WA; Kimberley land council rejects new preamble

AAP General News (Australia)
08-11-1999
WA; Kimberley land council rejects new preamble

PERTH, Aug 11 AAP - The new preamble was an "absolute nonsense" and made a farce of
Aboriginal reconciliation, the Kimberley Land Council said today.

Council executive director Peter Yu said Aboriginal issues should not be part of the
republic referendum and should be negotiated following the reconciliation process.

"It is a farce to discuss how Aboriginal people are reflected in a national document,
especially the constitution, before Aboriginal people are consulted," Mr Yu said.

"It's just another case of something being imposed on Aboriginal people without their
consent".

The new preamble, worked out by the federal government and the Australian Democrats today,
honours Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders for their deep kinship with their lands, but
does not refer to custodianship.

Mr Yu said the phrase indigenous kinship with the land was an absolute nonsense as: "we
have owned the land, and continue to have ownership rights under the common law of this
country".

"The record on kinship is taking children from their families, breaking up families and
removing people from their lands," he said.

"We don't accept this preamble".

AAP pr/cjh

KEYWORD: PREAMBLE KIMBERLEY

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.