The Senate Standing Committee Report - 200 Years Later
In 1981 the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs enquired into the feasibility of securing a compact or Makarrata between the Commonwealth Government and Aboriginal Australians. In 1983 the report entitled "Two Hundred Years Later ....." was published by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Contents
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Publishing information - page i
Listing of members of the Committee - page iii
Contents - page v
Table of Statutes - page ix
Table of Cases - page x
Recommendations - page xii
Part A - Preliminary Matters
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Chapter 1
Publishing information - page i
Listing of members of the Committee - page iii
Contents - page v
Table of Statutes - page ix
Table of Cases - page x
Recommendations - page xii
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Chapter 2
The development of the idea of a Treaty of commitment - page 7
Origins and rationale - page 7
Evolution of the concept - page 14
Terminology - page 20
Part B - The Legal Issues
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Introduction - page 29
Agreement in the form of a treaty - page 29
Agreement with constitutional backing - page 29
Agreement with legislative backing - page 30
Simple agreement - page 30
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Chapter 3
Agreement in the form of an international treaty and the issue of sovereignty - page 31
The meaning and functions of treaties in modern law - page 31
Definition of sovereignty - page 34
The acquisition of sovereignty - page 35
The disputed question of sovereignty in Australia - page 37
Request and consent legislation - page 48
Conclusion - page 50
Domestic treaties of other nations as a model for Australia - page 50
New Zealand - page 51
The United States of America - page 52
Canada - page 55
Conclusion concerning domestic treaties - page 57
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Chapter 4
Agreement with constitutional backing - page 67
Introduction - page 67
- Inclusion of full text within Constitution - page 68
- Broad enabling power - page 69
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Chapter 5
An agreement with legislative backing within the Commonwealth's existing constitutional authority - page 79
Section 51 (xxvi): the 'races power' - page 79
Background to section 51 (xxvi) - page 80
Commentaries on section 51 (xxvi) - page 81
Judicial opinion of section 51 (xxvi) - page 84
Could section 51 (xxvi) support legislation for a compact - page 92
Section 51 (xxix): the external affairs power - page 93
Effect of Aboriginal affairs on Australia's external relations - page 95
Section 51 (xxxvii): reference of powers by States - page 104
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Chapter 6
A compact in the form of a simple agreement or contract - page 109
Nature of the proposal - page 109
Advantages of the contract form - page 110
Disadvantages of the contract form - page 111
Conclusion- page 114
Part C - Further Issues Involved in any Implementation Decision
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Chapter 7
Objectives - page 121
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Chapter 8
Representation of the parties to a compact - page 129
Non-Aboriginal representation - page 130
Aboriginal representation - page 134
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Chapter 9
Dissemination of the idea of a compact - page 151
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Chapter 10
Timetable - page 159
Appendices
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Appendix 1
Individuals and organisations who made written submissions to the Committee - page 167
Appendix 2
Witnesses - page 169
Appendix 3
Makarrata demands as proposed by the National Aboriginal Conference - page 177