Agreements based on State and Territory legislation might differ unnecessarily across Australia. Regional agreements have wide usage in Australia. They are negotiated by Indigenous peoples with local governments, mining companies, pastoralists, town councils and other bodies for a wide variety of purposes. Indigenous communities in Australia have experience in negotiating regional agreements. Regional agreements offer a degree of local governing autonomy for Indigenous communities.
Regional agreements are compatible with our federal system of government.
Agreements could be considered as an alternative to the negotiation of a single document or national agreement. Regional agreements can deal more effectively with economic and social needs than can national agreements. The terms of such agreements could be given legal effect, if required. It is not possible to achieve sufficient certainty for the parties through regional agreements. Agreements would be subject to different legislative regimes at the State level.