Australia's parliament began debating the government's native title land bill yesterday as thousands protested against the legislation and a former prime minister said racism was now a part of Australian politics. Opponents to the bill claim it breaches racial discrimination laws by effectively restricting aboriginal land rights, but the conservative government has rejected such claims and warned it is prepared to call an election over the issue.
"The prime minister promised that the bill would respect the rights of all Australians, but the uncontested and uncontestable legal advice is that this bill is racially discriminatory," an opposition Labor senator, Mr Nick Bolkus, said, opening the debate to a crowded gallery.
The debate is expected to be one of the most volatile in the history of the Australian parliament, with the legislation already facing about 400 amendments from non-government parties.
The fate of the bill in parliament's upper house, the Senate, is uncertain. The government does not hold a majority and needs one non-government vote to pass the legislation.
The key independent, Mr Brian Harradine, has not announced his position, but the opposition and minor parties have pledged to oppose the law.
Earlier yesterday, the former conservative prime minister, Mr Malcolm Fraser, said the native title bill and the anti-immigration policies of Queensland MP, Ms Pauline Hanson, meant Australia's reputation as a fair, just and diverse society was now at risk.
"Racism has become a significant factor in Australian politics," Mr Fraser said in a statement opposing the native title bill. "These two issues involving race threaten the progress Australia has made over many decades. They threaten Australia's achievement as a multicultural society."
Protesters planted 100,000 brightly-coloured paper hands on the lawns of parliament house representing community opposition to the bill.
The planned law to resolve the land dispute restricts aborigines' rights to claim access to traditional land on areas leased by farmers from the government.
The conservative Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, has warned that almost 80 per cent of Australia will be liable to native title claim unless his bill is passed.
Meanwhile, Ms Hanson has videotaped her last political will and testament, in case she is assassinated. The video shows Ms Hanson, a former fish-and-chip shop proprietor, urging Australians to continue her populist fight. The video is meant to be played in its entirety to the nation if she is killed.
Ms Hanson says she has received scores of death threats since her maiden parliamentary speech last year in which she claimed Australia was being swamped by Asian immigrants.