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</B>Section 87 of the Native Title Act empowers the Federal Court to make a consent determination where agreement about a claim is reached between the parties. Section 94A requires all determinations of native title, including consent determinations, to set out details of the matters mentioned in Section 225 (which defines determination of native title).

The 2007-08 year has involved work on a wide range of human rights issues. This year we set ourselves the task of creating a significant human rights resource on the Human Rights web pages of the HREOC website.

The federal government on 21 June 2007 announced measures to tackle sexual abuse against Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory. The legislation it passed to implement the measures has significant implications for Aboriginal owned and controlled land.

Threshold criteria under the CATSI Act</strong></p>

Securing sustainable and just economic outcomes for Aboriginal traditional owners and residential communities in the remote regions of the Northern Territory has been an elusive goal for national and Territory governments, various public agencies and community groups for many years. The increasing value and intact environmental nature of much of the Indigenous estate across the North of Australia in a carbon trading context offers opportunities that could create sustainable on-country development for traditional owners in the region through new and exciting economies.

Striking the balance between paid work and family life has become more than a &quot;barbeque stopper&quot; - it is one of the major challenges facing families, employers and governments.

These issues highlight some concerns I have with the operation of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (Native Title Act), how it is interpreted by the common law and how the native title system is operating. They seriously impact on the exercise and enjoyment of human rights of Indigenous peoples.

In my role as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner I am required to produce two annual reports on Indigenous human rights issues – the Social Justice Report and the Native Title Report.

To acknowledge the importance of land to Aborigines and its spiritual, social, cultural and economic significance and provide a process to return land.</p>

HREOC reviews staff performance annually through its Performance Management Scheme. The Scheme provides an opportunity to set goals and priorities and assess the level of individual performance and contribution to Unit outcomes.

A central function of HREOC is to undertake education programs that increase public awareness and generate discussion of human rights and anti-discrimination issues within Australia. HREOC&#8217;s legislative responsibilities are:

The President of HREOC is responsible for the investigation and conciliation of complaints lodged under federal anti-discrimination and human rights law. Staff of HREOC&#8217;s Complaint Handling Section (CHS) assist the President to investigate and resolve complaints. The CHS also provides information to the public about the law and the complaint process through the Complaint Information Service and a range of community education and training activities.

The past year has delivered some significant and promising new developments in indigenous affairs. the national apology to the stolen generations and the government&#8217;s commitment to the Statement of Intent to Close the Gap in health inequality both demonstrate a growing determination to face the challenges that confront Indigenous australians. i am pleased to say that hreoC has had a part in these developments and continues to drive change for the benefit of Indigenous people.

As this Committee knows well, in April 2006 the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission launched the Same-Sex: Same Entitlements National Inquiry. Since that time we have travelled around Australia to hear, first hand, about the impact of discriminatory laws on same-sex couples and their children. We produced two discussion papers and received 680 written submissions from across Australia. And our final report was tabled in Parliament on 21 June 2007.

On 21 June 2007, the Australian Government announced a &#8216;national emergency response to protect Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory&#8217; from sexual abuse and family violence.[1] This has become known as the &#8216;NT intervention&#8217; or the &#8216;Emergency Response&#8217;. The catalyst for the measures was the release of Report of the Northern Territory Board of Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse, titled Ampe Akelyernemane Meke Mekarle: &#8216;Little Children are Sacred&#8217;.

Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and good faith in the fulfilment of the obligations assumed by States in accordance with the Charter,