Finding Common Ground:
Towards a Document for Reconciliation

Documents of Reconciliation > Relevant Council Publications >

Reconciliation Begins

Already, as part of the reconciliation process, many communities and sectors of our society have begun expressing their negotiated understandings in agreements and commitments. These represent symbolic and tangible commitments to reconciling the interests of Indigenous peoples with those of the wider Australian community. The fact that these have happened at local levels demonstrates that people will support such documents when they see the point of them.

NT

Title for the park, which contains the huge monolith that is Uluru (formerly 'Ayers Rock') and Kata Tjuta ('The Olgas'), was handed back to the traditional owners in 1985 following a successful land rights claim under the Northern Territory Land Rights Act. The traditional owners then leased the area back to the Director of the National Parks and Wildlife Service to run as a national park.

QLD

Redland Shire Council and the Quandamooka Land Council Aboriginal Corporation's Native Title Process Agreement defines matters for negotiation and mediation, and the principles underpinning the process, leading to an agreement on native title related to North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) and surrounding seas.

NSW

Ballina Shire Council and the Jali Local Land Council have signed an agreement establishing a framework and procedures for the identification and protection of sites of significance to Aboriginal people in Ballina Shire. The agreement has led to a close working relationship between the Council and the local Aboriginal Land Council.

VIC

Four cities in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne - Banyule, Manningham, Whitehorse and Nillumbik - and the Wurundjeri Tribe and Land Council have set in place a Statement of Commitment to Indigenous People based on the rights and responsibilities of Indigenous peoples living in these local government areas.

TAS

The Wybalenna (Flinders Island) Heads of Agreement prepares for handing over the historic site of Wybalenna-the final resting place of many Tasmanian Aboriginals last century - to the Management of the Flinders Island Aboriginal Community.

SA

Ceduna Council has developed a closer working relationship with its Aboriginal citizens with its best practice statement 'Council belongs to Aboriginal People Too'. The statement includes a commitment to developing greater awareness of issues impacting on Aboriginal people, improving liaison arrangements, increasing employment opportunities, and encouraging Aboriginal people to nominate for Council.

WA

Anaconda Nickel's Aboriginal Employment Commitment offers long-term careers to more than 100 Aboriginal people in the north-eastern goldfields of Western Australia. The program will be driven by an Aboriginal Employment and Training Project Team and will include community information and mentor programs, as well as pre-vocational and cross-cultural training.

NATIONAL

The Commonwealth Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business, in partnership with ATSIC, the Commercial Development Corporation and the Council, has developed an Indigenous Employment Policy. The policy outlines a new way for Government, the private sector and Indigenous communities to work together to create more real jobs for Indigenous Australians.

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