3 December 1993
The Governor
His Excellency Major-General M. Jeffery A.O.
Government House
Fax 09 325 4476
Perth
Western Australia
Dear Sir,
Land (Titles and Traditional Usage) Bill.
The move by the Western Australian Government to legislatively
extinguish the common law recognition of the native title
rights of First Peoples may constitute an act of genocide
against those peoples.
The General Assembly of the United Nations approved the
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of
Genocide in 1948.
One of the principles established since that time is that
genocide, even if perpetrated by a government in its own
territory, is not an internal matter. It is a matter of
international concern.
I understand that perpetrators of genocide may be punished
'whether they are constitutionally responsible rulers, public
officials, or private individuals'. (Enc. Brit. 1976)
I respectfully suggest that you do not assent to the Land
(Titles and Traditional Usage) Bill until the legislation has
been thoroughly examined, by competent experts working in
conjunction with First Peoples in your State, and found to be
free from the taint of genocide.
Yours truly,
(signed)
Bruce Reyburn
Lionel Murphy Scholar 1990
cc Rt Hon P. Keating, Prime Minister;
Mr M. Dodson, Aboriginal Social Justice Commissioner.