Australian Human Rights Commission Information for LOI – Australia, 29 August 2016 Australia (Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory) are held by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and serious concerns have been raised about the extent of engagement with these land holders. Without sustained and meaningful engagement based on respect for these rights and protection of heritage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are at risk of substantial losses of their rights and interests in land as a result of the Northern Australia Development Agenda. 45. Issues for consideration in the LOI: • Information on steps that the Australian Government will take to support economic development undertaken by Indigenous peoples on their lands and undertaken with their free, prior and informed consent. • Information on steps to be taken by the Australian Government to better recognise and protect Indigenous peoples’ native title rights and interests, including on the status of implementation of the recommendations of the Australian Law Reform Commission’s Connection to Country Review of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) and the Council of Australian Government’s Investigation into Indigenous Land Administration and Use. • Information on steps that the Australian Government will take to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples participate in decision-making, and give their free, prior and informed consent to activities within the Northern Australia Development Agenda. 7 People with Disabilities 7.1 National Disability Strategy Concluding Observations paras 16 & 18; ICESCR Article 2(2) 46. The National Disability Strategy was formally endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments on 13 February 2011. 47. The strategy includes a plan for a high level progress report every two years to track achievements, using national trend indicator data based on the six outcome areas. The first of these progress reports was presented to COAG in December 2015. 48. The report provides an overview of the range of actions and activities undertaken across all levels of government that have advanced the objectives of the Strategy. The report also includes early analysis of draft trend indicator data but does not contain any evaluation of the impact of such strategies. Given the long-term aims of the strategy the Commission considers that monitoring and evaluation of the impact of the strategy will be vital to its success. 9