‘Damn tokenism’: WA govt could do more for Indigenous if they had ‘true conviction’

The transfer of land in Western Australia to traditional owners is “damn tokenism” by the government because there’s a lot more they could do with a “true conviction” Pastoralists and Graziers Association President Tony Seabrook says.

The Western Australian government is preparing to hand over control of eight per cent of the state’s territory to traditional owners.

The area, known as the Aboriginal Land Trust, covers 20 million hectares and includes 284 parcels of land, 142 permanent Aboriginal settlements and five pastoral leases.

“The issue about the pastoral lease is that is a worry because these are actual pastoral leases, and they should not be put into a situation where they cannot be transacted,” Mr Seabrook told Sky News Australia host Caleb Bond.

“That is really bad news, but it’s only a small proportion of the pastoral leases that are there.

“One of the big issues here is, and I’m led to believe that no matter what happens in this Trust, it still doesn’t give communities or anyone in them free title over their land, and you’re not going to care for anything or treat it the same way as if it was yours.

‘Damn tokenism’: WA govt could do more for Indigenous if they had ‘true conviction’

“Once again, it’s just damn tokenism, and when I see the parlous condition – what’s going on up in the Kimberley in particular … there’s a lot more that a government with a true conviction and a bit of courage could do.”