Progressive Labour Party - Official Policy

Indigenous Peoples Rights Policy

PREAMBLE

The PLP recognises the existence of autonomous movements of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders and resolves to work in solidarity with those movements the demands of which should form the basis of the PLP's Indigenous Policy. In recognition of their autonomous position, the PLP guarantees indigenous members a right of caucus and direct representation within the National Organising Committee. Until their direct representation is realised, the party commits itself to a draft policy framework to be used as a basis in the consultation process with the indigenous people's organisations. The PLP resolves to give this policy to the Indigenous People's Caucus to look at policies and present recommendations to the next conference. Further, the PLP assures that each policy of the PLP identifies and addresses indigenous peoples' issues from an indigenous peoples' perspective and requests the Indigenous People's caucus to look at policies and present recommendations to the next Conference.

1. SOVEREIGNTY AND SELF DETERMINATION:

1.1 The PLP recognises the fundamental importance of the issue of Indigenous sovereignty and resolves to enter into negotiations with the representatives of Indigenous peoples, acknowledging that there are a range of ways that Indigenous sovereignty can formally be recognised, from independent nation state to shared sovereignty within the Australian Commonwealth.

1.2 The PLP acknowledges the regional basis of indigenous sovereignty, thus recommends a process of regional negotiations on the issue of sovereignty.

1.3 The underlying principle on which the PLP will base its position is the recognition of the right of self determination in conjunction with the 1948 U.N Charter and the U.N Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

1.4 The PLP supports unconditional compensation to be paid to the victims of child removal policies. Such compensation to be paid to each individual not as a grant to community which remains under the control of trustees or bureaucrats.

1.5 The PLP will act immediately on the recommendations of the Human Rights Commission report 'Bringing the Children Home'.

2. NATIVE TITLE AND LAND and SEA RIGHTS:

2.1 The PLP recognises the continuous existence of native title rights in relation to land, sea, and the resources therein and commits itself to oppose any extinguishment of these rights and calls for their constitutional recognition.

2.2 The PLP calls for the introduction of National Land Right Legislation and guarantees to establish a funding system to allow the acquisition of land for indigenous people throughout Australia.

2.3 The PLP recognises the Racial Discrimination Act 1975, as the basis of the principles of non-discrimination.

2.4 The PLP acknowledges the negotiated agreement may be a way to resolve any conflict arising fro the co-existence of the native titles with other land uses if they choose this way to go.

2.5 The PLP opposes any attempt by the Federal Government to limit the right of indigenous people to negotiate.

2.6 The PLP rejects any upgrading or enhancement of rights of pastoral and mining leaseholders without a full inquiry into the impact of such changes on indigenous rights, the environment and the rights of Australian people.

3. OVERCOMING DISADVANTAGE:

3.1 The PLP recognises in line with Article 22 of the U.N Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples their right to special measures for the immediate, effective and continuing improvement of their economic and social conditions.

3.2 However, the PLP rejects any attempt to define these measures in non-indigenous terms, thus calls for the establishment of a national fund financed by the Commonwealth from which untied block grants should be paid to independent indigenous organisations to identify problems in their terms and develop and implement appropriate solutions.

3.3 These funds will be negotiated with indigenous organisations on a regional basis and be guaranteed in formal regional funding agreements.

4.TOWARDS A FINAL PROGRAM:

The PLP resolves to circulate this policy framework for discussion and negotiations with indigenous peoples' organisations with a view to developing a more detailed policy for the consideration of the next Annual Conference.