Aboriginal land action promised

Press, 19 February 1983, Page 6

Aboriginal land action promised

NZPA Brisbane The Federal Opposition leader. Mr Bob Hawke, warned yesterday that a Labour government would act against states which did not grant proper land rights to Aboriginals. In particular he would try to discuss with the Queensland Premier. Mr BjelkePetersen. his approach to this contentious issue, which gained wide publicity at the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane last year. Mr Hawke told the Queensland Press Club that Mr Bjelke-Petersen should not insult the intelligence of the electorate by suggesting that a Labour government would usurp states' rights. "The people of Australia nearly 20 years ago. by a referendum, made their view clear about the issue of rights for Aboriginal people, and where the responsibility should lie in this matter if the states should not do the

right thing." Mr Hawke said. "They said the responsibility in this matter should rest with the Commonwealth Government." If the states did not act in a “real way" to ensure Aboriginal rights on land and other issues, a Hawke government would try to persuade them to follow the wishes of Australians generallv.

Mr Hawke said he would attempt to discuss with Mr Bjelke-Petersen "the necessity to improve the total inadequacies I believe are involved in his half-hearted approach in this area, which do not match the standards of the A.L.P. and the desire of the overwhelming majority of Australian people." he said.

"If through the processes of consultation which are committed to recognising the land rights of Aboriginal people this is not done, then a Hawke Labour government

would be prepared to take action.

"It would not be unilaterally. or according to some strange philosophy, but according to the expression of the Australian people 20 years ago that the Federal Government should exercise its rights." he said. Mr Hawke was responding to a question about Mr Bjelke-Petersen's warnings on Thursday of a "dangerous trend" of support to Labour in the run-up to the March 5 election.

A Hawke government would mean complete control of the states and turmoil would result because the states would react strongly, the Premier said. Mr Hawke told the Press Club that Mr Bjelke-Petersen should be careful about repeating outside the Queensland Parliament anything he said in the House which could not be substantiated.