❓ Mr. Wyatt questions Premier Barnett on securing federal funding for native title settlements, specifically the 75% commitment previously criticised by the Premier. Barnett acknowledges the lack of commitment but expresses hope for some contribution from the Abbott government.
AnsweredQoN 361Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
NATIVE TITLE SETTLEMENTS — FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT FUNDING
361. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Premier:
I refer to the Premier's criticism of the former
federal Labor government about the commonwealth government's agreement
to fund 75 per cent of all native title settlements, when he stated, ''There
is certainly a moral and political obligation and, I would have thought, an
obligation to Aboriginal Australians. To simply walk away from it has
disappointed me more than any other act by a Prime Minister in my political
life.''
(1) Has the
Premier sought a commitment from the Abbott government to fund 75 per cent of
all native title settlements?
(2) Has the
Premier gained a commitment from the Abbott government to fund 75 per cent of
all native title settlements?
(3) Is he
confident that the Abbott government will meet its moral obligation to fund
native title settlements?
GOVERNMENT FUNDING
361. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Premier:
I refer to the Premier's criticism of the former
federal Labor government about the commonwealth government's agreement
to fund 75 per cent of all native title settlements, when he stated, ''There
is certainly a moral and political obligation and, I would have thought, an
obligation to Aboriginal Australians. To simply walk away from it has
disappointed me more than any other act by a Prime Minister in my political
life.''
(1) Has the
Premier sought a commitment from the Abbott government to fund 75 per cent of
all native title settlements?
(2) Has the
Premier gained a commitment from the Abbott government to fund 75 per cent of
all native title settlements?
(3) Is he
confident that the Abbott government will meet its moral obligation to fund
native title settlements?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3)
The assertion is correct. I have been critical of successive federal
governments in failing to meet the commitment that Paul Keating made as Prime Minister,
that the commonwealth government would fund 75 per cent of native title
settlements. John Howard reiterated, as Prime Minister, his commitment to that.
Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard refused to commit to that, to their shame.
I have drawn the issue to the
attention of Tony Abbott. I have written to him. I hope he will be more
sympathetic. We may not get 75 per cent but I hope there is some commitment.
That was part of the agreement that was extracted out of Western Australia in
particular to go along with some provisions to do with native title matters. I
live in hope. I think Tony Abbott has already demonstrated as Prime Minister
his genuine commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of Aboriginal people.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is
he not willing to accept the 75 per cent?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
No—he has only been Prime Minister for a little over six months.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : But
it is the most disappointing act in your time in political life.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
think it is. It was a clear reneging by the federal government on a commitment
that was given very publicly by Prime Minister Paul Keating during the passage
of the native title legislation, and reiterated by John Howard.
Mr B.S. Wyatt :
Will the Prime Minister come back to you in the near future?
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
hope so. I have raised it; I have written to Tony Abbott about that.
Mr B.S. Wyatt :
When did you write to him?
The SPEAKER : This
is not a series of questions, member for Victoria Park. I will give you a
supplementary question.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : A
reneging by the federal government is a failure. As members know, we are negotiating
and finalising the native title settlement over Perth and the south west, which
will be about $1.25 billion in total. I would hope and expect we will get a
contribution from the commonwealth. It may not be 75 per cent, but I would
expect that.
I was asked a question about house prices. A pretty typical
first home purchase would be around $450 000. That is not bad. The stamp duty
on that would be $3 600 in Western Australia, $15 700 in New South Wales and in
most other states it is around $17 000 to $18 000. There is a significant
advantage to first home buyers in this state.
The assertion is correct. I have been critical of successive federal
governments in failing to meet the commitment that Paul Keating made as Prime Minister,
that the commonwealth government would fund 75 per cent of native title
settlements. John Howard reiterated, as Prime Minister, his commitment to that.
Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard refused to commit to that, to their shame.
I have drawn the issue to the
attention of Tony Abbott. I have written to him. I hope he will be more
sympathetic. We may not get 75 per cent but I hope there is some commitment.
That was part of the agreement that was extracted out of Western Australia in
particular to go along with some provisions to do with native title matters. I
live in hope. I think Tony Abbott has already demonstrated as Prime Minister
his genuine commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of Aboriginal people.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is
he not willing to accept the 75 per cent?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
No—he has only been Prime Minister for a little over six months.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : But
it is the most disappointing act in your time in political life.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
think it is. It was a clear reneging by the federal government on a commitment
that was given very publicly by Prime Minister Paul Keating during the passage
of the native title legislation, and reiterated by John Howard.
Mr B.S. Wyatt :
Will the Prime Minister come back to you in the near future?
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
hope so. I have raised it; I have written to Tony Abbott about that.
Mr B.S. Wyatt :
When did you write to him?
The SPEAKER : This
is not a series of questions, member for Victoria Park. I will give you a
supplementary question.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : A
reneging by the federal government is a failure. As members know, we are negotiating
and finalising the native title settlement over Perth and the south west, which
will be about $1.25 billion in total. I would hope and expect we will get a
contribution from the commonwealth. It may not be 75 per cent, but I would
expect that.
I was asked a question about house prices. A pretty typical
first home purchase would be around $450 000. That is not bad. The stamp duty
on that would be $3 600 in Western Australia, $15 700 in New South Wales and in
most other states it is around $17 000 to $18 000. There is a significant
advantage to first home buyers in this state.
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