Consultation Program - August/September/October 1996
Hearings, Meetings and Consultations:
Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Kununurra, Broome and Perth from 26 to
31 August
1. The Committee commenced its consultation program in Brisbane on 26
August in the Parliamentary Annexe at Parliament House. It began the process
in the manner in which it intends to continue: by meeting with and hearing
from the widest range of persons and organisations with an interest in
native title. On that day the Committee discussed native title issues
with representatives of Aboriginal, legal, environmental, pastoral and
mining organisations. The details of these persons and organisations are:
- Upper Dawson River Aboriginal Company Limited
- Mr Marshall Bell, President
- Gubbi Gubbi Land Council
- Ms Elizabeth Bond, Secretary
- Mr Terry Fisher, Solicitor
- Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action Ltd
- Ms Lorraine Briggs, Research Officer
- Mr Ribnga Green, Acting Manager, Native Title Unit
- Ngarang-wal Land Council
- Mr David Dillon, Chairman
- Ms Mary Graham
- Quandamooka Lands Council Aboriginal Corporation
- Mr Gregory Egert, Treasurer
- Mr Scott McDougall, Legal Adviser
- Goolburri Aboriginal Corporation Land Council
- Mr Robert Ellis, Manager, Land Claims Unit
- Gurang Land Council
- Ms Shirley Foley, Committee Member
- Mr Colin Johnson, Chairperson
- Mr David Jones, Acting Executive Officer
- Kunja Aboriginal Corporation
- Miss Sandra Grimshaw, President
- Centre for Indigenous Rights and Critical Legal Enquiry Ltd
- Iina Torres Strait Islanders Corporation
- Gunggari Lands Council Aboriginal Corporation
- Mr Richard McCarthy, Member
- Mr Walter McCarthy, Member
- Mrs Ethel Munn, Member
- Mr Robert Munn, Coordinator
- Mrs Lynette Nixon, Committee Member
- Mrs Irene Ryder, Committee Member
- Kunja-Mulla Land Council
- Mardigan Aboriginal Corporation
- United Graziers Association of Queensland
- Mr Michael Prendergast, Chief Executive Officer
- Mr John Stewart, Executive Councillor
- Gurubana-Gungandji Native Title Claimants
- Mr Paul Richards, Solicitor, Bama Ngappi Ngappi Aboriginal Corporation
- The Wilderness Society (Queensland) Inc.
- Mr Lyndon Schneiders, Campaigns Coordinator
- Kooma Land Council and Murri Federation of First Nations
- Mr Wayne Wharton, Co-ordinator Manager
2. On Tuesday 27 August the Committee similarly conducted public hearings
in Cairns at the Holiday Inn. There the Committee met with:
- Rirrmerr Aboriginal Corporation
- Mr Paddy Bassani, Chairman
- Mr Len Rosendale, Treasurer/Secretary
- Mr William Thompson, Chief Executive Officer
- Cape York Land Council
- Mr Sean Brennan, Legal Researcher
- Mr David Byrne, Director, Policy
- Mr James Fitzgerald, Principal Legal Officer
- Mr Robbie Salee, Acting Executive Director
- Dingaal People
- Mr Gordon Charlie, Chairman
- Mr Peter Poynton, Barrister-at-Law
- Aurukun
- Ms Norma Chevathun
- Mr Jonathon Korkatain
- Aboriginal Coordinating Council
- Mr Michael Collins, Land and Resource Management Officer
- Mr Christopher Marshall, Administration Officer
- Yarrabah Community Council
- Ms Anne English, Solicitor
- Mr Don Taylor, Chief Executive Officer
- Mr Peter Yeatman, Councillor
- Carpentaria Land Council
- Mr Darryl James, Project Officer
- Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Hostel
- Dr Henry Reynolds
3. Following the Hearings in Cairns the Committee travelled to Darwin
in order to conduct a public hearing (with evidence recorded on Hansard).
The public hearings proceeded in the Litchfield Room, Parliament House
in Darwin:
- Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association Inc.
