Native title: the next 25 years

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the High Court decision in Mabo. It seems timely to look ahead at what the next 25 years might entail in the native title policy space. The focus of the seminar will be on emerging strategic issues, both for government policymakers and also for Indigenous interests, particularly native title interests.

The seminar will canvass broad strategies which both policymakers and indigenous interests might pursue to ensure that the native title regime is working in the national interest. Key arguments will focus on why it is in the Federal Government's interest to be more proactive in policy terms on native title issues; the benefits of alternative settlements, and the importance of Indigenous interests upgrading their capacity to advocate for their preferred policy outcomes.

Biography of Michael Dillon

Michael Dillon began his career as an employee of remote Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley in the late 1970s. He worked for the Central Land Council in the early 1980s and later pursued a career as a public servant in a range of agencies both inside and outside Indigenous affairs. Among other roles, he was a member of the task forces which developed the ATSIC legislation, the Native Title Act, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund and Indigenous Land Corporation legislation. He has also worked as a policy adviser to a number of Ministers for Indigenous Affairs.

His research interests focus on public policy development. He has a particular interest in native title and Indigenous land issues, institutional frameworks, remote policy issues and Indigenous housing issues.