Native title is a new, important and quickly developing area of the law.
There are significant benefits to all Australians in ensuring that native title issues are resolved as quickly and smoothly as possible. Resolution of native title claims in a timely fashion will provide greater certainty about native title. It will facilitate and encourage business development by providing all levels of government and business with greater confidence about how native title law affects them. It will also provide greater certainty to native titleholders by helping to establish exactly what their native title rights and interests are. The Commonwealth has a clear obligation to participate in appropriate cases to argue for the proper interpretation of the amended Native Title Act 1993 and in other cases to address issues relevant to the Commonwealth s own property interests.