Editors --- "Update" [1997] IndigLawB 85; (1997) 4(6) Indigenous Law Bulletin 2

• Update
• Urgently Needed: Wik Submissions
• Antar's Sea Of Hands Event
• 1998 Robert Riley Scholarship Program
• Hot Topic: Native Title
• Review Of The Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989 (Cth)
• First National Indigenous Housing Conference, Townsville
• Ilb To Become A Refereed Journal

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Update

Urgently Needed: Wik Submissions

Submissions on the Native Title Act Amendment Bill 1997 should be sent as soon as possible to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Native Title, which must consider and report on them by 27 October 1997. The Bill and Explanatory Memorandum are available from Australian Government Publishing Service bookshops, and on the internet at: <http://www.aph.gov.au/house/> Send submissions to: The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600

Inquiries to:

Warren Entsch MP (Chair), Cairns [phone]; Canberra [phone]
Peter C Grundy (Committee Secretary), Canberra [phone]

ANTaR's Sea of Hands Event

Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) is a coalition of organisations and individuals working in consultation with the National Indigenous Working Group. ANTaR's campaign in support of native title will culminate with the 'Sea of Hands' event in Canberra on Sunday, 12 October 1997. Signatures collected by ANTaR for the 'Australian Citizens' Statement on Native Title' will be represented by up to 100,000 cardboard hands being erected in front of Parliament House to form a gigantic motif. Further information on this and other ANTaR initiatives are available by contacting:

Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education
PO Box 154
BALMAIN NSW 2041
Phone: [phone] or
1800 680 566
Fax: [phone]

The on-line native title Petition, sponsored by the Indigenous Law Centre, will be presented to the Commonwealth Parliament at the same time as the Citizens' Statement. The Petition can be viewed at <http://www.austlii.edu.au/unsw/ centres/ilc/>

On 5 August 1997 the Academic Board of UNSW passed a resolution endorsing this Petition.

1998 Robert Riley Scholarship Program

The Australian Youth Foundation (AYF) annually awards four scholarships of $5,000 to indigenous Australians of 25 years or younger who wish to pursue studies in the fields of human rights, juvenile justice or law. Applications for 1998 close on 14 November 1997.

For selection criteria and application forms, contact:

The Australian Youth Foundation Suite 302, 134 William Street EAST SYDNEY NSW 2011 Phone: [phone] or
1800 252 316
Fax: [phone]

Hot Topic: Native Title

The Legal Information Access Centre (LIAC) has just published a 28 page booklet outlining the development of native title rights in Australian law. It includes an overview of important land law concepts; plain language summaries of the Mabo and Wik decisions, with extracts from the judgments; an overview of the Native Title Act 1993; summaries of the Federal Government's proposed amendments under the Native Title Amendment Bill 1997 and the response from the National Indigenous Working Group on Native Title. There is also a timeline of significant events.

Copies are $10 each, or by subscription to the Hot Topics series. Contact:

Trish Luker, LIAC, ph:[phone], fax: [phone], or <[e-mail]>

Review of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989 (Cth)

ATSIC is seeking community responses to its review of the ATSIC Act by 30 November 1997. A kit containing the discussion paper and response forms is available from:

ATSIC Act Review Team PO Box 17
WODEN ACT 2606 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Email: <[e-mail]>

First National Indigenous Housing Conference, Townsville

The aims of this conference are to answer the most often asked questions on housing products and services; how to deal with funding applications and guidelines; the regionalisation of indigenous housing organisations; ATSIC's role in provision of goods and services; the possible future directions of indigenous affairs; and the meaning of self-determination and self-empowerment. The conference will be held in Townsville, Queensland from 28-31 October 1997.

For registration or further information, contact:

Elizabeth F Mamock
Combined Housing Organisation of SE Queensland
PO Box 427
BEENLEIGH QLD 4207 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

ILB to Become a Refereed Journal

The Management Committee of the Indigenous Law Bulletin is currently considering a proposal to become a refereed journal. It is suggested that all feature articles will be reviewed by one anonymous peer reviewer, as well as the Editors. It is also proposed that an Editorial Board will be appointed. Expressions of interest from people wanting to get involved with the Editorial Board are particularly invited from indigenous people living in Sydney.