Fed: Senators accuse Labor of folding over Qld native title

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2000
Fed: Senators accuse Labor of folding over Qld native title

Senate National Party leader RON BOSWELL says Queensland Premier PETER BEATTIE folded
like a house of cards yesterday when pressured by his federal Labor colleagues.

Senator BOSWELL says Mr BEATTIE rejected his own native title legislation aimed at
facilitating mining industry negotiations over native title.

He says the issue is a new major mess for Queensland, with the mining industry placed
in a vulnerable position.

Senator BOSWELL predicts Mr BEATTIE's plan to reduce the State's unemployment from
eight per cent to five per cent will now stall.

But Queensland Australian Democrats Senator JOHN WOODLEY says trust in Mr BEATTIE is
faltering for the opposite reason.

He says indigenous people in particular have lost trust, because he's reduced their
right to negotiate over mining on their land.

Senator WOODLEY says Labor will have to work hard to win back their vote.

He says Labor's federal indigenous affairs spokesman, DARYL MELHAM, acted with great
principle yesterday in resigning over the issue.

AAP RTV mb/hn

KEYWORD: TITLE SENATE (CANBERRA)

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