The Role of State Governments in Native Title Negotiations: A Tale of Two Cities

Abstract

A key question in contemporary Australian Aboriginal policy is how to turn wealth derived from resource extraction on Aboriginal land into economic and social prosperity. Large amounts of mineral wealth are being extracted from or near Aboriginal communities, yet Aboriginal people continue to be less educated, live shorter lives and pass on less wealth to their children than their non-Aboriginal counterparts. One method used by Australian Aboriginal people to redress this paradox of ‘poverty in the midst of plenty’ is agreement-making through negotiation with resource companies.

This article considers the role of state government practice in two Australian Native Title Act negotiations: at James Price Point, in the Kimberley, and Curtis Island, Queensland.

Keywords: native title, agreement making, resource extraction, indigenous land rights