Australia rejects land rights law
09 April 1998
Australia rejects land rights law
THE Australian Senate rejected Aboriginal land rights legislation last night for a second time – a move likely to spark an election before the end of the year.
The Bill sought to put an end to a dispute between farmers and Aborigines over Government pastures leased by farmers.
Opposition parties claimed the Government Bill was unconstitutional and unfair to Aborigines. The Senate re-wrote the Bill leaving out some of the Governments key clauses.
Prime Minister John Howard can call a snap poll any time if, as expected, the Government-controlled lower house throws out the senates rewrite.
- Financial Times 09/04/98 page 7
- The Scotsman 09/04/98 page 12
- The Independent 09/04/98 page 18
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