Leading Aboriginal land rights advocate, Noel Pearson, received a standing ovation for his presentation attacking the State Government's vote-driven environment laws at Property Rights Australia's conference held in Rockhampon on the weekend.
Delegates to the annual general meeting backed the keynote speaker's message to join together to fight for their property rights.
Mr Pearson said Aborigines and farmers were on common ground in their battles against the Government's environmental agenda, saying the fights against the Wild Rivers legislation and the ban on regrowth clearing were very similar.
Both the Wild River's legislation and changes to the Vegetation Management Act were taking away basic landholder rights, Mr Pearson said.
"This is a terrible thing when they can take away your land, uncompensated," he said.
"If we don't have a property right in constitutional law, a protection of property, there is a fundamental right missing."
Mr Pearson has been working together with retiring Property Rights Australia chairman, John Purcell, for 13 years in challenging State Government legislation.
Mr Purcell said an alliance with Mr Pearson and a fresh face for the lobby group would give new impetus to the battle against the Government.
"It's very hard to win the battle, you can't change legislation easily but with Noel Pearson on side we might win the war," Mr Purcell said.
"We live in a democratic society and I've got faith things will turn around."
Mr Purcell retires after five years as chairman of the lobby group.
A new board of six members was elected on the weekend, with one position still needing to be filled.
A new chair will be appointed within the week.
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