PM Transcripts

FOR MEDIA 5 October 1984
JOINT STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE PREMIER OF
WESTERN AUSTRALIA, BRIAN BURKE
The Prime Minister, the Federal Minister for Aboriginal Affairs,
Mr Holding, and the Western Australian Premier, Mr Burke, met
this morning to discuss land rights and Aboriginal Affairs issues.
The discussions were extremely productive.
Mr Burke has invited the Federal Government to nominate an officer
of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs to participate in the
drafting of Western Australian land rights legislation.
The Federal Government has accepted this offer and an official
will work with the Western Australian Government on a full-time basis.
Other related issues, including Aboriginal health, welfare and
education were discussed and there will be continuing consultation
and communication between the Prime Minister, Mr Holding and
Mr Burke on all these matters.
The Federal Government in accepting its obligations at a national
level for Aboriginal land rights recognises the interests of Western
Australia in addressing its problems.
The Seaman Commission's report and recommendations, together with
the Western Australian Government's statement of principles, provide
a valuable basis on which to address these issues in that State.
The Federal and State Governments will work together to ensure
that common principles are adopted in the formulation of land
rights legislation.
The Commonwealth remains committed to its constitutional
responsibilities in this area, but in fulfilling these
responsibilities the Federal Government will acknowledge the
particular needs of Western Australia.
The decision to accept the Premier's offer to become involved in
the drafting process acknowledged the particular Western Austral: i -an
situation and the benefit to be obtained by close Commonwealth-
State co-operation in the formulation of these policies.
The Federal Government in developing its leqrislation is concerned
to establish common principles which can also accommodate the
different needs and aspirations of the State! s.