News Latest News Indigenous water rights disputed in the Northern Territory
Indigenous water rights disputed in the Northern Territory
Indigenous communities seeking radical new rights over northern Australian waters are in for a tough fight after both sides of Northern Territory politics voiced opposition to the plan, reported the Australian newspaper today.
Territory Opposition Leader Terry Mills said the campaign for legal ownership of rivers, lakes and aquifers in the tropical savannah country of Australia's north was "a bridge too far" for the Aboriginal land rights movement.
"We have to be rational," Mr Mills said yesterday. "Water belongs to everyone and no group is partitioned from possible economic benefit as it currently stands.
"There needs to be an explanation from the proponents about how this will drive economic development."
Territory Indigenous Development Minister Malarndirri McCarthy said water was owned by the crown and there was no intention by the government to change that.But she said the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA), which was spearheading the push for Aboriginal water rights, deserved credit for a "positive contribution" to the understanding of indigenous water issues.
"We want our water resources to sustainably contribute to our economic, social and environmental wellbeing, now and into the future," Ms McCarthy said.
"We understand that recognising and enhancing indigenous input into how we allocate water through our planning processes is fundamental to improving regional economic development."
Mr Mills said the NAILSMA move highlighted the need for another review of the Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) Act, which the Country Liberal Party would undertake if it won government.
The last review was commissioned by Country Liberal chief minister Shane Stone in the late 1990s.
NAILSMA is being advised by Aboriginal powerbroker and one-time father of reconciliation Pat Dodson.
It wants a legal regime whereby commercial users of water would pay a fee to Aboriginal traditional owners.
Read the original article in The Australian here.
