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