THE end of sand mining on North Sradbroke Island will end a controversial period in the island's history, a rally outside Parliament House on Wednesday has heard.
More than 100 Quandamooka People and residents from Straddie converged on George Street, in Brisbane, to lobby for mining to end in 2019.
The protest was hours before parliament is due to vote on amending laws so mining leases cannot be renewed after 2019.
After Straddie's indigenous population was granted Native Title in 2011, the Bligh government passed legislation to end mining in 2019.
That was amended when the Newman government came into power with the law allowing leases to be extended until 2035.
Under the legislation the parliament will assess tonight, the government is proposing ending mining in 2019.
At the rally, Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Cameron Costello told the crowd tonight's debate was an important step in undoing the injustice imposed on the Quandamooka People by the Newman government.
He said his organisation had worked with the Palaszczuk government for nearly 18 months and was pleased it was honouring an election promise to repeal the Newman legislation.
"If passed in its current form, the new legislation would mean we should be able to drop our High Court action against the Newman laws," Mr Costello said.
“QYAC believes the current laws violate the indigenous land use agreement QYAC reached with the State of Queensland in 2011.
"This agreement was part of the finalisation of the Quandamooka People’s North Stradbroke Island native title determination, which was handed down by the Federal Court on July 4, 2011, and was reached with the consent of the Quandamooka People."
A number of speakers from the island addressed the crowd including elder Uncle Bob Anderson, Aunty Joan Hendrik, Aunty Sandra Delaney, Patrick Coolwell and Tim Seelig from the Wilderness Society.
They all spoke about the way forward for the island which included $20 million of state money to help the island move away from its mining-based economy.
That money is backed up with a further $5 million worker assistance scheme to help generate business opportunities and employment, especially in eco-cultural tourism.
Nunukul Yuggera Dancers also performed.
