Customary land tenure issues in Australia

Abstract

"The debate concerning wealth creation on communally owned indigenous land is gaining momentum in Australia. This Australian debate has implications for Papua New Guinea, given the level of influence that Australia has on Papua New Guinea through its aid program and the long-standing colonial relationship between the two countries. Given the possibility that Australian commentaries on Australian indigenous land dealings will have some bearing on Papua New Guinea land issues, this chapter aims to describe for Papua New Guineans the context in which the Australian debate occurs, the legal framework defining indigenous lands, and the ways in which indigenous land is being developed." - page 8