LNP vows to reinstate axed Native Title legal fund designed to save ratepayers’ legal bill

The LNP has promised to reinstate a scrapped federal scheme to help councils cover soaring legal costs in complex Native Title disputes. CHECK the MAP

An LNP government would allocate $8.3 million over four years to help councils pay for Native Title legal bills. Bowman MP Henry Pike made the announced with Shadow Attorney-General Michaelia Cash in Redland, where more than 3500 council-owned lots are part of a native title claim.

Ratepayers could be spared millions in legal bills under a Coalition plan to reinstate a scrapped federal funding scheme designed to support local councils in Native Title disputes.

Shadow Attorney-General Michaelia Cash and federal Member for Bowman Henry Pike on Tuesday announced an $8.3 million election pledge to restore the Native Title Respondents Scheme if the LNP wins the May 3 election.

Speaking from Ziegenfusz Park in Thornlands, one of around 3500 council-owned or managed parcels of land involved in the Quandamooka Coast Native Title claim, Senator Cash said the fund would restore fairness and legal balance to a process she believed was currently tilted in favour of claimants.

“Native Title claims are incredibly complex, and councils like Redland are being forced to bear the cost of defending community assets,” she said.

“This scheme will give them access to specialised legal support — something that was taken away by the Albanese government with no transparency.”

The Native Title Respondents Scheme previously helped local governments, farmers, and pastoralists respond to Native Title applications.

It was quietly axed by Labor, a move the Coalition said left many respondents exposed to mounting legal fees and years of court proceedings.

Redland City Council chambers are part of the land in the native title claim.

Mr Pike, the sitting Member in the bayside electorate with a margin of 5.5 per cent, said the issue had generated more community concern than any other in his electorate.

“This is the biggest thing I’ve dealt with as a local MP,” he said.

“Thousands of Redlanders have signed petitions and written in, urging action. This announcement is a direct response to that pressure.”

Redland City Council is preparing for extensive legal proceedings over the Quandamooka claim.

In Redland, the council-owned lots that are home to the Cleveland cemetery, the council chambers and public parks, are all part of the Quandamooka native title claim.

The Cleveland cemetery land is part of the Quandamooka Coast Native Title Claim.

Of the 3500 public-owned land lots under review, about 2500 are expected to involve complex legal arguments.

The remaining parcels still require significant legal work to assess whether Native Title has been extinguished — for example, by prior development or freehold grants.

Mr Pike, said the council had already enlisted three barristers, nine lawyers and a team of full-time staff just to handle the legal review, with costs already piling up.

“They’re going lot by lot, trawling through historic deeds and title records. Without the federal funding, this becomes an enormous and unfair burden on local ratepayers,” he said.

The LNP said the revived scheme would allow respondents such as Redland City Council to hire experienced Native Title lawyers and negotiate more efficiently, potentially saving time and money for all parties involved.

“It’s about narrowing the issues early and levelling the legal playing field,” Senator Cash said.

“You can’t reach a fair outcome when one side has funding and the other doesn’t.”

The Coalition also criticised the way Labor dismantled the scheme, claiming it was buried in legislative amendments and not properly communicated to stakeholders.

Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus axed the previous fund during the last term.

Mr Pike said the funding decision was “unjust and one-sided” especially given the long history of bipartisan support for the scheme.

“This isn’t about blocking claims — it’s about giving councils the support they need to manage public land responsibly,” he said.

“Redland shouldn’t be punished for something completely outside its control.”

If elected, the Coalition said it would reopen access to the scheme immediately with Redland City Council expected to apply for support at the earliest opportunity.

“This will give Redlanders a fair go and make sure our community isn’t left footing a multimillion-dollar legal bill,” Pike said.

Originally published as LNP vows to reinstate axed Native Title legal fund designed to save ratepayers’ legal bill