The Hon. I. COHEN: I ask the Minister for Community Services, representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, a question without notice. Will the Minister inform the House of the New South Wales Australian Labor Party’s position regarding the Federal Government’s 10-point plan in the form of the Native Title Amendment Bill?

The Hon. R. D. DYER: From the outset, the Government’s objective regarding Wik has been to achieve a just and lasting solution that provides fairness and certainty to all parties. However, this is a national issue requiring a national response. The New South Wales Government has talked at length with Aboriginal people, farmers and miners. The Government has participated in negotiations with the Commonwealth Government to improve the bill, and it has offered suggestions to make the legislation both practical and workable. However, the Government has some specific concerns. For example, while the New South Wales Government strongly supports land use agreements, the complex provisions required to reach an agreement may make these difficult to achieve. The Government does not support the insertion of a sunset clause in the bill. While recognising there have been problems regarding the right to negotiate provisions, the view of the New South Wales Government is that these provisions should be improved. Therefore the Government does not support State-based regimes for mining and compulsory acquisition on pastoral leases.

The Hon. I. COHEN: I wish to ask a supplementary question. What is the position of the Federal ALP? Does the New South Wales ALP support the position of the Federal ALP?

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The Hon. R. D. DYER: I doubt that the question is supplementary. But if it is, the position of the Federal ALP is not within the administration of the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.