Contents

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Publishing information - page i

Listing of members of the Committee - page iii

Contents - page v

Table of Statutes - page ix

Table of Cases - page x

Recommendations - page xii

Part A - Preliminary Matters

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Chapter 1.

Publishing information - page i

Listing of members of the Committee - page iii

Contents - page v

Table of Statutes - page ix

Table of Cases - page x

Recommendations - page xii

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Chapter 2.

The development of the idea of a Treaty of commitment - page 7

Origins and rationale - page 7

Evolution of the concept - page 14

Terminology - page 20

Part B - The Legal Issues

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Introduction - page 29

Agreement in the form of a treaty - page 29

Agreement with constitutional backing - page 29

Agreement with legislative backing - page 30

Simple agreement - page 30

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Chapter 3.

Agreement in the form of an international treaty and the issue of sovereignty - page 31

The meaning and functions of treaties in modern law - page 31

Definition of sovereignty - page 34

The acquisition of sovereignty - page 35

The disputed question of sovereignty in Australia - page 37

Request and consent legislation - page 48

Conclusion - page 50

Domestic treaties of other nations as a model for Australia - page 50

New Zealand - page 51

The United States of America - page 52

Canada - page 55

Conclusion concerning domestic treaties - page 57

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Chapter 4.

Agreement with constitutional backing - page 67

Introduction - page 67

(a) Inclusion of full text within Constitution - page 68

(b) Broad enabling power - page 69

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Chapter 5.

An agreement with legislative backing within the Commonwealth's existing constitutional authority - page 79

Section 51 (xxvi): the 'races power' - page 79

Background to section 51 (xxvi) - page 80

Commentaries on section 51 (xxvi) - page 81

Judicial opinion of section 51 (xxvi) - page 84

Could section 51 (xxvi) support legislation for a compact - page 92

Section 51 (xxix): the external affairs power - page 93

Effect of Aboriginal affairs on Australia’s external relations - page 95

Section 51 (xxxvii): reference of powers by States - page 104

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Chapter 6.

A compact in the form of a simple agreement or contract - page 109

Nature of the proposal - page 109

Advantages of the contract form - page 110

Disadvantages of the contract form - page 111

Conclusion- page 114

Part C - Further Issues Involved in any Implementation Decision

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Introduction - page 119

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Chapter 7.

Objectives - page 121

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Chapter 8.

Representation of the parties to a compact - page 129

Non-Aboriginal representation - page 130

Aboriginal representation - page 134

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Chapter 9.

Dissemination of the idea of a compact - page 151

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Chapter 10.

Timetable - page 159

Appendices.

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Appendix 1

Individuals and organisations who made written submissions to the Committee - page 167

Appendix 2

Witnesses - page 169

Appendix 3

Makarrata demands as proposed by the National Aboriginal Conference - page 177