The Aboriginal Land Council has formally requested a treaty from the State Government

The Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania has issued a formal request for a treaty with the State Government.

The Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania has issued its first formal request for a treaty with the State Government. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

THE Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania has issued its first formal request for a treaty with the State Government – and a key plank would be a return of crown land to traditional owners.

The land council has set out the priorities in writing as part of its submission to the Government’s review of the model of returning land to the Aboriginal community.

As well as land settlement, the council has also called for a designated position in parliament for a Tasmanian Aborigine, and a reparations fund.

Land council chairman Michael Mansell said the “so-called” crown lands were taken from Aborigines through mass killings and other atrocities, and their return to original owners would be a step towards justice.

Jane and Tom Teniswood are handing back half of their 220ha property at Little Swanport to the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania.

COUPLE GIVE LAND BACK TO TRADITIONAL OWNERS

The Aboriginal leader said the move was not a land grab – and transfer of ownership would be unlikely to change the current use of crown lands.

“People would still have the same access to it,” Mr Mansell said.

“If these lands were returned to Aboriginal people tomorrow, no one would know the difference – the only difference would be to Aboriginal people.

“For us it would be an acknowledgment and a sense of justice.”

Mr Mansell said a hand-back would form part of a land settlement, which would cover wilderness areas, national parks and other conservation areas across the state. Priority areas were in the South-West Wilderness, the West Coast and Mt William National Park.

The land settlement would be a key part of the proposed treaty, the council says in its submission to the Government’s Aboriginal Land Return Discussion Paper.

Mr Mansell said Tasmania needed to follow the lead already taken in Victoria, South Australia and in the Northern Territory, where treaty discussions have started.

“We are lagging a bit behind,” he said.

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In its submission, the council calls on the Government to establish a treaty commission, which would be armed with a draft treaty for community consultation.

“The treaty could be based on sharing sovereignty with Aboriginal people, establishing a reparations fund and making a land settlement,” it says.

Mr Mansell said sharing sovereignty with the state would be reflected through political representation.

“There would be designated seats in parliament for an Aboriginal person or persons, who would be elected [by the Aboriginal community].

“It would guarantee an Aboriginal voice in parliament,” he said.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Jacquie Petrusma said the Government wanted more land returned to the Tasmanian Aboriginal people and had begun a review of that process. Outcomes of the first stage of the process would be detailed in a consultation feedback report to be released before July.

Mrs Petrusma said discussions about a treaty were better placed at a national level.

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