Queensland government backflips on plan to contest all native title claims

The Queensland government has reversed a secret policy to contest every new native title claim in court, after it stopped negotiating with Cape York traditional owners. Photograph: AMCS

The Queensland government has made an 11th hour backflip on a secret policy to contest every new native title claim in court, on the eve of being hauled before the federal court to explain themselves.

But the Liberal National party’s position appears to still be unclear after Queensland natural resources minister, Dale Last, doubled down on contesting native title in a statement to Guardian Australia on Tuesday.