P.O. Box 257 Thirroul NSW 2515
11 August 1992
Hon Robert Tichner Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Parliament
House Canberra ACT 2600
Dear Mr Tichner,
Warumungu Land Claim.
The granting of title under the 1976 Aboriginal Land Rights Act to
areas of land known as the Warumungu land claim may constitute an
extinguishment of the native title held, according to Aboriginal
law, by First People.
Based on my fieldwork with the claimant's during the early stages
(1980-83) of the preparation of the Warumungu land claim, I
believe that a system of native title still operates over that
country.
Subsequent to the decision of the High Court in the Mabo v
Queensland case, the extinguishment of native title by the
granting of title under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act may be
inconsistent with the protection of the rights of First People
under the 1975 Racial Discrimination Act.
I request that your government does not proceed to issue title to
remaining areas of the Warumungu land claim until the rights of
First People have been explicitly protected from further
extinguishment by the operation of the Aboriginal Land Rights
Act.
Could you advise me what action you will be taking in regard to
this matter?
Yours truly,
Bruce Reyburn