Aboriginal Lands Act
The Aboriginal Lands Act was passed in 1995. It was intended that the land management be at arms length from the government with Aboriginal community control. The proposed amendments take away Aboriginal control and return significant decision making to government.
Sample text you can copy and paste and send in an email to: Aboriginallandsact@dpac.tas.gov.au
Remember to include your name and contact details — can be either email or street address. You can attach your submission as a document or send it in the body of the email, both are fine.
If you’d like to work on your own wording you can get more information here https://tacinc.com.au/stand-for-our-land/ and from the articles below.
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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
As an ally of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Community, I write to object to the proposed amendments to the Aboriginal Lands Act 1995.
The Palawa Community has endured the most severe dispossession, racism and discrimination since invasion. They have been through enough and should now be empowered to manage and govern themselves, and their Country, as they see fit.
The proposed changes contradict Australia’s obligation as a signatory to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This states that Aboriginal people have the right to be self-determining, have the right to determine their own membership, have the right to have integrity in their processes, and the right to have their institutions reflected in their social structures. The amendments also clearly undermine the purpose of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Lands Act legislation. As Liberal Premier, Ray Groom, fought for the Aboriginal Community to have real and true ownership and governance over their land, and you should continue that ethos.
The weakening of the eligibility requirements is a significant issue. One that impacts all Tasmanians. The Palawa have fought hard to have their identity accepted, and only recently has UNESCO finally removed the false statements that they are an extinct race of people. To open it up so anyone who feels they are Aboriginal can qualify as Aboriginal disrespects the elders and Community who fought so hard for their identity. Aboriginal family records are well documented and the archive of Tasmania has these, as well as the ability to support anyone researching their family trees. This should be an essential requirement for Aboriginal eligibility, not just a statement and sign off by an organisation.
The support and empowerment for the Palawa to care for country in a culturally appropriate way is critical. The pakana and truwana rangers have been restoring healthy country for decades, and to remove them would be irresponsible and negatively impact that country. They are the most experienced and expert rangers who are restoring returned land. Respectfully, no Minister or government official should interfere within the management and governance of Aboriginal land. It is disrespectful and implies they are not capable or responsible. They manage very well for over 40,000 years, with no negative impacts to country, before their country was invaded.
I urge you to withdraw these amendments and conduct more meaningful and direct engagements with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Community.
Sincerely,
