Barrister and Lecturer-in-Law at Charles Darwin University, Mr. Michael O’Donnell will open the University’s free public lecture series on Tuesday, October 14 by exploring legal implications of the NT intervention.
Mr O’Donnell’s lecture will examine the Rudd Labor Government’s response to the Northern Territory Emergency Response instituted by the previous Howard Coalition Government on June 21 2007.
The discussion will explore some of the policy implications and legislative changes to the NT intervention by the new Federal Government, focusing on land title and leasing, income management, the Racial Discrimination Act and the permit system on Aboriginal land.
Mr O’Donnell has extensive experience in Indigenous land issues in Australia including as a former principal legal officer of the Kimberley Land Council during the negotiation of the original Native Title Act in 1992.
He also has worked as legal adviser to the National Indigenous Working Group on Native Title during the Wik Amendments to the Native Title Act in 1996 and 1997, and was adviser to the Chair of ATSIC with respect to the Final Report of the Reconciliation Council to the Prime Minister and Parliament of Australia. He has recently given a series of seminars on the NT Aboriginal Land Rights Act.
Entry to all lectures in the series is free. The lecture will start at 6pm at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.
Light refreshments will be served afterwards, concluding at 8pm.
