ALP waters down native title policy

BY SIMON BUTLER

At its national conference in Hobart, the Australian Labor Party quietly discarded its commitment to the right of native titleholders to negotiate at the exploration stage of mineral projects and at the granting of pastoral leases.

A resolution supporting the right of native titleholders to negotiate was incorporated into ALP policy at the 1998 conference. The resolution reaffirmed Labor's “absolute commitment” to ensuring the enjoyment of native title rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, opposed the Coalition government's 10-point plan, which sharply curtailed native title rights, and supported the right of native title owners to negotiate over resource developments.

This resolution has now been removed from the party's platform. The ALP's “absolute commitment” has changed to a non-commitment. The new position is largely indistinguishable from the Coalition's.

The change only brings ALP policy closer to actual practice. The Queensland Labor government of Peter Beattie is proposing a native title law that deprives native titleholders of any right to negotiate in the exploration stage of mineral projects.

By removing the 1998 resolution, the federal Labor party is positioning itself to support the Queensland legislation.

Beattie did not raise native title policy at the national conference. The “right to negotiate” clause was dumped without any discussion or open policy debate.

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