New Qld laws allow ATSI home ownership

While housing affordability has left a lot of people out of the property market, some Queenslanders have never even been allowed the option of owning a home - until now.

New laws introduced into Queensland parliament on Thursday will provide ordinary freehold land and ownership opportunities in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The move will allow those living in Queensland's 34 indigenous shires to be able to buy and sell their own homes or pass them on to their children.

The areas had previously been under tenures created in the late 19th century.

Premier Campbell Newman said the laws, which will give indigenous Queenslanders the same rights as others in the state, were a long time coming.

"What a proud day it will be as we correct the dispossession and the sins of the past," he told parliament.

"This initiative will remove the barriers to home ownership in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities."

Mr Newman said the laws marked an end to paternalistic policies towards the indigenous population and would help improve local economies and stimulate small business growth.

The bill does not create freeholding land, but instead allows councils to "opt in" to whether they want to create freehold land in their shires.

"It creates the opportunity to have ... a debate to see whether they want to opt into this or for the time being, they may not want to," Indigenous Affair Minister Glen Elmes said.

Alf Lacey, mayor of Palm Island, off Townsville, said the move was particularly important for young people and would inject a sense of pride into the community.

"I think it offers a good opportunity of hope for our community, particularly for our kids," he told AAP.

"Young indigenous people have to be afforded the same freedoms that other young Australians enjoy."

Errol Neal, mayor of Queensland's largest indigenous community Yarrabah, near Cairns, said it would give his people more security.

"That's the Australian dream and that's also what Aboriginal people want," he told AAP.

"Owning something is another step to getting away from welfare and living in social housing."

Wayne Butcher, mayor of Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council in Cape York Peninsula, said he expected people in his community and others to take advantage of the initiative.

"There's been considerable amounts of movement in the community towards home ownership," he said.

"I think this is a way forward and it's a great opportunity."

Mr Newman said there was already a small freehold area outside the indigenous community of Hopevale and residents had been flocking to build there.