- Strong native title system supports economic participation for Traditional Owners, long-term partnerships and continued resources investment
- Positive job outcomes, Indigenous business growth and operational agreements a result of existing native title agreement-making framework
Australia's minerals sector has reaffirmed its commitment to practical reforms to native title after the tabling of the Australian Law Reform Commission Future Acts Regime final report in Parliament today.
Instead of the new and untested approach as proposed by the ALRC, positive reform can be delivered within the existing framework that has worked to support agreement-making for more than 30 years.
The mining industry is ready and willing to work with the government in considering workable alternatives, including the MCA's proposed improvements to the Future Acts Regime.
These changes would promote efficiency, transparency and fairness through:
- Better-resourced Traditional Owner corporations
- Agreement-making processes aligned to the scope and nature of mining projects
- Regulation of third-party consultants who often impede productive relationships between industry and Traditional Owners
- Improved efficiency and transparency across the regime.
MCA members directly employ approximately 6,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at average earnings of $158,500 per year, with close to $2 billion procured from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses in 2024-25.
These outcomes have been built through long-term economic partnerships with Traditional Owner communities, with the MCA continuing to work constructively with the government and Traditional Owner communities to advance reforms that strengthen partnerships, support Closing the Gap and keep Australia competitive.
