This provides the opportunity for Aboriginal peoples who cannot establish Native Title to regain some control along with Native Title holders. Regional agreements can be negotiated to provide for Aboriginal control or co-management over their lands and the wider region. Regional agreements can be negotiated to resolve legal disputes over the co-existence of native title rights with pastoral leases. Pastoralists and the Cape York Land Council have recently issued statements that they believe that a negotiated settlement of these issues is achievable for Cape York and beneficial to all parties. Regional agreements ensuring Aboriginal control and co-management of national parks, World Heritage areas and environmental management processes is a recognition of Indigenous rights and of benefit to all Australians.
Regional agreements can provide the framework for Indigenous enterprises and joint ventures.
Existing funding and service delivery arrangements do not meet the basic needs of Aboriginal peoples and they are often denied the normal citizenship rights of other Australians to services such as water, housing, health and education. Regional agreements provide an important opportunity to negotiate new powers and resources for Aboriginal local government, policing and community justice. Whatever its form, what is crucial is that the process be driven from the local level, through regional organisations, and involves a high level of Indigenous participation which is outside normal bureaucratic and political channels.