Native title report 2007

• Tom Calma
• Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

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25 March 2008This report looks at major changes and challenges in the Native Title system over the past year. It calls for the Australian native title system to be immediately reviewed and a national native title summit to be held with extensive representation. Commissioner Calma argues that the Native Title Act was passed 15 years ago with the intention of protecting and promoting the rights of Indigenous Australians, but the system was now too complex, too legalistic and effectively gridlocked.

The report also looks at sustainable land practices in a climate change context. It profiles successful examples of sustainable development such as the Western Arnhem Land Fire Abatement project which uses traditional fire burning practices to reduce carbon emissions while generating income for local communities.