Zed Seselja (ACT, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

The government does not support the amendments on sheet 1477. The existing land rights act includes provisions to guarantee the free, prior and informed consent of traditional Aboriginal owners. Existing section 77A outlines the process to be followed where traditional Aboriginal owners are required to have consented. To omit the requirement for a land council to be satisfied in endorsing this consent would be contrary to the operation of the act and have unintended consequences.