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In my Native Title Report 2007, I reported on the changes that were made to the native title system during that year. The changes, which were made through two pieces of legislation which amended the Native Title Act, primarily affected:

The strong, vibrant and committed Noongar peoples of the South West corner of Australia had their native title determination over Perth returned to square one. The Full Federal Court found that the first judge had made a number of errors in his decision and have sent the case back for consideration by a new judge, leaving the Noongar peoples uncertain about the future of their rights over the…

I am convinced that climate change, and what we do about it, will define us, our era, and ultimately the global legacy we leave for future generations. Today, the time for doubt has passed.[1] Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations

Climate change has been regarded as a diabolical policy problem globally. The potential threat to the very existence of Indigenous peoples is compounded by legal and institutional barriers raise distinct challenges for our cultures, our lands and our resources.[1] More seriously, it poses a threat to the health, cultures and livelihoods of Indigenous peoples both here in Australia and around the…

Water is vital to life, essential to agriculture and a valuable energy source which may be utilised in the mitigation of climate change impacts. Water is extremely valuable globally to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and is used for many different purposes. Water is also important to both for different reasons.

Over the millennia, Indigenous peoples have developed a close and unique connection with the lands and environments in which they live. They have established distinct systems of knowledge, innovation and practices relating to the uses and management of biological diversity on these lands and environments.

Imagine the sea rising around you as your country literally disappears beneath your feet, where the food you grow and the water you drink is being destroyed by salt, and your last chance is to seek refuge in other lands...[1]

The landscape of the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) is under severe ecological stress. Issues such as salinity, poor water quality, stressed forests, dried wetlands, threatened native species, feral animals and noxious weeds are commonplace within the MDB. The reasons for this dramatic decline in river health are caused by water mismanagement including reversal of natural flow cycles and over…

Between 1 July 2007 and 30 June 2008, ten determinations of native title were made by the court. Nine of these were made by consent, and one was litigated.[1]

Claimant application means an application made by Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islanders under the Native Title Act for a determination that native title exists over a particular area of land or waters (s 61(1) Native Title Act).

The recommendations put forward in this report cover an extraordinarily wide spectrum. Many will require considerable detailed development and negotiation before they can be put into place.

The following international instruments[1] have been placed in tables according to topic area. Note, however, that many of the instruments are relevant to several topic areas. Clauses marked * are relevant to Indigenous knowledge’s.

[1] Information in this Appendix is a collation of extracts from responses provided by various Federal, State and Territory Government Departments in Correspondence to T Calma, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, for the Native Title Report 2008.

[1] Australian Government, Department of Climate Change, Top End, http://www.climatechange.gov.au/impacts/regions/te.html (viewed 17 December 2008) [2] D Green, Climate change impacts on remote Indigenous communities’ health in northern Australia, Climate Change Impacts and Risks CSIRO (2006), p 21. At http://www.sharingknowledge.net.au/files/indigenoushealth_cc200606.pdf (viewed 17 December 2008…

[1] Adapted from Jackson S, Indigenous Interests and the National Water Initiative: Water Management, Reform and Implementation, Background Paper and Literature Review, Report for the IWPG (2007), p 42. At: http://www.nailsma.org.au/nailsma/publications/downloads/NAILSMA_NWI_Review_UPDATEDec07.pdf (viewed 17 December 2008).

The DKCRC is dedicated to improving conditions for all desert Australians and it recognises that there have been past instances of Aboriginal people’s knowledge and intellectual property being misappropriated and exploited. The DKCRC Board also recognises that the DKCRC’s objectives will only be achieved by working in equitable partnership with Aboriginal people. Such partnerships…

Native Title Report 2008 Appendix 9 Acronyms/Abbreviations List Back to Contents Download in PDF Download in Word AIATSIS: Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies ACT: Australian Capital Territory AHA: Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (Vic) ALRA: Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth) BOM: Bureau of Meteorology CAT: Centre for Appropriate…

2008 was a significant year for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with far reaching effects, not limited to native title. The election of the new federal government in 2007 brought a raft of policies aimed at improving the social and economic situation of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders, many of which are inextricably linked to native title.

Download the Native Title Report 2008 in PDF and Word formats, providing a detailed examination of native title developments.

The year 2007 is the fortieth anniversary of the 1967 constitutional referendum. The referendum changed the Australian Constitution however it didn’t specify directions to be taken. In many ways, it could be said that the referendum represented promises to Indigenous Australians for new ways of enjoying human rights, and promises to other Australians that Indigenous citizens could expect a…