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SYDNEY: Improved land rights for Aborigines are critical to racial reconciliation in Australia, an official report warned Monday in the wake of an historic government apology for past injustices.
The comment was made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma as part of his annual report for the government's Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.
"It is vital to indigenous people and their future that their rights and interests in (the) country according to their traditional laws and customs are recognised," he wrote.
"Recognition and protection of native title is critical to advancing reconciliation between Australia's past and present, and between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians."
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a formal apology to Aborigines in parliament on February 13 for injustices committed over two centuries of white settlement, saying he wanted "to remove a great stain from the nation's soul."
The apology represented a watershed in Australia's often fraught history of race relations, with television networks airing it live and thousands of people crowding around huge screens in major cities to witness the event.
But commentators said at the time the apology would remain purely symbolic unless it was followed up with action to improve the lives of Australia's most marginalised people, many of whom live in impoverished outback camps.
Calma said the native title system introduced 15 year ago, under which Aborigines are granted rights over their traditional lands, had become too complex, too legalistic and effectively gridlocked.
He called for a "national summit" to discuss how to improve its operation.
"We need to rethink the entire system with an open mind and focus on increasing the recognition of native title and strengthening its protection," he said. - AFP/ac
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