Andrew Bartlett (Queensland, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Kemp, the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. As the minister would know, the government recently changed the Northern Territory land rights act to allow 99-year leases on Aboriginal land and gave the reason for this change as enabling increased economic development for Indigenous communities in the Territory. Could the minister explain why the Indigenous affairs minister has blocked the proposal by the Thamarrurr council at Wadeye to grant and manage 20-year leases on their own land? Is it the case that the minister will only allow Aboriginal people to lease their land to government-controlled entities?