In the week of the 40th aniversary of the Wave Hill walk off, in Canberra today (16 August 2006), the Senate passed a new law that that could see Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory forced to hand over control of their land for 99 years.
The changes to the Northern Territory Land Rights Act give more power to the Minister at the expense of traditional owners and the Land Councils that serve them.
The changes to the Northern Territory Land Rights Act give more power to the Minister at the expense of traditional owners and the Land Councils that serve them.
More than 28 thousand Australians signed an online petition organized by Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) and online campaigning organization, GetUp to oppose the changes.
The changes were also opposed by the Northern and Central Land Councils, traditional owners including Indigenous Social Justice Commissioner, Tom Calma, organisations including Oxfam as well as Labor, the Democrats and Greens.
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