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Prime Minister Paul Keating outlines the basic principles of the Mabo legislation, the Native Title Act 1993. While Indigenous Australians, landowners and governments will not get everything they want from the legislation, Keating says the national interest will be served.
Curator’s notes
Prime Minister Paul Keating emphasises the need for tolerance and consensus while outlining the basics of his government’s Mabo legislation. He argues persuasively for federal government implementation and administration of such significant legislation, and uses the occasion to urge Western Australia not to ‘go it alone’ with separate laws regarding native title.
While stating that the new laws will not fully satisfy all interested parties, he reinforces the notion that Australia takes a significant step forward by formally recognising its original inhabitants as the legal owners of certain lands.
