I say to all of the opinion formers in this country, including the leaders of the Aboriginal community, that we want practical reform to make the Native Title Act more workable. I want to give certainty to the pastoralists of this country. The High Court has now spelt out the ambit of those common law rights in the Wik case.
Native title can co-exist on pastoral leases.
To the extent that there is any inconsistency, the rights of the pastoralist prevail. The Prime Minister's problem is that he now cannot be all things to all people. They want to be able to expand their pastoral lease title which did not necessarily give the right of exclusive possession into something akin to freehold. These pastoralists want the windfall of converting their vast pastoral holdings into land which they own exclusively and which they can use as they wish. If the Prime Minister is now to give this much more to pastoralists, he will have to take away the common law rights of Aborigines.