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The position of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner was established in 1993. The office of the Social Justice Commissioner is located within the Australian Human Rights Commission.

The year 2007 is the fortieth anniversary of the 1967 constitutional referendum. The referendum changed the Australian Constitution however it didn’t specify directions to be taken. In many ways, it could be said that the referendum represented promises to Indigenous Australians for new ways of enjoying human rights, and promises to other Australians that Indigenous citizens could expect a new and equal deal.

Native Title Report 2006 Back to Contents Media Pack Downloads Download the Complete report (PDF) Chapter Downloads Media Release Report finds joint economic aspirations are possible (14 June 2007) Information Sheets 1: Survey of Indigenous land owners about land use and economic development - download in Word 2: 99-year leases on Indigenous land - download in Word 3: Housing - download in Word 4 ...

The strong, vibrant and committed Noongar peoples of the South West corner of Australia had their native title determination over Perth returned to square one. The Full Federal Court found that the first judge had made a number of errors in his decision and have sent the case back for consideration by a new judge, leaving the Noongar peoples uncertain about the future of their rights over the land. This is despite the Western Australian government openly acknowledging the Noongar peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land.

In my previous two Native Title Reports, I have strongly argued the need to reform the native title system. Stakeholders from all sectors engaged in the native title system have also stressed the need for the Government to take significant steps to ensure that the system meets the original objectives set out in the preamble to the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (Native Title Act).

Native Title Report 2006 Back to Contents Downloads Download the complete report (PDF) Download the Community Guide (PDF) Chapters Executive Summary (PDF) Chapter 1 (PDF 1.2 MB ) Chapter 2 (PDF 1.5 MB) Chapter 3 (PDF 300 kb) Chapter 4 (PDF 260 kb ) Chapter 5 (PDF 260 kb ) Chapter 6 (PDF 200 kb ) Chapter 7 (PDF 260 kb ) Appendix 1 (PDF 240 kb ) Appendix 2 (PDF 29 kb ) Appendix 3 (PDF 400 kb ) ...

Native Title Reports 2007 Back to Contents Downloads in PDF Download the full report (8.22 MB) Chapters Native Title Report 2007 Book Cover (1.66 MB) Overview: Native title 15 years on (120 KB) Chapter 1 : Changes to the native title system (375 KB) Chapter 2 : Changes to the claims resolution process (551 KB) Chapter 3 : Changes to representative Indigenous bodies (337 KB) Chapter 4 : Changes to ...

1) Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD): additional information to Australia's 10th, 11th and 12th periodic reports under CERD, March 2000;

The following international instruments[1] have been placed in tables according to topic area. Note, however, that many of the instruments are relevant to several topic areas. Clauses marked * are relevant to Indigenous knowledge’s.

[1] Australian Government, Department of Climate Change, Top End, http://www.climatechange.gov.au/impacts/regions/te.html (viewed 17 December 2008) [2] D Green, Climate change impacts on remote Indigenous communities’ health in northern Australia, Climate Change Impacts and Risks CSIRO (2006), p 21. At http://www.sharingknowledge.net.au/files/indigenoushealth_cc200606.pdf (viewed 17 December 2008) [3] Australian Government, Department of Climate Change, Climate Change – Potential Impacts and Costs: Northern Territory, Fact Sheet.

In the past year Australia's compliance with international human rights obligations has been under scrutiny by United Nations human rights treaty committees through consideration of Australia's periodic reports under four treaties. [1] Much of this attention has focused on issues relating to Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. This chapter focuses on the dialogue between the Australian government and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (the Committee or the CERD), which took place in March 2000.

In November 2007, Australia elected a new federal government. With the new government came new policies aimed at improving Aboriginal’s and Torres Strait Islander’s social and economic situation. In the new government’s National Platform and Constitution[1], the Australian Labor Party stated that it:

The reporting period for this Report is 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009. Throughout this period, there was significantly more activity in native title law and policy than I witnessed in the first five years of my term as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner.

I am convinced that climate change, and what we do about it, will define us, our era, and ultimately the global legacy we leave for future generations. Today, the time for doubt has passed.[1] Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations