Reconciliation in troubled waters? Australian oceans policy and offshore native title rights

In Australia, responsibility for sustainable management of the surrounding oceans and for reconciliation with Indigenous people are currently both high on government policy agendas. This paper critically evaluates how these two related areas of policy development interact in Australiaʹs offshore zone. 1998 saw the passage of the Native Title Amendment Act as well as the publication of a series of discussion papers outlining a framework for an emerging oceans policy. International developments at the interface between Indigenous rights and sustainable development are discussed as is the current “backlash” against demands from Indigenous groups for native title in the offshore zone. Comparisons with recent developments in Canada are highlighted.