On-screen text reads, 'Viewer Advice - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following media resource may contain images and voices of people who have died.'
A video clip depicting various scenes in court during the Mabo case is superimposed onto the glass facade of the High Court.
LIZ JACKSON:
Beyond the claims of Eddie Mabo and others, the High Court judges had not determined where native title was or what rights attached to it. But they had made it clear, in black and white, that any grant of freehold since 1788 extinguished it. But the impact on native title of mining operations and pastoral leases was unclear.
Shot of Paul Keating speaking to Liz Jackson.
PAUL KEATING:
Could there be co-existence of title? Could you have grazing and a traditional way of life happening concomitantly? On this, of course, the judgment was very silent - not silent but mixed.
Shots of the Parliament House, followed by shots of various Aboriginal leaders arriving at the building.
LIZ JACKSON:
Six weeks after the election, the Prime Minster called a formal meeting with Aboriginal leaders from the Central, Cape York, Northern and Kimberley land councils, the West Australian Legal Service, and the Social Justice Commissioner.
Archival footage shows shots of the interior of the Cabinet Room with Aboriginal leaders seated around the table.
LIZ JACKSON:
It was one of the rare occasions that Aborigines have been invited into the Cabinet Room.
Archival footage shows an Indigenous man presenting a colourful artwork to Paul Keating.
LIZ JACKSON:
There were customary formalities first - a presentation by artist Wenten Rebunjta.
WENTEN REBUNJTA:
This, I am presenting to the Prime Minister for all of us...
Shot of Mick Dodson speaking to Liz Jackson with on-screen text that reads, 'Mick Dodson, Social Justice Commissioner 1993-1998'.
MICK DODSON:
Governments say they always consult, but this was a bit different. Because not only was the Government consulting, it was also trying to negotiate an outcome with us.
Archival footage shows various shots of Paul Keating and Aboriginal leaders in a meeting in the Cabinet Room.
LIZ JACKSON:
At later talks with the Mabo Ministerial Committee, the Aborigines presented a Peace Plan - their basis for future negotiations.
Archival footage of Mick Dodson speaking to journalists.
MICK DODSON:
I am not authorised, nor am at liberty, to discuss the specifics of today's meeting, but certainly we are encouraged by the approach of the Prime Minister.
LIZ JACKSON:
Fundamentally, the Aborigines wanted the Commonwealth's proposed legislation to override the States' land management powers and affirm and protect Aboriginal rights, including the right to veto access to their land.
Archival footage of the Aboriginal leaders leaving the Parliament House.
PAUL KEATING:
A lot of that I agreed with, of course. A lot of that I agree with. I'm not saying the States would agree with it, but I certainly do.
Shot of Paul Keating speaking to Liz Jackson.
PAUL KEATING:
So you've got to get the psychology right. They'd always been done over. They'd ALWAYS been done over. So all of a sudden they're brought into the system, and they're saying, 'What does this mean? What does this mean?' And I'm saying to them, 'It means for the first time, you're not going to be done over. You're going to have real rights here.' And they're saying, 'Really?'
Archival footage shows Paul Keating arriving at a social event wearing a tuxedo and bow-tie.
LIZ JACKSON:
It's one week later, and the Prime Minister Paul Keating is a guest at the annual dinner of the Australian Mining Industry Council. He's being met by the President of AMIC, Campbell Anderson.
Archival footage shows shots of Paul Keating shaking hands with Campbell Anderson, later signing a book for a man.
MAN:
I'm one of the true believers.
PAUL KEATING:
Campbell isn't.
MAN:
But he's imitating you.
PAUL KEATING:
Of course he is.
(Indistinct chatter)
Archival footage shows aerial shots of the annual dinner with close-up shots of Paul Keating mingling.
LIZ JACKSON:
The council is made of the CEOs and directors of the major mining companies in the country, and they don't like Mabo. The director of Western Mining, Hugh Morgan, had recently called on the Commonwealth to repeal the Racial Discrimination Act so the States could just extinguish native title.
Shot of Campbell Anderson speaking to Liz Jackson. On-screen text reads, 'Campbell Anderson, AMIC President 1992-1993'.
LIZ JACKSON:
Do you think most of the board felt it would have been a better thing had it never been found?
CAMPBELL ANDERSON:
I think from the mining industry's point of view, there is no doubt that that was the case. Whether we would all have called for its total extinction - I suspect we would have in the first instance as our first response.
LIZ JACKSON:
And failing that?
CAMPBELL ANDERSON:
Well, to see how we could, uh... impact on the legislation, the enabling legislation that was going to be passed, which is what we sought to do.
Archival footage shows Campbell Anderson speaking at a podium.
CAMPBELL ANDERSON:
Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Paul Keating.
(Applause)
LIZ JACKSON:
The Prime Minister knows these people well. He was, for years, the shadow minister for minerals and energy.
Archival footage shows Paul Keating on stage in front of the podium.
PAUL KEATING:
Well, thank you for having me along here tonight to speak to you.
LIZ JACKSON:
Tonight he's come to deliver the message that he's committed to Mabo.
PAUL KEATING:
Now, the other important issue, I think, is the question of Mabo, and where it goes. I have said to Campbell and his colleagues who saw me last week with APIA and the National Farmers Federation that I think Mabo is a distinct opportunity for Australia, and one that should be pursued ambitiously. So much has changed...
LIZ JACKSON:
Keating is aware of the miners' concerns.
Shot of Paul Keating speaking to Liz Jackson.
PAUL KEATING:
The mining concerns were real, because there were mining operations and exploration operations over what was obviously native title land, and yet Aboriginal people had been given no say, no compensation - and so, therefore, the chances are that the High Court would find those grants invalid. So the mining industry were horrified. And it wasn't faux horror - it was real horror. They weren't putting on an act, you know. They didn't know where they stood.
LIZ JACKSON:
So they were looking for certainty?
PAUL KEATING:
Well, more than that - validation.
LIZ JACKSON:
There was an early call, not just for validation, but for extinguishment. I mean, Hugh Morgan was out there pretty early on, saying that what you should do was give the States the land management rights and let them just extinguish native title.
PAUL KEATING:
Oh, well, I just disregarded those people. Just, you know, didn't... that didn't even touch the sides with me, that view.