In this episode I discuss several of the customary land related reviews initiated in 2023 by the Rabuka led Coalition Government in Fiji. These include:
The Review of the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC).
And, as foreshadowed by Prof Steve Ratuva in his public lecture celebrating Ratu Sakuna Day celebrations, and requested at the meeting of the GCC on Bau Island in late May,..
the proposed Review of the iQoliqoli (Fishing Ground) Compensation Policy; and
the proposed Review of the iTaukei Land Trust Board (iTLTB).
This provides a segue into a broader discussion on the April 2023 Cabinet Decision to Review of the Regulation of Surfing Areas Act (2010).

©️ Spike Boydell 2023

Host: Spike Boydell

Website: TheCustomaryLandPodcast.com

Email: contact@thecustomarylandpodcast.com

Royalty free music used in this episode is from my Artlist.io subscription.

DISCLAIMER: The views, insights and opinions shared on the Customary Land Podcast are those of the Host, any Guests, and others they may cite. They do not constitute legal or financial advice and should not be construed as such by any individual, group or organisation. Before undertaking any dealing or action relating to customary land, individuals, groups or organisations should obtain professional advice from a qualified lawyer, experienced valuer and/or certified accountant with specialist expertise in your particular country. Alternatively, you can contact Customary Land Solutions for advocacy, advisory and capacity building solutions for customary and indigenous landowning groups and trusts on land management, leasehold, valuation and resource compensation issues (E: contact@customarylandsolutions.com).

In this episode I explore how becoming a Republic and crafting a new Constitution fit for purpose in the 2020s offers Australia the perfect opportunity to truly recognise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 'Voice'.

An Australian Republic means we need to replace the Crown and the Crown's superior interest in the land with something. If that 'something' is an acknowledgement of the guardianship of the land through Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander stewardship, would this, could this, or should this affect the underlying way that we as 21st century citizens in Australia relate to real property?

The current discussions about holding a referendum in Australia to make changes to the archaic 1901 Constitution (an Anglo-centric model crafted during the Empire of Queen Victoria) to create an Aboriginal Voice fails to deal with the significant issue that we are perpetuating King Charles III as 'King of Australia'. Imagine instead , if you will, what might change in terms of our identity as citizens if Australia were to become a Republic – something that many see as inevitable, albeit a situation which is yet to become a reality.

In this episode I draw heavily on my paper A 21st Century Citizen in a Brave New Republic.

I also reference Stan Grant's 'Australia Day' and 'The Queen is Dead'.

©️ Spike Boydell 2023

Host: Spike Boydell

Website: TheCustomaryLandPodcast.com

Email: contact@thecustomarylandpodcast.com

Royalty free music used in this episode is from my Artlist.io subscription.

DISCLAIMER: The views, insights and opinions shared on the Customary Land Podcast are those of the Host, any Guests, and others they may cite. They do not constitute legal or financial advice and should not be construed as such by any individual, group or organisation. Before undertaking any dealing or action relating to customary land, individuals, groups or organisations should obtain professional advice from a qualified lawyer, experienced valuer and/or certified accountant with specialist expertise in your particular country. Alternatively, you can contact Customary Land Solutions for advocacy, advisory and capacity building solutions for customary and indigenous landowning groups and trusts on land management, leasehold, valuation and resource compensation issues (E: contact@customarylandsolutions.com).

Differing worldviews constitute the 'Plurality of Registers' and the tension of navigating between customary and traditional relations to land as 'ours' versus the western materialism of possessive individualism that sees land as 'mine'.

In part, this episode is triggered by the anachronism of a coronation in 2023, particularly when former empire and commonwealth is viewed from the plundered and brutalised indigenous perspective. The associated myth, embeddedness and tradition leads me to reflect on our recent proposal for a CLS team to review the role in Fiji of a contemporary Great Council of Chiefs to lead iTaukei society. These two events provide a segue to look at the customary counterpoint of the Melanesian Indigenous Land Defence Alliance (MILDA) from the perspective of Joel Simo (Symoh Joel) in a talk he gave at a meeting of AID/Watch in Sydney (14 November 2014 - the transcript is on pp.11-14 of this paper). As outlined in their Declarations, MILDA are against and form of land registration or leasing of customary land. This is a view that is reinforced by Act Now in PNG (see their 90 second very powerful video on 'The Real Value of Customary Land'). I also refer to the Declaration and Resolutions of the 2002 South Pacific Land Tenure Conflict Symposium.

A vodcast (video version) of the podcast is also available here.

©️ Spike Boydell 2023

Host: Spike Boydell

Website: TheCustomaryLandPodcast.com

Email: contact@thecustomarylandpodcast.com

Royalty free music used in this episode is from my Artlist.io subscription.

DISCLAIMER: The views, insights and opinions shared on the Customary Land Podcast are those of the Host, any Guests, and others they may cite. They do not constitute legal or financial advice and should not be construed as such by any individual, group or organisation. Before undertaking any dealing or action relating to customary land, individuals, groups or organisations should obtain professional advice from a qualified lawyer, experienced valuer and/or certified accountant with specialist expertise in your particular country. Alternatively, you can contact Customary Land Solutions for advocacy, advisory and capacity building solutions for customary and indigenous landowning groups and trusts on land management, leasehold, valuation and resource compensation issues (E: contact@customarylandsolutions.com).