On Thursday, October 17, a federal court in Hobart, Tasmania, ruled that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Commission (ATSIC) roll is a legal method of determining who is entitled to Aboriginal status in Tasmania. This decision set in motion the Administrative Appeals Tribunal case concerning whether 130 Tasmanians who were removed from the ATSIC roll can vote in Aboriginal elections. At stake for these Tasmanians is their eligibility to vote in ATSIC's November and future elections and official recognition of their status as Aborigines. See Spotlight Article
