The released the statement below on June 21.
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Michael Mansell today said the forest Bill introduced into the Tasmanian Parliament “is a straight betrayal of Aboriginal people”.
Mansell said: “The Bill represents a rejection by the government and the Greens of the proposal put by Aborigines for ownership and management of the reserved areas. The Government talks of land rights, but talk is cheap.
“It is no coincidence that on the same date that the government tabled a Bill that sidelines substantial Aboriginal interests in land, another Bill returning small parcels of land is introduced. This is a blatant political tactic intended to confuse the debate about Aboriginal management of the forests. The tactic is designed to convey the false impression that the government is pro-Aboriginal land rights. It is dirty politics and takes advantage of our weak position.
“If the government were genuine it would have left the door open for Aboriginal involvement in the forest agreement. The reliance on Parks and Wildlife as managers of the reserve areas is aimed at heading off the proposal for Aboriginal management that we placed before government and industry earlier this year.
“And if the government really was concerned to not take advantage of the weak position of Aborigines in the forest debate, it would not have introduced the small land return Bill on the same day as the forest Bill. Instead the government is playing hard-ball politics with Aboriginal people. The token land return Bill could have been introduced on any other day.
“The forest Bill hands any crown lands affected by the forest agreement to Parks & Wildlife. This is a Greens agenda to prevent Aboriginal management of reserved areas. The greens don’t trust us, and have swayed government thinking.
“We were shocked to see an additional clause preventing Forestry Tasmania from leasing or sub-leasing any of the lands it controls. This is a clear reference to the possibility of Forestry Tasmania leasing lands to Aboriginal people so that Aborigines can manage the lands, allow public access and make money from tourism.
“Again, this extraordinary provision has the fingerprints of the Greens Cabinet members written all over it.
“The Premier has completely caved in to the pro-greens agenda. The greens position was exposed earlier this year when each organisation and leader dumped on the publicly made proposal for Aboriginal involvement”.
Mansell said Aborigines would canvass their issues with the Liberal Party and the Legislative Council.
