Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for the question and his longstanding interest in these matters. Last year marked the 40th anniversary of Aboriginal land rights in the Northern Territory. I know that Senator McCarthy, as part of the Yanyuwa group, has been there—and I have been there with her. There is this sense of 'now it will change', 'now it is going to be different for us'. I think it is reasonable to say that we just have not delivered on that reasonable expectation of 'this will mean something different for me economically'. That is why we have worked side-by-side with communities to ensure we can negotiate practical land reform solutions that meet the particular individual needs of communities across the Territory.

I recently had the very great honour of being able to attend at the base of Uluru a leasing ceremony for Mutitjulu—the long-term leases over individual lots, and particularly local decision-making for the community about land about their land. This is the first township lease that has been finalised since 2007. There are a number of others in the pipeline. We are the first government, I think, to properly consider community-controlled leases. I am not saying we have done well, but it is a lesson for everybody. We thought we had the answer. Eventually, when nothing seemed to be working, we said to the community, 'How do you think it will be?' and, remarkably, in different ways and in different places, they have put up the solutions. I would particularly like to acknowledge Sammy Wilson, Dorothea Randall and Craig Woods in Mutitjulu. I really appreciate your work. And I would like to thank traditional owners from right across the Territory for the advice that you provided me to get to this particular point. I hope it is a reflection not so much of government but of parliament. I know that people will be using these lessons on the other side when they come to the treasury bench. I am very pleased to be working in partnership with those traditional owners. (Time expired)