David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Justice and Customs) Share this | Hansard source

I am pleased to advise the committee that while the government does not accept opposition amendment (26), the government will accept Democrat amendment (35), which will have a similar effect. The bill is drafted on the premise that native title application inquiries will generally be held in private. Before the tribunal makes an order that an inquiry be held in public, cultural and customary concerns of Indigenous persons must be taken into account and canvassed. The government considers an amendment to provide that a native title application inquiry hearing can only be in public where parties’ consent would be acceptable. Accordingly, we would ask that the Democrats consider what I have just said and look to move, separately, Democrat amendment (35), with respect to amendments (32) to (36) on sheet 5192.

Question negatived.