. Pt PRIME MINISTER 133/ 93
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HOW P J KEATING XP
THE GOVERNMENT'S MABO LEGISLATION
Those trying to turn the screws on the Government in
relation to the Native TitleBill, are playing into the
hands of the opponents of justice for Aboriginal people
and a sound and workable outcome on Mabo.
The Bill is principled, balanced and workable. It is the
product of a process of analysis, consultation and
negotiation as thorough as any undertaken.
The Bill reflects an agreement reached with Aboriginal
representatives. Mr Mansell and others participated at
various times In the process. The door was never closed
to them. As far as the Government is aware, the
Aboriginal representatives the Government negotiated with
stand by the agreement reached.
The Government certainly does.
The Bill will be passed this week by the House of
Representatives. It will then go to th~ e Senate. The
Government will be urging passage in the Senate before
the Parliament rises.
The Government is obviously prepared to consider
proposals which improve the Bill. But it will not accept
any proposal which is outside the policy parameters to
which the Government is totally committed.
The Government has asked the -Green Senators for their
proposed " holding" Bill. They have not yet been able to
provide it. The Government's initial view, on the basis
of legal advice, is that the concept is unlikely to be
feasible. I met this morning with several Aboriginal
representatives who put forward various proposals for
change to the Bill.-I made it completely clear that a
number of these were simply unacceptable.
For example, vesting of mineral rights in native title
holders and a right of veto over developments on native
title lands cannot be accepted.
' 0 2
Mr Rob Riley amongst many others, was urging as late as
this week that the Bill be passed by the Senate
expeditiously. Mr Riley should heed his own advice, as
should Mr Mansell and the rest of this group. It is the
same advice coming from moat other respected Aboriginal
leaders. In short, the Government has a Bill before the Parliament
and will be pressing for its passage.
CANBERRA 24 November 1993