- Dr Michael Back, Executive Director
- Office of Aboriginal Development
- Mr Robert Beadman, Chief Executive Officer
- Mr Neville Jones, Director
- Goldfields Land Council
- Mr Richard Bradshaw, Legal Consultant
- Ms Yvonne Brownley, Executive Director
- UNIYA - Jesuit Social Justice Centre
- Father Frank Brennan, Researcher
- Department of the Chief Minister
- Mr Tim Joyce, Assistant Secretary
- Northern Land Council
- Mr Ron Levy, Lawyer
- Mr John Roberts, Senior Policy Officer
- Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment
- Mr John Pinney, Deputy Secretary
- Australian Seafood Industry Council
- Mr Nigel Scullion, Chairman
- Mr Iain Smith, Chairman, Committee on Native Title
4. On Thursday 29 August further recorded public hearings were held in
Kununurra. Evidence was heard from:
- Balangarri Aboriginal Corporation
- Mr Kevin Curnow, Coordinator
- Mr Jock Mosquito, Vice Chair, Balangarri Resource Centre
- Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley
- Mr Andrew Hammond, Chief Executive Officer
- Mr Colin Wootton, Shire President
- Miriuwung and Gajerrong Families Heritage and Land Council
- Mr Robert Hannan, Executive Coordinator
- Kimberley Land Council
- Ms Julie Melbourne, Solicitor
- Mr Gerald Mills, Project Officer
- Mr Peter Yu, Executive Director
- Bethel Inc.
- Mrs Megan Shedley, Secretary
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission-Wunan Regional
Council, North-East Kimberley
- Mr Ian Trust, Chairperson
- Waringarri Aboriginal Corporation
- Respondent Groups 6, 9 and 10 in Native Title Claim in Federal
Court
- Mr William Withers, Chairman
5. Following this hearing the Committee then travelled to Broome to hold
a (recorded) public hearing at the Mamabulanjin Resource Centre with:
- Nyul Nyul Aboriginal Corporation
- Mr George Dann, Spokesperson
- Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation
- Mr Patrick Dodson, Chairman
- Kimberley Land Council
- Mr George Irving, Solicitor
- Mr Peter Yu, Executive Director
- Rubibi Aboriginal Land, Heritage and Development Working Group
- Mr George Irving, Solicitor
- Mr Frank Sebastian
- Mr Frank Ozies
- Shire of Broome
- Mr Ronald Johnston, President
- Kimberley Aboriginal Association
- Leregon Aboriginal Corporation
- Pastoralists and Graziers Association of Western Australia
- Mr Peter Murray, Member, Executive
- ATSIC (Kullarri) Regional Council
- Mr Richard Roe, Chairperson
6. To complete the consultations for the week the Committee then travelled
to the Parkroyal Hotel, Perth to hold a further recorded public hearing.
There the Committee met with:
- Pastoralists and Graziers Association of Western Australia
- Mr Anthony Boultbee, President
- Department of Premier and Cabinet
- Mr John Clarke, Consultant, Native Title Unit
- Ms Vera Novak, Manager, Native Title Unit
- Mr Ronald Pumphrey, Manager, Native Title Unit
- Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia
- Mr Dennis Eggington, Chief Executive Officer
- Ms Anne Sheehan, Senior Legal Officer, Land and Heritage Unit
- National Native Title Tribunal
- Justice Robert French, President
- Ms Patricia Lane, Registrar
- Association of Mining and Exploration Companies Inc.
- Ms Tamara Mackay-Coghill, Executive Officer, Land Use
- Mr William Ryan, President
- Mr George Savell, Chief Executive
- Department of Minerals and Energy
- Mr Lee Ranford, Assistant Director-General, Policy and Planning
- Western Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy
- Mr Simon Williamson, Executive Director
Alice Springs, Adelaide, Melbourne, Launceston and Sydney from 30
September to 4 October
7. The second stage of the Committee's consultation program began with
public hearings in Alice Springs on Monday 30 September. Those who provided
formal evidence were as follows:
- Central Land Council
- Mr Christopher Athanasiou, Native Title Manager
- Mr Tracker Tilmouth, Director
- Kalkadoon Tribal Council Pty Ltd
- Mrs Delma Barton, Kalkadoon Support
- Ngaanyatjarra Land Council
- Mr Daniel O'Dea, Solicitor
8. Following this hearing the Committee then travelled to Adelaide to
hear evidence in a recorded public hearing from:
- Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement Inc.
