Brumby rams through unfair traditional owner Bill

John Brumby has arrogantly rammed through Parliament his Traditional Owner Settlement Bill, which will grant land title without public input or Parliamentary approval, despite the strong opposition of many traditional owner groups.

“This Bill gives John Brumby sweeping powers to confer title to any reserved or unreserved public land in Victoria and grant joint management rights, whether or not there is or has ever been a native title claim,” Shadow Attorney-General Robert Clark said.

“In many cases, the Bill authorises the Brumby Government to recognise one indigenous group as the traditional owners of land and exclude other groups simply on the say-so of the Attorney-General.

“Once again, John Brumby is refusing to listen to the many Victorians concerned about his government’s arrogant approach,” Mr Clark said.

Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Jeanette Powell said indigenous groups from across Victoria have told the Coalition they are very concerned this law will be used to exclude them even further from their traditional lands, and asked for it not to be passed without further consultation.

“Many indigenous communities have already had bad experiences of the government picking winners under national park and aboriginal heritage laws,” Mrs Powell said.

“By refusing to listen to these concerns, the government has shown its arrogance and disrespect for indigenous Victorians.”

According to the Brumby Government, there are more than 12,000 Crown Land reserves across Victoria, including showgrounds, foreshores, racecourses, public gardens and sports grounds, and the Bill will also apply to national parks, reserved forests and wildlife and nature reserves. Even Parliament House and the MCG are on reserved Crown Land.

“If the Brumby Government wants the power to give title to the MCG or Parliament House or any other reserved public land to a traditional owner group, even in a purely symbolic way, all Victorians should be able to have a say in that decision,” Mr Clark said.

“The government rejected the Coalition’s amendments to provide for Parliamentary ratification whenever title is to be conferred or a land use activity agreement is to be entered into over reserved Crown Land.

“The Coalition would have supported fair and effective legislation to resolve native title claims and provide greater opportunities for traditional owners to be involved in the management of traditional lands.

“However, by rushing this legislation through Parliament unamended, Labor risks perpetuating rather than resolving disputes, as well as denying Victorians a proper say over the future of public land,” Mr Clark said.