Irrational choice? a study of Aboriginal decision-making and political action in response to Commonwealth reforms to Aboriginal land in the Northern Territory from 2006 to 2013
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Embargoed until: 2022-11-02
Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
O'Faircheallaigh, Ciaran S
Other Supervisors
Howlett, Catherine
Terrill, Leon
Year published
2021-11-02
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This study examines Aboriginal decision-making and political action in response to Commonwealth leasing measures implemented from 2006 to 2013. Specifically, the study examines the response of two remote Aboriginal communities, Ntaria and Daguragu, to the voluntary housing lease measure which was introduced after the mandatory five-year leases. Unlike its predecessor, the housing lease measure required traditional Aboriginal owners to provide their consent before a lease over Aboriginal land could be put in place. While governments focused on the economic costs and benefits in their incentivisation of the housing lease ...
View more >This study examines Aboriginal decision-making and political action in response to Commonwealth leasing measures implemented from 2006 to 2013. Specifically, the study examines the response of two remote Aboriginal communities, Ntaria and Daguragu, to the voluntary housing lease measure which was introduced after the mandatory five-year leases. Unlike its predecessor, the housing lease measure required traditional Aboriginal owners to provide their consent before a lease over Aboriginal land could be put in place. While governments focused on the economic costs and benefits in their incentivisation of the housing lease measure, the decision-making in Ntaria and Daguragu demonstrates that the actions were motivated by both economic and non-economic factors. These included the desire to preserve Aboriginal decision-making rights and to obtain government funding for housing infrastructure and services without conceding government interference. The findings also indicate that the political actions were in response to government policies but also reflected conflicts and disagreements between Aboriginal groups, representatives and leaders.
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View more >This study examines Aboriginal decision-making and political action in response to Commonwealth leasing measures implemented from 2006 to 2013. Specifically, the study examines the response of two remote Aboriginal communities, Ntaria and Daguragu, to the voluntary housing lease measure which was introduced after the mandatory five-year leases. Unlike its predecessor, the housing lease measure required traditional Aboriginal owners to provide their consent before a lease over Aboriginal land could be put in place. While governments focused on the economic costs and benefits in their incentivisation of the housing lease measure, the decision-making in Ntaria and Daguragu demonstrates that the actions were motivated by both economic and non-economic factors. These included the desire to preserve Aboriginal decision-making rights and to obtain government funding for housing infrastructure and services without conceding government interference. The findings also indicate that the political actions were in response to government policies but also reflected conflicts and disagreements between Aboriginal groups, representatives and leaders.
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Thesis Type
Thesis (Masters)
Degree Program
Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
School
School of Govt & Int Relations
Copyright Statement
The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise.
Subject
Aboriginal decision-making
Commonwealth leasing
Aboriginal communities
political actions