FED: Govt denies UN committee permission to visit Australia

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-1999
FED: Govt denies UN committee permission to visit Australia

The Australian government has denied permission for a visit by a United Nations committee
that condemns the amended Native Title Act as racist.

A spokesman for Attorney-General DARYL WILLIAMS confirmed the government had told the UN
Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination not to come to Australia.

The committee had planned to continue its investigation of Wik amendments passed last year.

Last month it urged the government to suspend the legislation because it discriminated
against Aborigines and conflicted with Australia's obligations under a UN convention on racial
exploitation.

Mr WILLIAMS' spokesman says the government cooperated fully with the committee, providing
detailed information as requested and also providing officials to discuss the issues.

He says the government believes that to examine the legislation, the committee does not
need to visit Australia.

He says the view has already been expressed that the committee's report is unbalanced.

AAP RTV rmg/was/jn

KEYWORD: WIK UN (CANBERRA)

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.