l AU,' iltAI A LPRIME
MINISTER
I'Ul Ml:: IDJA I Nov( mi1ll Tr 1i8n3
The Federal Government has agreed to transfer the title to Uluru
National Park to the traditional aboriginal owners.
Title to the park will be transferred from the Commonwealth
to an Aboriginal Land Trust established under the Aboriginal
Land Rights ( Northern Territory) Act.
The Government accepted the proposal put forward by the
aboriginal owners of the land that title would be transferred
to aboriginal ownership on the basis that the area would
continue to be used as a national park which would be available
for the use and enjoyment of all Australians and the many
thousands of visitors from overseas who travel to the park
every year.
This is an historic decision and is a measure of the willingness
of this Government on behalf of the Australian people, to
recognise the just and legitimate claims of a people who have
been dispossessed of their land but who have never lost their
spiritual attachment to that land.
In 1979 an aboriginal land claim over an area including Uluru
National. Park was heard by His Honour Mr. Justice Tooley,
the first Aboriginal Land Commissioner.
However, it was held at that time that the national park fell
outside the jurisdiction of the Commissioner because title to
the land had been vested in the Director of the Australian
National Parks and Wildlife Service.
But when Mr. Justice Toohey reported on 31 August 1979 he stated
that: " Both Ayers Rock and Mt. Olga are of enormous
significance not only for the local descent groups immediately
responsible for them but for the claimants generally and for a
wide range of aboriginal people". Th-; overnment has taken
, iccnunt of thc'se conIncnts. wheln taking it s doc: i ion.
The granting of aboriginal title and the leasing back to the
Commonwealth for the purposes of maintaining cnd operating a
national park has already been done in the top c: nd of the
Northern Territory in relation to the Kakadu National Park.
These lease arrangements with the Director, Australian National
Parks and Wildlife, have in no way adversely affected the
operation of that park and it is not expected that similar
lease arrangements in relation to Ulurn will in any way
adversely affect the operation of the national park at Ayers
Rock. Tn cirant i niq i I Ic to tI ; lori i nal p opl i to nv.-rnmnii
wali tc to l:; lir'-th, a t Illi No' II . tCrn r i. I wou lld Iivr'
continuing participation in the overall ilanagccrJm-ntL of. Uluru
National Park.
A management regime will be established to provide an
opportunity for Northern Territory participation.
Eiscussions will be held between the Minister for Home Affairs
and Environment and the Northern Territory Government and the
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and relevant aboriginal bodies
with a view to outlining mutually acceptable management
arrangements under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation
Act 1975.
Those talks are expected to start soon so that the new
arrangements can be put in place as soon as practicable.