- Mr Parry Agius, Manager
- Mr Timothy Wooley, Solicitor, Native Title Unit
- Maralinga Tjarutja
- Mr Archie Barton, Administrator
- Mr Darcy O'Shea, Solicitor
- Indigenous Land Corporation
- Mr Murray Chapman, Deputy General Manager
- Mr Anthony Hanrahan, Manager, Canberra Office
- Mr David Ross, Chairman
- Mr John Wilson, General Manager
- Native Title Supporters Coalition - South Australia
- Ms Margaret Forte, Representative, Women's International League
for Peace and Freedom
- Mr David Hollinsworth, Member
- Mr Colin Lawton, Member
- Mr Brian McDermott, Convenor
- Ms Sheridah Melvin, Member
- Rev Dr Murray Muirhead, Member
- South Australian Farmers Federation
- Mr Michael Gaden, Chairman, Natural Resources Policy Committee
- South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy
- Mr Bob Goreing, Chief Executive Officer
- Mr Nicholas Green, Chairman, Land Access and Legislation Committee
- Mr Ewan Vickery, Member, Land Access and Legislation Committee
- Crown Solicitor's Office
- Mr Bradley Selway QC, Solicitor-General
- Ms Jennifer Hart, Senior Solicitor, Native Title Unit
- Department of Premier and Cabinet of the South Australian Government
- Mrs Pamela Martin, Director, Intergovernment Relations and Commercial
Advice
- South Australian Department of Mines and Energy
- Mr Andrew Olsson, Legal Officer
- South Australian Fishing Industry Council
- Mr Michael Whillas, Manager
9. On Wednesday 2 October the Committee then held a public hearing in
Melbourne. Formal evidence was heard from:
