Federal Member for Bowman, Henry Pike MP has welcomed the announcement that an elected Dutton LNP Government will restore fairness to native title claim processes by re-establishing the Native Title Respondent and Native Title Officer Scheme.
This commitment of $8.3 million over the next four years will ensure that native title respondents like the Redland City Council will be supported by Commonwealth funding as they navigate the native title legal process.
Since he was elected in 2022, Mr Pike has fought for the important scheme to be re-established after a large native title claim was lodged in the Redlands.
Mr Pike said many of his constituents were unaware of the claim over much of the Redlands, covering approximately 3500 Council-owned or managed properties including some of the city’s most iconic sites.
“This is an incredibly expensive and lengthy process that will potentially cost ratepayers millions and take years to progress,” Mr Pike said.
“I have made multiple requests to the Attorney General Mark Dreyfus to have respondent funding restored for Redlands. Sadly these requests have been dismissed.”
“I am proud a Dutton Coalition Government will restore this scheme and make such native title claims processes fair for all once again,” Mr Pike said.
For many years, it was the approach of Commonwealth Governments to provide financial support to both the groups who claim native title, and the respondents to those claims.
This ensured fairness in native title determinations.
The Albanese Labor Government chose to abolish the Native Title Respondent Funding Scheme, meaning that while Native Title Claimants could continue to receive legal financial assistance, it was not available to pastoralists, farmers, local councils and others who responded to such claims.
Mr Pike said that this renewed commitment by the LNP to return fairness to the native title process would ensure a reduction of costs for all parties involved.
“Redlands ratepayers should not have to bear the brunt of Labor’s poor policies. This announcement will ensure that our legal system can seek a win-win outcome that works for all, without the burden of millions of dollars being placed on our community.”
“I’m proud that this announcement will secure a fair go for the Redlands and other communities contending with native title cases across Australia.”