AAP General News (Australia)
08-28-2000
Qld: Beattie unveils compromise plan over native title
By Debra Nowland
BRISBANE, Aug 28 AAP - The Senate will consider a compromise plan for Queensland's
native title regime in a bid to win support for the controversial legislation, Premier
Peter Beattie said today.
The Australian Democrats have signalled they plan to strike down the legislation, while
federal Labor is expected to reach a decision after a meeting of caucus.
The legislation represents a major test of allegiance for federal Labor because if
Labor sides with the Democrats on it, it would be overruling a Labor state government.
Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said Queensland's native title regime should
conform with federal laws allowing Aborigines a right to negotiate.
Mr Beattie said he understood his federal colleagues had been placed "in an awkward
position", but was optimistic they would support his modifications.
"We've suggested to the federal party ways to resolve this in a sensible way which
retains the core, the heart of the state-based regime," Mr Beattie told reporters in Brisbane
today.
In a reference to the biblical figure, Mr Beattie said his government had devised a
"Solomon solution" to the problem.
"We've come up with a good workable option," Mr Beattie said.
"We've found the Solomon approach, the Solomon solution in between both the mining
interests and indigenous Australians interests."
Mr Beattie said his compromise involved modifications to Queensland laws that would
give both traditional owners and mining companies the power to negotiate on land-use agreements.
He said the changes would not result in legislative amendments having to pass through
the Queensland parliament because the Senate had the power to deal with the proposal separately.
The debate is expected to be heard in the Senate on Wednesday.
AAP dn/ch/rs/br
KEYWORD: TITLE BEATTIE (CARRIED EARLIER)
2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
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