Drafttermsofreference-Reviewofnativetitleact1993bytheaustralian Law Reform Commission

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28June2013

MarkDreyfusQCMP Attorney-General

AttorneyGeneral'sDepartment

RobertGarranOffices

3-5NationalCircuit

BARTONACT2600

South WestAboriginal

LandSeaCouncil

ByEmail:

DearMrDreyfus

DRAFTTERMSOFREFERENCE-REVIEWOFNATIVETITLEACT1993BYTHEAUSTRALIAN LAW REFORM COMMISSION

Introduction

TheSouthWestAboriginalLandandSeaCouncil(SWALSC)isthelegalrepresentative bodyforthenativetitleclaimantsintheSouthWestofWesternAustralia.

WewelcometheopportunitytocommentontheDraftTermsofReferenceforthereviewof theNativeTitleAct1993(Cth)(NTA)bytheAustralianLawReformCommission(ALRC).

Underthedrafttermsofreference,itisproposedthattheALRCwillinquireintoandreport onthefollowingtwoissuesundertheNativeTitleAct1993(theAct)thatcansignificantly affectthetimelyandeffectiveresolutionofnativetitleclaims:

• connectionrequirementsrelatingtotherecognitionandscopeofnativetitlerights andinterests,and

• theidentificationofbarriers,ifany,imposedbytheAct'sauthorisation andjoinder provisionstoclaimants',andpotentialclaimants':

-accesstojustice,and

-accesstoandprotectionofnativetitlerightsandbenefits.

Questionstobeconsideredinourresponseinclude:

1. DothedrafttermsofreferencecaptureallofthekeyissuesarisingundertheAct relatingtoconnection,andauthorisationandjoinder?

2.Arethereanyadditionalissuesthatshouldbeincludedinthetermsofreference?

SWALSCconsiderstheDraftTermsofReferencetobeverybroadandthereforelimits specificcommentsontheDraftTermsofReferenceitself.SWALSC'scommentsarebased ontheinformationprovidedintheScopeofReviewBackgroundinformation.

Telephone:9358 7400•1800617617•Facsimilie:9358 7499

1490AlbanyHighway,Cannington •POBox 585Cannington,WA6987'NWW.noongar.orgau

ICN3832

ABN42485265673

Connection

SWALSCissatisfiedwiththeissuesidentifiedinrelationtoConnectionoutlinedintheScope ofReviewBackground information. SWALSCmakesparticularcommentsinrelationto connection:

a. SWALSCwouldliketoseeareductionintheonerousrequirementstoprove uninterruptedcontinuityofobservanceoflawsandcustomsasformulatedinYorta Yorta1andRiskvNorthernTerritory;

b. SWALSCendorsesthepropositionthatthe'connectionwiththelandandwaters' shouldnotrequirephysicaloccupationorcontinuedorrecentuse.

c. SWALSCagreesthatthemeaningof'traditional'ins223oftheActshouldallowfor evolutionandadaptationofcultureandrecognitiononnativetitlerightsandinterests.

d. SWALSCendorsesthepropositiontocreateapresumptionofcontinuous connection.

e. SWALSCendorsesthepropositiontoempowercourtstodisregardsubstantial interruptionorchangeincontinuityofacknowledgementofandobservanceof traditionallawsandcustomswhereitisintheinterestsofjusticetodoso.

AuthorisationandJoinder

SWALSC issatisfiedwiththeissuesidentifiedinrelationtoAuthorisationandJoinder outlinedintheScopeofReviewBackgroundinformation.SWALSCmakesparticular commentsinrelationtoAuthorisationandJoinder:

f.SWALSCiswaryoftheextentofpowerthatmaybegiventothecourttointervene in mattersofclaimgroupcomposition.SWALSC'spositionisthatanycourtintervention inclaimgroupcompositionshouldonlybebasedontheidentityoftheclaimantsand oncredibleAnthropologicaladvice.

Additional IssuesthatshouldbeincludedintheDraftTermsofReference

g. SWALSCwouldliketheTermsofReferencetoalsoincludeareviewintothe operationofextinguishmentundertheAct.SWALSCendorsesareviewinto opportunitiestodisregardhistoricalextinguishment,similartowhatisproposedinthe currentNativeTitleAmendmentBill2012inrelationtoparksandreserves.

1MembersoftheYortaYortaAboriginalCommunityvVictoria(2002)194ALR538

2RiskvNorthernTerritoryofAustralia[2006)FCA404

Conclusion

WithconsiderationtotheabovecommentsandbasedontheBackgroundinformation providedwiththeScopeofReview:

1. SWALSCissatisfiedthattheDraftTermsofReferencecaptureallofthekeyissues arisingundertheActrelatingtoconnection,authorisationandjoinder.

2. SWALSCwouldliketoseeareviewintotheoperationofextinguishmentunderthat

ActaddedtotheDaftTermsofReference,particularlyopportunitiestodisregard historicalextinguishment.

InclosingSWALSCwouldliketothanktheAttorneyGeneral'sOfficefortheopportunityto commentontheDraftTermsofReferencefortheALRCreviewoftheNTA.

Shouldyourequirefurtherinformationorwishtodiscussanyaspectofthesecomments, pleasecontactmeon93587400.

Yourssincerely

aryseAranda

PrincipalLegalOfficer

SouthWestAboriginalLandSeaCouncil