Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Before we move to debate these amendments, I want to ask about the intertidal zone matters that the minister just referred to. As I understand it, this provision will rule out not only prospective claims but the claims that have already been heard by the Northern Territory Aboriginal Land Commissioner and recommended for approval but are waiting for ministerial sign-off. Given that these are claims where the commissioner has made a finding that the intertidal zones ought to be recognised as being Indigenous land as per the application, I am interested to know what procedural fairness has been offered to people in that situation, what steps the government has taken to discuss the legislation, which will effectively veto their rights—rights that have already been found to exist by the Northern Territory Aboriginal Land Commissioner—and whether the government has any legal advice that acting in such a way will not incur compensation, given that, as I understand it, there have been no negotiations or discussions with those groups and, in fact, many people may be unaware that you are about to legislate away those rights.

Progress reported.