Qld: Aborigines want a share of land tax

AAP General News (Australia)
02-16-2000
Qld: Aborigines want a share of land tax

BRISBANE, Feb 16 AAP - Two Aboriginal tribes will attempt to claim a share of land
taxes dating back to 1859 in proceedings to be launched in the Supreme Court in Brisbane
today.

One of the claimants, John Jones, said the Dalungdalee and Ngulungbara tribes wanted
a share of the land tax collected on traditional land covering parts of Fraser Island
and the mainland between Mt Bauple, Eumundi and Noosa Heads.

Mr Jones said while the land covered 800,000 hectares, the claim aimed to collect 15
per cent of land taxes only on sections designated as freehold property.

Mr Jones said the claim was based on the 1842 Imperial Land Sales Act which decreed
that 15 per cent of all land sales should be kept for the benefit of Aborigines.

He said the claim called for the taxes to be backdated from 1859, when Queensland became a state.

Aborigines hoped to use the money to break away from the welfare system, Mr Jones said.

AAP jfs/jnb/br

KEYWORD: FRASER DAYLEAD

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