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THE RECOGNITION OF ABORIGINAL CUSTOMARY LAWS - 699. Changes to Public Disputing.
Taylor suggests that such public methods of resolving disputes have
changed little over the last 40 years, although of course there has
been some impact caused by the responses of non-Aboriginal staff and
the impact of their views on Aboriginal people. The lay-out of the
village and the fact that there are now houses with clearly defined
territorial areas attached to them and roads through the community
has also had some impact. Public disputes generally occur in the
public areas rather than in a person's private yard, and the use
of weapons in disputes is still common. In fact the underlying
threat of violence is a crucial feature in all public disputing.
[91] The role that customary methods of disputing play at Edward
River has become more complicated with the more ready availability
of alcohol. Alcohol can be involved in 'old custom' disputing but
it also has the general effect of increasing tensions between people
resulting in fights. It is also the cause of a large number of
offences coming before the Aboriginal court.
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