A FUTURE Dutton-led Coalition government would reinstate funding for councils and other groups responding to native title claims, in a move welcomed by Federal Member for Bowman Henry Pike.
Mr Pike announced the $8.3 million commitment to re-establish the Native Title Respondent and Native Title Officer Scheme, which was previously scrapped by the Albanese Government.
The funding is intended to support respondents such as Redland City Council as they navigate what Mr Pike described as a “complex, lengthy and costly” legal process.
A large native title claim currently covers about 3500 Council-owned or managed properties across the Redlands, including some of the region’s most iconic public spaces.
Mr Pike said many locals remained unaware of the scale of the claim, and the financial impact it could have on the community.
“This is an incredibly expensive and lengthy process that will potentially cost ratepayers millions and take years to progress,” he said.
The now-defunct Commonwealth scheme previously offered financial support to both Indigenous groups making native title claims and the parties responding to those claims, such as farmers, pastoralists and local councils.
Mr Pike said the removal of that support had unfairly shifted the financial burden onto local communities.
“I have made multiple requests to the Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus, to have respondent funding restored for Redlands. Sadly, these requests have been dismissed,” he said.
“I’m proud a Dutton Coalition government will restore this scheme and make such native title claims processes fair for all once again.”
The renewed commitment by the LNP will ensure the legal system supports a “win-win outcome” by reducing costs for all parties involved.
“Redlands ratepayers should not have to bear the brunt of Labor’s poor policies,” he said.
“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.”
The move is likely to be welcomed by other communities facing native title claims, who, like Redlands, have been left without financial support to defend or respond to those claims in recent years.
