PRIME MINISTER 88/ 93
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON PJ. KEATING, MP
MABO THE TRUTH ABOUT CONSULTATION
From thu moment the High Court handed down its decision the Government has been
determined to develop a response in keeping with both the letter and spirit of the Mabo
judgement. As I said in Parliament in June, and on many occasions since, in ending at last the
absurd doctrine of terra nudlius and recognising the dispossession and shameful
treatment of indigenous Australians, the Mabo judgement has done all Australians a
great scrvice, and created the basis for reconciliation.
Nothing in the Mabo judgement was ever of itself going to deliver justice. It created
the basis for justice; but delivering justice depended on the nation's response.
There have been unhelpful reactions from many quarters around the country, but there
is no doubt that the great majority of Australians want to see justice delivered and the
economic interests of Australia secured.
This is the core of the Government's response and it will form the core of our
legislation. The spirit and the letter of the High Court decision will be followed.
Ambit claims and appeals to prejudice will be ignored.
The Government has consulted widely and with goodwill.
The Aboriginal community was the first to be consulted by Government following the
Maho dcision. At least 30 members of the Aboriginal community met the Cabinet for
almost three hours. A smaller, reprcsentative group returned to consult with the
Ministerial Committee for two hours. Numerous other meetings have taken place
b-tween Commonwealth officials and the Aboriginal community over the past year. I
have met Mr Dodson on three occasions for periods of up to an hour in my office. I
also met representatives of the Land Councils for more than an hour before last week's
Cabinet meeting on Mabo.
These facts expose the accusations of lack of consultation as patently untrue and
unworthy of those who made them.
It seems [ hat despite several meetings held in good faith with the Aboriginal
community dhe Government can secure only private decision and agreement which
does not translatte into public agreement.
If Aboriginal people seck justie and equity they must provide leaders who accept the
responsihility of lcadership. Some Aboriginal leaders have accepted this responsibility,
others, clearly, have not.
The Aboriginal community asked for a right to be consulted. It also asked for proper
protections in relation to actions affecting native title and the Commonwealth
legislation will provide them. It is therefore patently untrue to say that Aboriginal
people's views about devclopment will not be taken into account.
The Governmnent intends to proceed with its legislation which is workable, just and in
die long term interests of all Australians. We have a responsibility to delivcrjusticc for
past and prescnt wrongs and I am determined to do all I can to see that justice
delivered. But we also have a responsibility to the future of Australia and future gencrations of
Australians, and it is my duty to do all I can to deliver that as well.
As I have said before, a mature, national trsponsc to Mabo can deliver both.
SYD) NEY
6 August 1993