Calls for more restrictions on Aboriginal royalty payments

Shadow Indigenous affairs minister Jacinta Price has described Aboriginal royalty payments as 'passive welfare'.

Transcript

00:00It's payment for the use of Aboriginal land, but the Shadow Indigenous Australians Minister

00:08says royalty money is passive welfare that contributes to crime in the community.

00:14Even as Deputy Mayor, we saw the impacts of royalties distribution and the sale and purchase

00:22of alcohol and the increase in violence and behaviour such as that.

00:27Other local Indigenous leaders are concerned the money is sparking division

00:31and isn't going where it's needed the most.

00:34I think it causes mayhem in places like Alice Springs.

00:38Senator Price today urged the Commonwealth to answer the NT Government's calls

00:43to restrict royalty distributions, including paying the money out in remote communities

00:48instead of Alice Springs.

00:50She also reiterated long-standing calls for an inquiry into land councils.

00:55They don't want to rock the boat when it comes to powerful organisations such as land councils

01:00that have effectively campaigned on measures on their behalf.

01:04In a statement, Central Land Council said constituents have been opting to use

01:08a growing share of their income from land use agreements for community benefit projects.

01:14To date, CLC constituents have committed more than $255 million of their income

01:20to almost 2,800 projects.

01:23CLC also said police haven't reported any increased violence at royalty meetings

01:28in recent years, which are mostly held out bush.

01:32The NT Government today repeating calls for stricter policing of the payments.

01:37Just having that massive big dump of money into an environment in one section

01:42without any controls around it is very bad for the community.

01:46The Federal Government has been contacted for comment.

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