Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

Working with native title

"While native title is being debated on the national stage, I believe our best chance of resolving those difficult issues and progressing the process of reconciliation lies at the community level," said Cr John Campbell, President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA). "We need to generate better understanding among the parties of each other's position, and especially to promote negotiated outcomes."

Cr Campbell was speaking at the recent launch of 'Working with Native Title: A Program for Local Government'. A joint initiative between the ALGA and the National Native Title Tribunal, this program is supported by the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission. Phase one of the program includes the practical, plain English guide, 'Working with Native Title' and ALGA's recent appointment of Ed Wensing as Native Title Program Manager.

Also speaking at the launch, Justice Robert French, President of the National Native Title Tribunal, said that the Tribunal supports local negotiations and locally agreed outcomes.

"Local Governments and the communities they represent are to the fore of native title negotiations," he said. "Native title is not about decisions being made from afar. This program of education and information will go a long way toward improving local communities' understanding of native title."

Citing Broome Shire and the Rubibi group of native title claimants, Justice French said that this is an excellent example of what local communities can achieve, with negotiations in the West Kimberley town leading to positive changes including the involvement of indigenous interests in town planning matters.

Tony Curtis, Manager Corporate Planning at Eurobodalla Shire in New South Wales, provided an overview of local negotiations concerning two claims extending over most of the Shire. Describing the area as the coastal playground for Canberra, he said that the key is education and keeping discussions at the local level with no lawyers if possible.

"We had to get the message out to the public that Council was not going to look at court action but sit down and listen to what people had to say," he said. "This has brought into focus the rights of all our residents helping us consider all our minority groups and their needs and interests. Native title is not just about land but a whole range of cultural and community issues."

Most Councils will have to deal with native title issues at some stage either through providing information to their communities, responding to native title claims or using provisions of the Act to clear future developments. As ALGA's Native Title Program Manager, over the next 12 months Ed Wensing will be developing strategies to effect Local Government's response to native title within the reconciliation framework, as well as assisting Councils to offer an informed response to native title claimants, respondents and the general community.

For further information on 'Working with Native Title' contact Ed Wensing at ALGA, telephone (06) 281 1211.

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