BACKGROUND

From my association since 1967 with Aboriginal Australians I have become aware, firstly, of the strength of the association between them and the land with which their clan or family group is identified and secondly, how important it is to them that their title to those lands be acknowledged in Australian law. More recently, as a result of my interest in environmental matters my attention has been drawn to fears held by some conservationists that Aborigines, armed and equipped as they now can be with contemporary weapons of destruction and transporting themselves in motor vehicles, would damage as ruthlessly as white men the environment and the wildlife of land over which they might gain title. These fears have led some conservationists to oppose the acknowledgment of Aboriginal title to lands which have been, or are proposed to be, reserved as national parks or wildlife sanctuaries. Some of them have spoken against the current land claim by Warlpiri and Kartangarurru–Kurintji peoples currently before this land claim tribunal on these grounds.