Aboriginal land claims on New South Wales coastal areas – attempted block by NSW govt!
New South Wales tries to block Aboriginal land claims on coastal areas, Guardian, 3 Nov 14, Move follows successful Coffs Harbour bid despite fact past claims have been granted with easements for public access The New South Wales government is seeking to ban Aboriginal communities from making land claims on coastal areas and to cancel around 1,800 outstanding claims to beachfront land.
Hundreds gathered in Sydney on Monday to protest against the proposal, which the state’s Aboriginal Land Council has slammed as “racist” and “scare-mongering”.
The state government’s move follows a successful 20-year legal battle by the Coffs Harbour district local Aboriginal council to claim a section of land on the state’s north coast that includes a 3.7km stretch of Red Rock beach………
Gordon said the government had granted coastal land claims 30 years ago “when they thought they were wastelands”.
“Now they’re realising it’s pristine land and they don’t want blackfellas to have it.”
He said the “racist” legislation undermined other positive initiatives by the Baird government, including the appointment of an Aboriginal deputy ombudsman and the devolution of power to local communities.
“This government wants Aboriginal land rights to end. They want us to no longer be able to claim crown land,” he said. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/nov/03/new-south-wales-tries-to-block-aboriginal-land-claims-on-coastal-areas
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