PM Transcripts

PRIME MINISTER 138/ 93
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P. J. KEATING, MP
QUEENSLAND'S NATIVE TITLE BILL
I congratulate Premier Goss for the Native Title ( Queensland)
Bill introduced into the Queensland Parliament today.
The Queensland Bill will operate in conjunction with the
Commonwealth Native Title Bill.
As the Premier of Queensland correctly said " the choice for
the States is clear. It is a choice between accepting the
High Court decision and participating in a national
legislative response on the one hand, or, alternatively taking
the path of legal uncertainty and confusion".
Queensland has decisively chosen the former course, and this
decision will benefit all Queenslanders Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people and others.
In stark contrast, Western Australia alone among the States
has tragically chosen the course of legal uncertainty and
confusion. The ill-concieved and discriminatory Western Australian
legislation was guillotined through the upper House last
night. As of today, Aboriginal people face the prospect that
native title has been extinguished across the entire State.
The only thing standing in the way of this extinguishment of
the legal rights of West Australians is the Commnonwealth
Native Title legislation.
I again urge the passage of the Bill by the Senate.
Queensland is a case study in how States and Territories can
work effectively with the Commonwealth legislation. It is
proof that cooperation can work.
The cause of justice, and sound and certain management of land
across Australia, will be served by passage of the
Commonwealth Bill and by other States and Territories
following the Queensland example.
CANBERRA 2 December 1993