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Editors --- "Recent Happenings" [1998] IndigLawB 89; (1998) 4(16) Indigenous Law Bulletin 28

Recent Happenings

Compiled by: Michelle and Samin Fernando, Sally Murphy, Richard Eagleton, Rachel Connell, Nick Menzies, Joanna Kwan, Vivian van Gelder and James Godfrey

13 September

The final three Aboriginal clans who are traditional owners of land affected by the proposed Adelaide to Darwin rail link agreed to allow access for construction of the proposed $1 billion railway. The deal, brokered by the Northern Land Council and the Central Land Council, guarantees access to native title and Northern Territory Aboriginal Freehold land along the 1414 km rail corridor.

16 September

Aboriginal activists demanded that four seats in the New South Wales Parliament be held exclusively for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. A report by the New South Wales Parliament standing committee on social issues, to be delivered in November, is expected to recommend one dedicated Aboriginal . State Parliament seat.

18 September

Jody Broun won the 15th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award at the Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in Darwin for her painting White fellas come to talk about land.

21 September

Aboriginal athlete Nova Peris-Kneebone won a gold medal in the 200 metres sprint at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. She is the first Australian to win Olympic and Commonwealth Games Gold medals in two different sports, hockey and running.

24 September

The Australian Bureau of Statistics released 1996 Census data showing that the proportion of Australians identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander has increased by one third to 2 per cent of the total population.

28 September

Connecting Kin, a guide aimed at assisting children from the Stolen Generations and others to access records and services, was released by the NSW Department of Community Services.

28 September

The Federal Court ratified the first Indigenous land use agreement on a pastoral lease. The agreement was negotiated by pastoral lease-holders and traditional owners of a 25, 000 hectare property, Karma Waters, 200 km north-west of Cairns. The agree

ment recognises the native title rights of the Western (Sunset) Yalanji people.

30 September

The Native Title Amendment Act 1998 (Cth) came into force.

2 October

Barry Ward of the Canterbury Bulldogs was fined $10,000 by a subcommittee of the National Rugby League Board for racially abusing Anthony Mundine of St George on 29 August. Canterbury lodged an appeal against the decision on 9 October.

3 October

John Howard's Liberal-National Party Coalition was returned to power in the Federal election.

11 October

Traditional owners from the Uluru/ Kata Tjuta National Park Board of Management participated in a ceremony in Sydney where it was announced that Uluru will be the location for the first lighting of the Olympic torch in Australia in the lead up to the 2000 Olympic Games. The site was selected after negotiations with the traditional; owners aimed at protecting the spiritual integrity of the site.