Fed: WA s Court slams Labor native title deal

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2000
Fed: WA s Court slams Labor native title deal

Western Australian Premier RICHARD COURT has warned Labor and the Australian Democrats
he will reject any attempts to include the right to negotiate in his state's native title
laws.

Mr COURT will discuss his proposed regime with Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD today, after
yesterday's compromise on Queensland's laws resulted in the resignation of Labor Aboriginal
Affairs spokesman DARYL MELHAM.

Mr MELHAM quit the frontbench in protest after the opposition approved a deal with
the Queensland Labor government which would weaken Aboriginal people's right to negotiate
on so-called low-impact mining projects.

But Mr COURT says WA will resist any attempts in the Senate to amend its laws to give
Aboriginal traditional owners a right to negotiate.

AAP RTV kmh/rt

KEYWORD: TITLE COURT (CANBERRA)

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