The Minerals Council of Australia has criticised governance existing in Indigenous communities and is calling on the Abbott government to amend Native Title Laws.
These changes would safeguard the integrity of payments to Indigenous communities so they can economically benefit over a longer period of time.
It's been a topic of discussion in recent weeks following a Four Corners program criticising the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations. However this time the Minerals Council of Australia, the peak body representing the mining industry, is calling for change.
The calls are in response to a report released earlier this year by the Treasury about mining royalties and Indigenous communities.
The Treasury made four recommendations, including changing the way royalties are managed.
While many traditional owners are wary of the mining Industry lobby group, the National Native Title Council is standing with the Minerals Council to support this recommendation.
The Minerals Council called on the Prime Minister to change Native Title laws during a conference in Brisbane today. They say it will help Indigenous elders have more control over how money is spent.
The council says they have to move now or risk seeing royalties in the community go down the drain.
If Tony Abbott does adopt a new approach, it could mean Indigenous communities can accumulate more wealth and have more community control over how those funds are spent.
