Not satisfied with the extinguishment of native title rights
by pastoral leases under the Commonwealth's shameful Native
Title Act, he seeks to press his advantage by calling for more
Anglo-Australian legislation - probably to extinguish the
remaining weak rights of access of First Peoples to their
living countries which are forcefully occupied by Crown
pastoral leasees.
Note that Perron call is done in the name of 'productivity' -
and that concerns for the well-being of First Peoples and
their living countries purported the responsibility of his
government are of no account.
We can gain perspective in this matter by extending the tick
metaphor used by Perron at the conference and saying "Ticks
are to cattle as cattle are to the living land itself."
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Article from The Weekend Australian April 9-10 1994
PM snubs Perron on pastoral lease claim.
By David Nason
The office of the Prime Minister, Mr Keating, has denied
claims by the Northern Territory Chief Minister, Mr Perron,
that pastoral leases may not extinguish native title where
Aborigines retain the right to conduct traditional activities.
Referring to Federal Government correspondence, Mr Perron
yesterday told the annual conference of the North Australian
Cattlemen's Association in Broome that The Federal Government
now "resiled" from Mr Keating's previous blanket assurance to
pastoralists that their leases were secure.
Mr perron said the Federal Government now believed the
validity of some leases would have to be determined by the
courts according to common law principles.
"Recent correspondence we have received from Canberra
expresses the view that pastoral leases in the Northern
Territory, Western Australia and South Australia may not
extinguish native title," Mr Perron said.
"Although the Commonwealth maintains its legal view that
(pastoral) leases do extinguish native title, it is careful to
distinguish between 'straight' leases and those providing for
traditional Aboriginal use of the land."
"Consequently, there is now considerable doubt as to which
land administration procedures should be supplied when dealing
with pastoral lease land."
Mr Perron warned there could be "far-reaching and long-term
consequences" unless the issue was immediately resolved by
legislative action instead of being left to expensive and time
consuming action through the courts.
"The productivity losses inflicted on the pastoral leases by
cattle ticks don't even begin to compare with the losses and
potential losses being caused by the fleas in Canberra," he
said.
But a spokesman for Mr Keating said Mr Perron had
"mischievously and selectively" misinterpreted a detailed
response by federal officials to concerns about pastoral
leases raised by the Northern Territory Government.
"We have not changed our views which are the same views made
clear by Mr Keating in his second reading speech (to the
Native Title Bill) in Parliament last year," the spokesman
said.
Neither Mr Keating's nor Mr Perron's office would release the
correspondence.
Mr Perron said that while the "implications have not yet been
fully explored" it was clear the "future act" provisions of
the native title legislation would require negotiations with
Aborigines if pastoral land to which they had access was used
for purposes inconsistent with traditional indigenous
practice.
"That would include horticulture, tourist development, mining
and subdivision," Mr Perron said.
Implied in his remarks was the view that in such cases
Aborigines may be entitled to compensation.
Mr Perron said pastoralists in South Australia, Western
Australia and the Northern Territory were exposed because
rights of access for Aborigines for traditional purposes in
these jurisdictions were guaranteed in the conditions applying
to granting of pastoral leases.
Mr Perron also used his address in Broome to criticise the
rising Aboriginal ownership of pastoral leases which he said
could affect the potential growth of live cattle exports to
Asia.
"The fact is many properties taken over by Aborigines have
gone backwards for want of investment and expertise," he said.
(ends)