By Rob Graham
ADELAIDE — More than 500 people packed the Norwood Town Hall on December 2 to hear pro-native title pastoralist Camilla Cowley and others speak on the Howard government's Native Title Amendment bill. The meeting was organised by Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation.
Georgina Williams opened the meeting by welcoming the audience to Kaurna land, followed by some moving Aboriginal songs from Betty Sumner.
Adelaide Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith talked about the Adelaide City Council's commitment to reconciliation. Of John Howard, she said it would not be good enough for him to apologise to the stolen generations; he should apologise for being prime minister.
Adelaide University historian Dr Robert Foster explained that the coexistence of native title and pastoral leases has a long history. In South Australia in 1851, legislation covering pastoral leases allowed full access for traditional owners to their land and to food and water resources, and even included the possibility of a pastoralist being evicted if these rights were infringed.
Member of the European Parliament Hugh Kerr explained that Australia's international human rights image is seriously under question. Kerr said that the report the delegation will present will be "very critical" of the Australian government.
Ian Perkins, a landholder from NSW, said that the "certainty" desired on native title will come through coexistence, not extinguishment. The debate needs to be turned around, he said, to encourage working together to develop sustainability in land management.
Camilla Cowley received a standing ovation for her speech tracing her journey from frightened opponent of native title to powerful advocate. Initially terrified by a letter from the Gunggari people claiming native title on her family's property, and having her fears confirmed at public meetings called by the National Farmers' Federation, Cowley and her husband went to meet the Gunggari.
Contrary to their fears, they discovered there was no threat to their property, and talking was more than possible. All that was really wanted was recognition of prior ownership of the land and access to areas of significance.
Cowley is very angry at the lies and fear-mongering of the likes of the National Party and NFF, which have caused so much anguish in rural Australia. She said that this experience has been the best thing that has happened to her family and finished by saying, "Reconciliation cannot be legislated; it must be a people's movement".