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National Native Title Tribunal President, Graeme Neate, will outline the challenges and opportunities Australia faces to recognise and protect the rights of Indigenous Australians to their traditional lands and waters at a world peace summit commencing in Rome, Italy today.
He will be the only Australian amongst international participants including 25 Nobel Prize winners gathering at Capitol Hill for the 5th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates. The annual summit provides an opportunity for discussion on new proposals for peace resolutions and issues of international policy.
Mr Neate said the recognition of Indigenous peoples' rights to land was now part of the legal and social landscape of the nation and would serve as the basis on which they and the broader Australian community can advance economically and socially.
'It was nearly 200 years after British settlement when Australian Parliaments passed laws and Australian courts delivered judgments that recognised some of the rights Indigenous Australians have to their land and waters,' he said. 'In the last 10 years following the High Court's native title decision Mabo No.2, which recognised the entitlements of Indigenous Australians to their traditional lands under their traditional laws, the recognition of Indigenous people's rights to land has become part of the social landscape of the nation.
'Many people who were, for the most part, invisible or marginalised in the day to day business of the nation are now seen and have seats at the negotiation table. They have recognition, respect and protection of their traditional rights and in many cases have made agreements to accommodate the rights and interests of others in those areas, such as pastoralists and miners.'
As at 1 November 2004 there were 54 determinations of native title, most (35) that native title exists and some (19) that native title does not exist. So far native title has been determined over a total area of 453,162 sq km, or 5.73% of the area of Australia. Some areas where native title rights have been recognised are greater than the areas of many European countries. Title to other areas has been granted under land rights schemes.
Mr Neate acknowledged that despite these tangible outcomes, much remained to be done to ensure that Australia's native title and land rights systems were just and effective in recognising and protecting the interests of Indigenous Australians while operating in the interests of governments, industries and the public interest. There were many critics of aspects of native title and land rights schemes including the cost of preparing and prosecuting claims, the administration of legislation and the cost and delays to exploration and mining plans.
'The challenge we must now face is to build on the experience of past decades to make an even better future for all Australians.'
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