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Indigenous Freehold Home Ownership a first
Cook MP David Kempton with Lockhart River Shire Council Mayor Wayne Butcher, Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Peter Guivarra, Northern Peninsula Regional Area Council Mayor Bernard Charlie, Napranum Shire Council Mayor Philemon Mene and Mayor of the Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council Robert Holness.
supplied by Office of Member for Cook 9 May 2014
D
avid Kempton, Member for Cook and Assistant Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, is proud to announce the election promise to bring freehold to Indigenous Queenslanders has now been fulfilled. Natural Resources and Mines Minister Andrew Powell tabled the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land (Providing Freehold) and other Legislation Amendment
Bill 2014 in Queensland parliament today. Mr Kempton described the bill as “ground breaking.” “For the first time in the history of Queensland there will be an opportunity for Indigenous Queenslanders to own their own homes in their communities in unconditional freehold,” he said. “This is the most important piece of legislation in the history of Indigenous affairs in this State. “When passed through Parliament later this year the bill will give the trustee the ability
to provide freehold to local Indigenous people.” Mr Kempton said the legislation was a significant opportunity for all Indigenous Queenslanders that came with a lot of responsibility. “The initial grant of freehold will be to an Indigenous person with interest in the land however there will be no impediment to a subsequent transfer to a nonIndigenous person,” he said. “There may be some risk of subsequent sale to noncommunity members however this is far outweighed by the huge
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boost normalisation will bring to economic development and community growth. “It is time we treated all Australians equally and today marks a major step in that direction. Mr Kempton said the legislation would not create freehold but rather provide a mechanism for the community to do adopt it when the timing was right. “I was given the privilege of direct community consultation on this historic bill which was a very humbling experience,” he said. “I am confident that when this legislation is passed into law later this year it will attract significant attention across the country.” Indigenous ownership was swept away by British settlement in1788 on the basis of “terra nullius”. The rights and interests of Indigenous people were then recognised by the Mabo decision and enshrined in the Native Title Act twenty years ago yet neither
delivered one square inch of land to Indigenous people in Queensland. The former reserves occupied by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Queensland are being converted to conditional freehold and held by community trustees for the benefit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders however there is no mechanism for people to hold individual title under that process. The State is not Assistant Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imposing any cost on Affairs, Hon. David Kempton MP the freehold other than the normal statutory ongoing work with all Indigenous charges and will not be paying communities as we undo the any compensation to native title impacts of paternalism and welfare holders. dependence,” Mr Kempton. “I am looking forward to my
Seeking Expressions of Interest for Indigenous Business Providers Queensland South Native Title Services (QSNTS) is the Native Title Service Provider for the southern and western region of Queensland. We aim to assist Traditional Owners in realising their aspirations to native title through statutory services, capacity development and system reform. Through Native Title, we drive the achievement of Indigenous self determination to redress the past, strengthen the present and empower the future. As a part of this vision and to ensure we continue to provide a professional service we are seeking to support and engage Indigenous business service providers. We are seeking expressions of interest from Indigenous businesses for a variety of services which include, but are not limited to: venue hire, catering, printing, transport, security, office cleaning and maintenance, as well as consultancy services such as law, anthropology, facilitation, mediation. QSNTS has offices in Brisbane, Rockhampton and Mount Isa, and regularly holds meetings in those areas, as well as Toowoomba and south western Queensland. If you would like to work with QSNTS, please contact Sharon McAvoy, Manager of Client and Community Relations to discuss opportunities: Email: Phone: Fax: Mail:
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sharon.mcavoy@qsnts.com.au (07) 3224 1200 (Brisbane Office) or 1800 663 693 (free call) (07) 3229 9800 Queensland South Native Title Services PO Box 10832, Adelaide Street BRISBANE QLD 4000