Within days of handballing Ministerial responsibility for Native Title back to the Premier, the WA Treasurer and Minister for Housing, Troy Buswell, has thrown a left hook at Aboriginal people by suggesting Native Title and heritage issues are holding up the provision of housing in remote communities.

Stephen Hall, the Chairperson of Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation in WA said:

“The Minister is using the disadvantage faced by Aboriginal people in relation to the provision of housing to undermine their Native Title rights. This is sneaky politics that seeks to avoid having to negotiate with Aboriginal people. It seems the Minister wants to go back to a time when ‘terra nullius’ was the basis that government operated on. ” said Mr Hall.

The Minister's comments follow recent parliamentary debate on the appointment of Peter Conran as the Director of Department of The Premier and Cabinet; Conran was John Howard’s principal advisor on Native Title.

“It’s revealing that this comes immediately after a man described in parliament last week as “a right-wing native title warrior” is made responsible for the administration of Government in WA.” said Mr Hall