Tasmania's government should follow Queensland's lead and return the Tarkine and Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area to Aborigines, former Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown says.
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"With Premier Gutwein looking to a treaty with the Tasmanian Aboriginal community, returning takayna would help fit the bill," Dr Brown said.
The state government did not immediately rule out the idea.
"The Tasmanian Government wants to see more land returned to Tasmanian Aboriginal people, and reviewing the model for returning land is an important part of this process," a spokesperson said.
"The review, which aims to identify the barriers to returning land and explore options to improve the land return process, is currently under way and work to finalise the government's approach is progressing.
"The Government is willing to consider all proposals for returning land that are put forward by all Tasmanian Aboriginal communities, alongside the current land return review."
The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre has been calling for the Tarkine to be returned for some time, while Dr Brown previously called for the world heritage area to be handed back.
The environmentalist Bob Brown Foundation added to the Tarkine push in the wake of the Queensland government deciding to return more than 160,000 hectares to indigenous people, including the Daintree National Park.
That deal was sealed with a ceremony on Wednesday.
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The TAC's Nala Mansell said: "So far we've heard a lot of talk from the Premier about forming a treaty with Aborigines and righting the wrongs of the past, but talk is all it has been."
"We are still a landless, dispossessed and oppressed people.
"We want to see some action.
"The Premier should take a leaf out of the book of the Queensland government, who have recently announced the return of Daintree National Park to the traditional owners.
"We call on Peter Gutwein to stop twiddling his fingers and return takayna and the TWWHA to the people it was stolen from; the palawa people of lutruwita."
The Bob Brown Foundation has become a prominent player in Tarkine politics, with activities including protests and opposition to several mining projects.
They include:
- MMG Limited's proposed new tailings storage at South Marionoak for the Rosebery Mine;
- Venture Minerals Limited's new Riley Iron Ore Mine; and
- Venture's potential Mount Lindsay tin and tungsten mine.