5 April, 2023
The NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) welcomes the appointment of David Harris as the new Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty in the Minns Government.
“As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the passage of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act in New South Wales, a treaty will signify a new agenda for Aboriginal rights in this state,” NSWALC Chairperson Cr Danny Chapman said.
“We have had constructive dealings with David Harris on the NSW Pathway to Treaty Consultative Committee and we look forward to building on the strengths of existing Aboriginal community-controlled structures, such as NSWALC and the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (CAPO), and rights in NSW for this Treaty process.”
We look forward to hearing further details about how this engagement on the Treaty will occur in NSW, Cr Chapman said. “This process will need time to gain the support of Aboriginal communities, and NSWALC stands ready to play an important role in building community understanding, awareness and support for a Treaty within the Land Rights network.”
NSWALC CEO Yuseph Deen said: “Securing our future is an important goal of NSWALC’s Strategic Plan. As stewards of an Aboriginal Land Rights system built by the Land Rights warriors, an integral aspect of our goal to secure our future in NSW is the formation of a Treaty or Treaties for Aboriginal people. It represents a chance to heal the past and build on the constructive relationship between the NSW Aboriginal Land Council Network, Government and Aboriginal peoples and communities more broadly.”
NSWALC awaits further details of Machinery of Government changes as we work with the new NSW Government to accelerate the return of land and waters; empower us to protect Aboriginal culture and heritage; support the activation of lands to achieve economic, community and cultural outcomes, and to work with and assist Government on affordable and social housing priority projects.