Minister's response

Terminology

Support in full - Subject to minor or technical changes, all elements of the recommendation are supported by the Minister for Treaty and First Peoples.

Transfer Restrictions - A condition of the Act that the titleholders of each the Coranderrk, Ebenezer and Ramahyuck Mission Cemeteries must not sell or transfer ownership of the land (section 7).

Use Restrictions - A condition in each of the Crown grants made under the Act that land at Coranderrk, Ebenezer and Ramahyuck Mission Cemeteries must be used for Aboriginal cultural and burial purposes, as required under the Act (section 6(5)).

Registrar of Titles - The manager of Victoria's land title system.

Recommendations

Recommendation 1: Coranderrk Mission Cemetery

1.1. It is recommended that all references in the Act to the Coranderrk Mission remain unchanged.

Recommendation 2: Ebenezer Mission Cemetery

2.1 It is recommended that the Act be amended to remove the Transfer Restriction and Use Restriction with respect to this title, enabling the titleholder to self-determine the future transfer and use of the Ebenezer Mission Cemetery.

2.2 It is recommended that the Act be amended to allow the Registrar of Titles to amend the titles to remove the use restrictions, because the requirement relating to the use of the land for Aboriginal cultural and burial purposes is restricted on the title as well as under the Act.

Recommendation 3: Ramahyuck Mission Cemetery

3.1 It is recommended that the Act be amended to remove the transfer Restriction and Use Restriction with respect to this title, enabling the titleholder to self-determine the future transfer and use of Ramahyuck Mission Cemetery.

3.2 It is recommended that the Act be amended to allow the Registrar of Titles to amend the titles to remove the use restrictions, because the requirement relating to the use of the land for Aboriginal cultural and burial purposes is restricted on the title as well as under the Act.

Implementing the recommendations

I am committed to amending the Act and implementing the proposed legislative amendments.

I am exploring opportunities to pass amending legislation to implement all the Review recommendations through the Parliament of Victoria.