Federal Government Must Negotiate With Mutitjulu Community

Member for Lingiari and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia and Indigenous Affairs Warren Snowdon today urged the Federal Government to make the most of the six weeks before the next Mutitjulu hearing and negotiate with the community.

Mr Snowdon said the Federal Court had sent the Government a very clear signal.

'The Government has acted appallingly and its standover tactics haven't worked,' he said.

'The community fought back through the courts and the Federal Court clearly thinks there is an opportunity to put things right without more litigation.

'It has told the Government to sit down and talk to Mutitjulu and not to waste any more money.

'This is an ideal opportunity for the Government to change its tack and negotiate a long-term resolution with the community.

'It is important for the Minister for Indigenous Affairs to allow this to happen.

'There's not much point in sticking with a course of action that is just plain wrong-headed, not to mention vindictively punitive.

'If he cares at all about gaining the confidence of Aboriginal people, the Minister needs to show he's smart enough to know when the game's up and move forward.

'Stop the bullying, Minister, and start listening and negotiating,' Mr Snowdon said.

2006-08-03