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Chapter 1 – New and continuing matters
This chapter lists new matters identified by the committee
at its meeting on 14 July 2014, and continuing matters in relation to which the
committee has received recent correspondence. The committee will write to the
relevant proponent of the bill or instrument maker in relation to substantive
matters seeking further information.
Matters which the committee draws to the attention of the
proponent of the bill or instrument maker are raised on an advice-only basis
and do not require a response.
This chapter includes the committee's consideration of 21
bills introduced between 23 and 26 June 2014, in addition to eight bills
which have been previously deferred, and 80 instruments received between 7 June
and 20 June 2014.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Amendment (A Stronger Land Account) Bill 2014
Sponsor: Senator
Siewert
Introduced: Senate, 24 June 2014
Purpose
1.1
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Amendment (A Stronger Land
Account) Bill 2014 (the bill) seeks to amend the Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Act 2005 to clarify the terms and purpose of the Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Land Account (Land Account) and revise the
structure, appointment process and duties of the Indigenous Land Corporation
(ILC) Board. The bill also seeks to allow for parliamentary review of any
proposed changes to the Land Account and the ILC.
1.2
The bill is accompanied by a statement of compatibility which concludes
that the bill is 'compatible with human rights because it advances the cultural
rights and right to non-discrimination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Peoples by improving mechanisms for protecting and strengthening the land
account that is in part compensation for dispossessions of land'.[1]
1.3
The committee considers that the bill does not appear to give
rise to human rights concerns.
1.4
The committee notes that, to the extent the bill strengthens
Indigenous control over the Land Account and the ILC, the bill promotes the
right to self-determination in Article 1 of both the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
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