Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has been accused of using Aboriginal people as a political football by introducing draft laws to overturn Queensland's Wild Rivers legislation.

Mr Abbott wants to override the state regime which protects pristine river systems by limiting development because, he says, it denies indigenous people economic opportunities.

He is backed by prominent Cape York indigenous leader Noel Pearson among others.

But yesterday, Carpentaria Land Council spokesman Murrandoo Yanner said Mr Abbott's intervention wasn't appreciated.

"We're sick of being used as political footballs," Mr Yanner told ABC Radio.