Michael Mansell has called on all three political parties to commit to granting Aborigines 7.5% of land tax revenue collected in Tasmania for the next 15 years.
Mr Mansell said: “Parliament has made clear that private freehold lands will not be returned to Aborigines under the Aboriginal Lands Act 1995. We should be compensated for those lands lost by receiving a small portion of land tax revenue. Under current figures the payment would be about $6.5m annually. The payments should run for 20 years.
“In her last budget speech, Premier Giddings based the Tasmanian budget on ‘reducing inequality’. There was next to nothing for Aborigines in that budget. A portion of land tax, raised off lands stolen from Aboriginal people, is the best way to implement Premier Giddings’ commitment. Private landholders can feel comfortable that the State acting on their behalf, has sought to legitimise dispossession through the payments. The total amount is getting the land cheap.
“This matter was directly raised with the Premier in 2012. Ms Giddings instructed treasury to investigate the possibility but we heard no more of it.
“In 2013-14, Government revenue was estimated to be $4.7 billion. An annual payment to Aborigines of $6.5m would have minimum impact on State revenue.
“On the other hand the funds would enable Aborigines to be self sustaining. Among other things, Aboriginal rangers employed as guides on the west and east coast would no longer burden the taxpayers purse. In turn, we could generate income for ourselves through Aboriginalising the sites and the area which also leads to greater visitor numbers and a demand for accommodation, fuel and food from local shops and businesses.
“The scheme of land tax payments provided a financial base for Aborigines in NSW. For fifteen years – from 1 January 1984 to 31 December 1998 – 7.5 per cent of NSW Land Tax was paid to NSWALC, as compensation for land lost by the Aboriginal people of NSW.
“During this period, half of the funds were available for land acquisition and administration. The remainder was deposited into a statutory account to build a capital fund to provide ongoing funding in the future.
“Tasmania led the nation with land rights legislation in 1995, 1998 and 2003. It is time to build on that leadership. Returning mutton bird and other Bass Strait islands along with small but significant sites was an important step. However, leaving it at that tends to diminish the progress made by the Parliament on behalf of Tasmanians over that 8 year period.
Land tax payments is the next logical step”.
