The Wik, the law & the land

Episode of Series “Four corners (Television program)”.
Australia’s Native Title Act was passed in December 1993, acknowledging the entitlement of First Nations peoples, in accordance with their laws and customs, to their traditional lands. The High Court’s Wik decision in 1996 removed long held assumptions about land tenure in Australia and created uncertainty in the minds of pastoralists and miners. First Nations groups however, believed that the decision would have little impact and that the farmers were generally over-reacting. Co-existence in the form of upgraded land tenure for the pastoralists and traditional access to the land for First Nations people could lead to long-term stability - at least that was the aim of the Cape York Agreement. The Liberal / National Federal Government under the leadership of John Howard, found itself coming increasingly under pressure from the National Farmers Federation to nullify the High Court’s judgement and extinguish native title. This program examines the issues. Reporter: Murray McLaughlin.