Trish Crossin (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

We do not agree, which is why, of course, we have put up these amendments. I just want to go to one other section that this parcel of amendments goes to, seeing that we are talking about the Native Title Act, and that is a change of the boundaries. We are proposing that we remove all of the items that relate to the ability of the minister to unilaterally extend a boundary being covered by a rep body. Our amendments make it such that it would be conditional on the consent of that body. We do not agree that the minister should vary the boundaries without consent of the rep bodies, nor do we believe the minister should be able to consider reducing the rep bodies without the consultation of the native title holders and consultation with Indigenous people. I wonder if the minister could please explain to the Senate why it is that this government also believes that lack of consultation, consent or approval even by rep bodies is needed to vary the boundaries. Why is it that the minister should have this power unilaterally?