National Aboriginal Conference Position Paper on Economics
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N A T I O N A L A B O R I G I N A L C O N F E R E N C E
POSITION PAPER ON
ECONOMICS
ECONOMICS
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In the traditional societies of Aborigines there was no such thing as
a monetary system nor was there any bargaining between the people
within the tribe or with other tribes. When Aboriginal tribes met for
specific purposes, and that is, the initiation of the young men and/or
tribal ceremonies. There were, however, communicational links between
the many different tribes and there were at these meetings exchange of
goods. The exchange of these goods was not designed for economic
purposes they merely represented goodwill between the tribes.
The best illustration that I have ever heard in relation to how we
survived was by a man by the name of Mr. Bob Holroyd of Edward River,
Arukun, North Queensland, when he was delivering a speech to an anti-
uranium rally in Sydney in 1977, and he said, "Before the white man
came we had no need of industry nor did we have a need for a monetary
system, and laws of our people was such that if we wanted food all we
had to do was go into the bush and get it and for those who lived on
the coast, merely had to go to the sea where food was always
plentiful, these places were our stores we had no need for money."
The present claim for land rights that our people make is not based
upon the white man's belief in land as an economic base, land is not
an investment in the economic sense. Aboriginal people are not of this
view, the land to Aboriginal people is the perpetuation of our
spiritual ancestors. It also serves as a medium from which we are able
to communicate with our dreamtime, further it also serves for the
continual evolution of the Aboriginal people and their spirit.
If one is to describe how the land is used by Aborigines for wealth
then it can only be said, that it is the spiritual wealth that
concerns the Aboriginal people. All that was needed to sustain the
people that exists an this continent prior to colonial development was
here.
In short, the basic distinction between Aborigines and whites, can be
best illustrated by saying that the white man's wealth and security is
materially orientated, as opposed to aborigines whose wealth is, his
spiritual wealth and his security is the uninterrupted continuation of
that spirit.
In order for the Aborigines to develop any form of economic base that
may be remotely similar to the white Australians, we need land, land
that is ours from time immemorial and the continual denial of land
rights, denies the Aborigines of a method for self-determination and
economic development.
For our people to set any criteria for self-determination, there must
be a moratorium on mining in this country, because whilst mining and
mineral exploration continues the Governments both State and Federal
will refuse to negotiate with Aborigines.
It is important to point out that in order to have a moratorium the
Federal Government must be made to realise that its continued failure
to take action under the constitution denies us a method.
RECOMMENDATIONS
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1. That there be a moratorium on mining and mineral exploration within
Australia and within Australian waters for a period of three years.
2. That the Federal Government recognize unconditional land rights.
3. That the Federal Government appropriate the necessary finance for
Aboriginal development in capital enterprise.
4. That the Federal Government legislate where necessary to give
Aborigines in each state of Australia the right to develop their
communities without hinderance from such states.
5. That the finance appropriated for expenditure in Aboriginal Affairs
be classified as compensation for lands that have been lost as well
as the destruction of traditional Aboriginal societies.
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