Land rights issue at WA TLC

Wednesday, July 21, 1993 - 10:00

Land rights issue at WA TLC

By Stephen Robson

PERTH — Addressing the Western Australian Trades and Labour Council meeting on July 13, Rob Riley, the executive officer for the Aboriginal Legal Service, told the meeting it was important for unions to bring pressure to bear on the federal government on the native title issue. Stella Tarrant, the main legal officer for the ALS, also spoke.

Tarrant explained that all the Mabo decision did was to bring Australia into line with the situation in New Zealand and Canada.

The federal Racial Discrimination Act of 1975 had opened up further opportunities, since now extinguishment of native title is prohibited if it is racially discriminatory.

A draft resolution prepared by the TLC has been forwarded to all affiliated unions for consideration. Opposing the "campaign of hysteria" of the Coalition and mining industry in Western Australia, the resolution calls on the federal government to "immediately draft legislation based on the eight principles negotiated between the Prime Minister and representatives of Aboriginal communities on 27 April".

The resolution will be decided at the August 10 meeting of the TLC.

From GLW issue 107