Consultation with state and territory governments
Why is it necessary to improve communication and transparency by governments?
While the Australian Government is responsible for the native title system as a whole, the success of the native title system is also heavily influenced by cooperation, coordination and communication between the Australian Government and the State and Territory governments. State and Territory governments are important stakeholders in the system and have a pivotal role due to their obligations to the wider communities they represent and day-to-day responsibility for land management. The Australian Government believes that improved communication and transparency will have flow-on benefits for the system as a whole and will lead to faster, more affordable and more effective native title outcomes.
What actions has the Australian Government taken to seek to improve transparency?
On 16 September 2005 the Attorney-General convened a meeting of all State and Territory ministers with native title responsibilities. The Native Title Ministers’ Meeting provided an opportunity for the Australian Government to promote the benefits of positive and transparent behaviours by other jurisdictions.
An outcome from the meeting was a renewed commitment for jurisdictions to work together to achieve better outcomes for all stakeholders in the native title system.
- 2005 Native Title Ministers’ Meeting Communiqué - Word 35KB
- 2005 Native Title Ministers’ Meeting Communiqué - PDF 20KB
Due to the success of the first Native Title Ministers Meeting, a further meeting was held on 15 December 2006. A key outcome of the 2006 Native Title Ministers’ Meeting was the engagement of State and Territories in the Australian Government's proposed reforms to the native title system. Ministers agreed to continue working together to secure better outcomes from the system.
- 2006 Native Title Ministers’ Meeting Communiqué - Word 34KB
- 2006 Native Title Ministers’ Meeting Communiqué - PDF 15KB
In addition to the Ministers’ Meeting, the Australian Government maintains open relationships with all stakeholders through the Native Title Consultative Forum convened three times a year by the Attorney General’s Department. The Forum is comprised of representatives of the Australian Government, State and Territory governments, the Federal Court, the National Native Title Tribunal, Native Title Representative Bodies, peak industry bodies and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. The Forum gives all stakeholders an opportunity to share experiences and discuss the challenges and opportunities for the native title system.
The Australian Government will continue to play a leadership role in native title by promoting its objectives of resolving native title by agreement and achieving outcomes for all parties affected by native title as quickly as possible.