- Yorta Yorta Clans Group
- Mr Wayne Atkinson, Senior Researcher
- Mr Desmond Morgan, Representative, Native Title Committee
- Ms Monica Morgan, Native Title Coordinator
- Mirimbiak Nations Aboriginal Corporation
- Ms Kathryn Auty, Consultant Lawyer/Researcher
- Mr Simon Begg, Personal Assistant
- Mrs Laura Bell, Board Member
- Mr Richard Frankland, Executive Officer
- Ms Sarah Gebert, Solicitor
- Ms Gabrielle Glowry, ATSIC Native Title Officer
- Mr Mark Harris, Legal Researcher
- Ms Sharon Hodgson, Researcher, Wiradjuri Tribe
- Mr Rodney Kerrison, Financial Controller
- Ms Selina Lyons, Office Manager, Wiradjuri Tribe
- Mrs Rochele Patten, Field Worker
- Mr Ken Saunders, Cultural Attache/Researcher
- Mr Otis Sherwell, Clerical Support Officer, Barkandji
- Mr Terry Springford, Policy Writer
- Victorian Farmers Federation
- Mr Kenneth Badenoch, Executive Director
- Miss Kerri-Anne Leishman, Executive Research Officer, Policy
- Department of Premier and Cabinet
- Mr John Feeny, Legal Adviser, Cabinet Office
- Ms Fiona Hanlon, First Assistant Secretary, Legal and Secretariat
- Victorian Chamber of Mines
- Miss Robyn Glindemann, Member, Native Title Working Group
- Mr John Reynolds, Executive Director
- Catholic Commission for Justice, Peace and Development
- Ms Margaret Hill, Representative
- Mr Douglas Smith, Representative
- Mr Bryan Keon-Cohen, Barrister-at-Law
- Budjiti Barnba
- Ms Lorna McNiven, Elder
- Ms Elizabeth McNiven
- CRA Limited
- Mr Paul Wand, Vice President, Aboriginal Relations
10. The next public hearing to be held was in Launceston on 3 October.
The Committee heard from three witnesses. These witnesses were:
- Office of Aboriginal Affairs
- Mr Rodney Gibbins, Manager
- Department of Environment and Land Management
- Ms Sue Morrison, Senior Policy Officer, Legislation
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Mr Barry Vellnagel, Assistant Director
11. The final public hearing for the week was held in Sydney on 4 October.
Witnesses who provided formal evidence were:
- Office of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
Commissioner
- Mr David Allen, Assistant Secretary, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity
Commission
- Mr Michael Dodson, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social
Justice Commissioner
- Mr Dominic Gibson, Director, Native Title Unit
- Law Society of New South Wales
- Mr Jason Behrendt, Member, Aboriginal Justice Committee
- Ms Margaret Hole, Treasurer and Councillor
- The Uniting Church in Australia and the Uniting Aboriginal and
Islander Christian Congress
- Rev David Broome, Chairperson for New South Wales and Member,
National Executive
- Rev Dr John Brown, National Covenant Coordinator
- Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community
- NSW Aboriginal Land Council
- Mr Andrew Chalk, Solicitor
- Ms Carolyn Gartside, Research Officer
- Ms Shawn Whelan, Legal Officer, Native Title Unit
- Dr Roger Dunlop
- Mr Sean Flood
- NSW Aboriginal Legal Service Ltd
- Mr Stephen Friend, Solicitor
- New South Wales Farmers Association
- Mr Frederick Gulson, Director, Conservation and Resources Management
- Mr Ian McClintock, Chairman, Conservation and Resource Management
Committee
- Ms Susan Phillips, Barrister-at-Law
- New South Wales Minerals Council
- Ms Susan Streeter, Assistant Director, Policy
- Anglican Diocese of Bathurst
- Rt Rev Bruce Wilson, Bishop
Canberra 14 October
12. A third stage hearing was held in Canberra on 14 October. The Committee
heard from:
- National Native Title Tribunal
- Justice Robert French, President
- Ms Patricia Lane, Registrar
- Senator the Hon Nick Minchin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime
Minister with responsibility for amendments to the Native Title Act
- Ms Philippa Horner, Assistant Secretary, Native Title Branch,
Office of Indigenous Affairs, Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet
- Mr Peter Vaughan, First Assistant Secretary, Office of Indigenous
Affairs, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
- Mr Robert Orr, Deputy General Counsel, Attorney-General's Department
13. Another recorded public hearing was held in Canberra on 17 October.
Witnesses who gave recorded evidence were:
- Office of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
Commissioner
- Mr David Allen, Assistant Secretary, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity
Commission
- Mr Michael Dodson, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social
Justice Commissioner
- Mr Dominic Gibson, Director, Native Title Unit
- Ms Elizabeth Keith, Policy Officer, Native Title Unit
- Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (Inc.)
- Mr David Harley, Vice President
- Ms Tamara Mackay-Coghill, Executive Officer, Land Use
- Mr Craig Readhead, Treasurer/Secretary
14. The final public hearing was held in Canberra on 28 October 1996.
The Committee heard evidence from:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
- Miss Lois O'Donoghue, Chairperson
- Mr Terry O'Shane, Commissioner
- Mr Brian Stacey, Assistant General Manager, Native Title and Land
Rights Branch
- Australian Mining and Petroleum Law Association
- Mr Michael Coyle, Native Title Spokesman
- Senator the Hon Nick Minchin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime
Minister with responsibility for amendments to the Native Title Act
- Ms Philippa Horner, Assistant Secretary, Native Title Branch,
Office of Indigenous Affairs, Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet
- Mr Peter Vaughan, First Assistant Secretary, Office of Indigenous
Affairs, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
- Mr Robert Orr, Deputy General Counsel, Attorney-General's Department
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