Native Title Report 2005
- Community Guide
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 : Background the origin of land rights and barriers to economic development through native title
- Chapter 2 : Existing legal framework and leasing options
- Chapter 3 : The economic logic of the NIC Principles and economic development on Indigenous lands
- Chapter 4 : Leasing on Indigenous land: a human rights appraisal
- Annexure 1 : Glossary of Terms
- Annexure 2 : National Indigenous Council - Indigenous Land Tenure Principles
- Annexure 3 : Summary of free, prior and informed consent
- Annexure 4 : Chronology of events in native title 1 July 2004 - 30 June 2005
- Tranmittal Letter
- Summary Guide
- Media Pack
- Speeches, Audio and Podcast from the launch of the Report (31 March 2006)
PDF Downloads 
- Full Native Title Report 2005 (8.94 MB)
- Introduction (465 KB)
- Chapter 1: Background the origin of land rights and barriers to economic development through native title (802 KB)
- Chapter 2: Existing legal framework and leasing options (913 KB)
- Chapter 3: The economic logic of the NIC Principles and economic deveopment on Indigenous lands (725 KB)
- Chatper 4: Leasing on Indigenous land: a human rights appraisal (669 KB)
- Annexure 1: Glossary of Terms (465 KB)
- Annexure 2: National Indigenous Council - Indigenous Land Tenure Principles (513 KB)
- Annexure 3: Summary of free, prior and informed consent (437 KB)
- Annexure 4: Chronology of events in native title 1 July 2004 - 30 June 2005 (584 KB)
Transmittal Letter
16 December 2005
The Hon Philip Ruddock MP
Attorney-General
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Dear Attorney
I am pleased to present to you the Native Title Report 2005.
The report is provided in accordance with section 209 of the Native Title Act 1993. In light of recent developments in land rights during the reporting period, I have also examined the enjoyment and exercise of human rights by Aboriginal persons and Torres Strait Islander persons in accordance with section 46(1)(a) of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986.
The report examines some of the issues that have arisen during the debate around the National Indigenous Council Land Tenure Principles (NIC Principles) and proposed changes to the communal nature of land interests to promote individual home ownership. The report assesses the proposal to lease Indigenous communally owned land against human rights standards, existing land rights regimes and economic factors that will influence the effectiveness of the NIC Principles.
The report makes a number of recommendations aimed at improving economic development on Indigenous land that respect and uphold Australias human rights obligations, including further development and implementation of the principles for economic and social development as set out in the Native Title Report 2004.
I look forward to discussing the report with you.
Yours sincerely
Tom Calma
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Social Justice Commissioner
