On 21 March 2011, a Bill to amend the Native Title Act 1993 was introduced to the Senate by the Australian Greens. Subsequently, on 12 May 2011, the Senate referred the Bill to the Senate Standing Committees on Legal and Constitutional Affairs for inquiry and report. The Committee received 25 submissions, including from native title representative bodies, mining and exploration bodies and Government departments. These submissions can be accessed at http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/legcon_ctte/native_title_three/submissions.htm.
The Committee will hold a public hearing on the matter on 16 September 2011 and will provide a report on the Bill on 20 September 2011. Details of the time and location of the hearing will soon be available on the Senate’s website http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/hearings/index.htm.