PO Box 257
Thirroul 2515
email reyburn@peg.apc.org
24 November 1993
Senators C. Chamarette and D. Margetts
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Dear Senators,
NATIVE TITLE BILL.
Two main points required fuller attention.
1. GENOCIDE.
Does the validation of past Commonwealth acts (Clause 13) and
the legislative mass extinguishment of native title to
freehold and leasehold land (Clause 14) conflict with the
United Nations Convention for the Elimination and Punishment
of the Crime of Genocide?
Expert opinion needs to be heard on this since it reflects on
all Australian citizens and could be a matter for
international concern.
2. LACK OF CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE CONSULTATION WITH FIRST PEOPLES.
First Peoples across Australia will have to surrender their
common law rights to pastoral leasehold (and other) land as a
result of the package negotiated by the Prime Minister.
Many of these people have not been consulted about this
surrender of their rights, nor has their genuine and informed
consent been obtained. This may be an unprecedented denial of
natural justice.
SUGGESTED ACTION
The aspects of the Bill which deal with these matters would be
best dealt with by sending them to the appropriate
committee(s) for full consideration by the Parliament.
Yours truly
(signed)
Bruce Reyburn