The recent transfer of title of a number of town camps in Alice Springs to the Commonwealth government provides an interesting example of how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups around Australia may be able to achieve economic development. Following the announcement of the transfer Darryl Pearce - chief executive of the Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation (the native title representative body for Alice Springs) said that the transfer provided an opportunity for locals to obtain equity in their home and so give their children a better start in life. There may be a number of lessons to be drawn from this process for other groups around Australia - although we'll have to wait and see how things emerge over the coming months and years.