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Chapter 1 – New and continuing matters

This chapter lists new matters identified by the committee at its meeting on 14 July 2014, and continuing matters in relation to which the committee has received recent correspondence. The committee will write to the relevant proponent of the bill or instrument maker in relation to substantive matters seeking further information.

Matters which the committee draws to the attention of the proponent of the bill or instrument maker are raised on an advice-only basis and do not require a response.

This chapter includes the committee's consideration of 21 bills introduced between 23 and 26 June 2014, in addition to eight bills which have been previously deferred, and 80 instruments received between 7 June and 20 June 2014.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Amendment (A Stronger Land Account) Bill 2014

Sponsor: Senator Siewert
Introduced: Senate, 24 June 2014

Purpose

1.1        The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Amendment (A Stronger Land Account) Bill 2014 (the bill) seeks to amend the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005 to clarify the terms and purpose of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Account (Land Account) and revise the structure, appointment process and duties of the Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) Board. The bill also seeks to allow for parliamentary review of any proposed changes to the Land Account and the ILC. 

1.2        The bill is accompanied by a statement of compatibility which concludes that the bill is 'compatible with human rights because it advances the cultural rights and right to non-discrimination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples by improving mechanisms for protecting and strengthening the land account that is in part compensation for dispossessions of land'.[1]

1.3                  The committee considers that the bill does not appear to give rise to human rights concerns.

1.4                  The committee notes that, to the extent the bill strengthens Indigenous control over the Land Account and the ILC, the bill promotes the right to self-determination in Article 1 of both the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

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