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

I can be clear with the senator about that. Our advice is that the legislation does not contradict the principles contained in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We do not think there is any contest between those principles and the act. I remind the senator that the sorts of the things he has been talking about are required of the land councils as part of their statutory obligations to consult with and speak to people prior to gaining consent. It is similar to the discussion we have had before. So we think it is consistent with the principles in the UN declaration but also that there are requirements on the land councils to ensure the consultation and gaining of consent as part of their statutory function.