Land rights push ‘a risk to vote’, say elders

THE NT’s push to change land rights law to unblock development risks opening a debate that could destroy consensus, elder statesmen have warned.

THE Northern Territory’s push to change land rights law to unblock development risks opening a debate that could destroy consensus on the referendum for constitutional recognition, elder statesmen have warned.

State and federal leaders agreed at last week’s Council of Australian Governments meeting that federal, territory and Queensland governments would urgently review indigenous land administration following a push by NT Chief Minister Adam Giles to “stop talking about land rights and start talking about economic rights”.

Mr Giles went further yesterday, declaring he would “take on Canberra” over the issue, as well as voters on the east coast who he ­accused of being ignorant of the true plight of people in the NT.

“What I’m going to do is stand up for indigenous Territorians who are being held back by socialist, rights-based enthusiasts from down south, who hold the indigenous imagery so peacefully in their minds,” Mr Giles said.

“Someone such as myself wants to assist the people who want to get out of the poor dynamics they find themselves in.”

Mr Giles said he would “absolutely” be happy to see land rights legislation changed before the next territory and federal polls, due in 2016. “It’s not about a mandate, it’s about allowing people to use their own land,” he said.

Ian Viner, who introduced key Aboriginal land rights legislation while serving as minister for Aboriginal affairs during the Fraser government, accused Mr Giles of “misguided political rhetoric”.

“It’s not an obstacle to development. Suggesting that is simply an easy argument for a land grab,” Mr Viner said.

Fred Chaney, another Liberal former minister for Aboriginal ­affairs and current Senior Australian of the Year, said Tony Abbott had a “moment of truth” coming.

“It’s very easy to derail a referendum — any significant area of Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal discontent is enough,” he said.

“If Aboriginal people feel they’ve got to go to war on this issue, it’s not likely to put them in a frame of mind that will lead to seeing the constitutional amendments as positive.”

Mr Giles and his NT colleagues have repeatedly railed against ­existing land rights legislation. He and former deputy Dave Tollner have called for the act to be reformed; a draft government document made public suggested new powers for the territory to forcibly acquire Aboriginal land. One minister has blamed the land rights for “forcing” Aboriginal people off their ancestral country, another likened the legislation’s effect to that of oppressive regimes such as North Korea’s.

Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion said he had “no plans” to change the land rights act, but stopped short of ruling it out. “I am confident that the existing legislation is able to ­deliver the economic outcomes that it should,” he said.