Greens seek to reform native title

THE Native Title Act is failing indigenous people and Australian Greens senator Rachel Siewert says it needs to be urgently reformed.

Senator Siewert introduced a bill to the upper house today that she believes will fix some of its problems.

"It is fair to say that native title has failed to deliver on its promises," she said in her second reading speech.

"In nearly two decades since (the act's) introduction, only a handful of native title claims have been resolved."

Under Senator Siewert's draft laws, the bar for the recognition of native title rights would be lowered.

She said for too long indigenous Australians had been expected to prove that different sites were of cultural significance using the evidence of European colonialists.

"That denies the predominantly oral nature of indigenous cultures," Senator Siewert said.



The way traditional culture was defined in the Native Title Act also failed to recognise the "dynamic and living nature" of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

Finally, Senator Siewert said her bill would ensure native title rights and interests could be of a commercial nature.

Debate on the Native Title Amendment (Reform) Bill 2011 was adjourned.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/greens-seek-to-reform-native-title/story-fn3dxity-1226025707706