Wirangu Native Title Claim

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:11): Supplementary: in recent years the Nauo traditional owners have been completely silenced and sidelined in major government decisions, including at Whaler's Way with the orbital launch complex. How will reparations be made to ensure that their voices are heard on their land?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:11): Certainly, native title proceedings and native title consent determinations—all consent determinations—give certain statutory rights to native title holders, but I can assure the honourable member that we intend to listen carefully to all representations put forward by Aboriginal groups and Aboriginal elders and, in fact, this parliament will be contemplating mechanisms to increase that voice even further.