Both Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese have failed to show leadership on the future of Aboriginal people under their leading the ALP, Michael Mansell said today.
Mr Mansell was scathing of both men. “Here was the perfect opportunity for a potential future Prime Minister to show that under their captaincy the Labour Party would provide fresh hope for Aborigines. Instead, neither candidate even mentioned Aborigines.
One of them needs to address dispossession, empowerment and cultural protection.
Mr Shorten or Mr Albanese should explain where they stand on returning crown lands to Aboriginal people. A Commonwealth government could negotiate with the States for national parks, wilderness and forest areas, and vacant crown lands to be set aside for Aboriginal ownership. The aim should be that by 2020, Aborigines regain ownership of a minimum of 40% of the land mass. Currently, the NT is 45% owned by Aborigines down to less than 1% in Victoria. The enormous waste of time and money spent on native title claims would be avoided with a legislated national Aboriginal body authorised to determine disputed between Aboriginal groups. The hundreds of millions wasted on courts, lawyers and public servants could be distributed among Aboriginal land owners.
A new National Aboriginal body should be established with legislative powers. The body could be established through legislation without the need for constitutional amendment.
The new body could negotiate with all governments about protection of Aboriginal languages, cultural practices and natural resources on the understanding that in the event of a dispute the Commonwealth would impose the will of the National Aboriginal voice , even on itself.
A key signal from either candidate about a new vision for Aborigines must be that new policy is based on self determination. The first hint at decent leadership will be a commitment from either man to dump the NT Intervention laws.”
