Tasmania backs call for national treaty with Aboriginals

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre has thrown its support behind the call for a national treaty with Aboriginal people, TAC spokesman Michael Mansell said today.

Mr Mansell attended a Darwin conference of 150 Aborigines from around the country to consider a single national priority for Aboriginal affairs. The meeting overwhelmingly supported a treaty. The meeting was made up of Land Councils from the Territory and NSW, Legal Services, native title bodies and community organisations like the TAC

Mr Mansell, who was the TAC delegate at the national conference said, “Although there was discussion about treaties with each of the States, Tasmania would benefit from a national treaty which we supported. A treaty would provide a single standard across the board and give justice to all.

A treaty would almost certainly seek the return of all crown lands to Aboriginal people subject to the need of a State to maintain management of exceptional areas. An example is where a State needs to generate power or provide water catchment areas.

Even though the States ‘own’ the crown land, the Commonwealth has a clear race power and could override any State refusing to cooperate. The Commonwealth would have to compensate the States in such cases.

Treaty discussions also focused on a permanent. national Aboriginal body, designated seats in Federal Parliament and a Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission to cleanse the past and provide guidelines for the future”.

The conference accepted that a treaty would not interfere with the right of governments to govern for all.

Mr Mansell added, ” while we would be willing to talk to State Opposition Leader Bryan Green and Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor about a State treaty, there would be little point in engaging with the Hodgman government. We would be looking to a national treaty to protect Aboriginal heritage and force the State government to abide by the Commonwealth definition on Aboriginality.”

The national meeting called on the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition to commit to entering into talks with Aboriginal people about a treaty. Former ATSIC Commissioner Geoff Clark confronted Federal Minister Nigel Scullion outside the national meeting about giving the commitment. On Sky News, Mr Scullion declined to give the commitment.
Michael Mansell, TAC spokesman on Treaty