FED: Senate to today overturn NT native title regime

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-1999
FED: Senate to today overturn NT native title regime

CANBERRA, Aug 31 AAP - The Senate is almost certain today to sink the Northern Territory's
native title scheme, amid warnings the same fate may await upcoming regimes in Western
Australia and Queensland.

Australian Democrats native title spokesman John Woodley confirmed his party would join
Labor and the Greens to disallow the NT regime.

The parties are concerned further changes could be made to the NT's regime without any
ongoing monitoring role by federal parliament.

"We will vote for the disallowance today but I hope that won't stop the negotiation from
going on," Senator Woodley told ABC radio.

"We don't want to just vote against something, we want to find a solution to this one."

The federal Wik legislation, passed with the support of independents Brian Harradine and
Mal Colston, allowed the states and territories to establish their own schemes for deciding
native title.

But those schemes can be overturned in the Senate.

Senator Woodley said impending schemes in Western Australia and Queensland could suffer the
same fate as that in the NT.

"It leaves them with the same problem because if we can't solve it before their legislation
comes on the same fate awaits it."

MORE rmm/kr

KEYWORD: WIK DAYLEAD

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.