1. The general effect of the Act is not to confirm any particular claim to land but merely to extinguish stale titles to it... 2. Title is never extinguished because of its age of course. 3. The current proposed plan seeks to ease those concerns by extinguishing native title on land which has been granted exclusive possession. 4. Queensland state Premier Rob Borbidge urged Howard to introduce new laws to extinguish native title if it covers leasehold land. 5. This is despite the comments of the court in both Mabo and Wik that freehold extinguished native title. 6. Formerly it had been understood that these leases extinguished native title. 7. Conservative state leaders now want the government to legislate to ensure pastoral leases do extinguish native title. 8. Federal legislation extinguishing native title on pastoral leases would require amendments to the Racial Discimination Act, but Aboriginal leaders insist there must be no amendments. 9. The previous Labor government had made the assumption that leases granted to graziers extinguished native title. 10. The state premiers of Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland called for the government to amend the law to ensure pastoral leases extinguish native title. |