous Australians and weigh in on matters impacting Indigenous people.

The current test requires an individual must identify as Aboriginal, the Aboriginal community must recognise the person as Aboriginal, and the person has to Aboriginal “by the way of descent”.

Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“We ran Aboriginality forums to address fraud in 2016 and 2018. At both forums everyone said what is missing is an Aboriginality Kinship Council, a council of verified Aboriginal people,” Mr Moran said.

“Ideally it would have elders and native title holders, people associated with a land council.

“We are hoping people understand the test more … these laws are being ignored and not being followed.”

Mr Moran said creating a council that ensured people were following the three-part test would “stamp out the fraud”.“No longer will people set up a corporation and start trading as an Aboriginal,” Mr Moran said.

“Both (Ms McCarthy and Mr Harris) were very open and supportive. Both of them saw sense in it.”

Opposition Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. Picture: Brett Phibbs

Mr Moran said he would now seek bipartisan support on the idea, with Opposition Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price saying she is open to the idea and Aboriginal fraud is a growing issue.

“As Minister Plibersek’s Blayney mine debacle makes clear, this is a serious issue that needs to be resolved. Many traditional owners I know are very distressed by the rise of opportunists and the reinvention of culture in aid of political and personal objectives,” she said.

“I look forward to reviewing the details of this proposal, but I am mindful that we do not want to create new problems in attempt to resolve existing ones.

“Ultimately part of the solution involves reforming the loopholes that allow individuals to weaponise Indigenous cultural heritage for personal and political gain.”

Ms McCarthy said “it was good to meet” with Mr Moran.

“It’s always important to meet with Land Councils and hear the issues that matter to them, including Indigenous identity,” she said.

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