Commonwealth
The Commonwealth's roles and responsibilities in relation to native
title matters include:
- to administer and oversight the operation of the Native Title
Act 1993 (Cth);
- to administer and fund the various structures and processes
established by the Act including the:
- Federal Court;
- National Native Title Tribunal; and
- Native Title Representative Bodies (who are funded to represent
native title applicants);
- to provide financial assistance to native title respondents
(other than State and Territory governments) including pastoralists,
the fishing industry and local government authorities and their
peak bodies;
- to participate in matters before the Court where that matter
raises issues relevant to either the Commonwealth's property or
policy interests; and
- when undertaking future acts, to do so in accordance with the
relevant provisions of the Native Title Act 1993.
These roles and responsibilities are administered by different
parts of the Federal Government.
For instance, the Attorney-General's Department administers financial
assistance schemes for non-native title holders who may become parties
in native title proceedings. For information on financial assistance
guidelines see:
http://152.91.15.12/www/agdHome.nsf/
HeadingPagesDisplay/Native+Title?OpenDocument
On the other hand, Native Title Representative Bodies, who are
funded to assist Indigenous Australians in relation to native title
matters, are funded through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Commission.
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