Click on the map above to see native title activity in WA’s south-west, where claimants are represented by SWALSC.

Agreement begins negotiations

On 17 December 2009, the Western Australian Government announced it had signed a Heads of Agreement (HoA) with the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council (SWALSC).

The agreement aims to negotiate a settlement to resolve all native title claims represented by SWALSC in the State’s south-west region.

SWALSC is the native title representative body for the south-west of Western Australia and has various functions under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cwlth) to assist and facilitate the resolution of native title in the area, as shown on the map on this page.

The SWALSC area is from Jurien Bay in the north, east about 500km and south to the south coast near Hopetoun.

All key respondents to south-west claims have copies of the HoA, which outlines the principle areas of negotiation and a timetable that proposes sign off by February 2012.

To ensure the Federal Court and all other parties to the south-west claims are well informed about the negotiation, the State Government and SWALSC filed a negotiation plan with the Court which contained greater detail on the nature and timing of the negotiations.

The schedule is the foundation for negotiations and identifies where negotiations might have some impact on the interests of respondents other than the WA Government.

The Tribunal notes that respondents support the concept of this proposed settlement for south-west claims.

Most parties are unlikely to seek intensive involvement in the negotiations but welcome regular updates on their progress. Some parties have identified areas of interest and have offered to consult the State and SWALSC to resolve any potential problems.

The Tribunal reminds parties that these matters must continue to meet the requirements and deadlines set out in the negotiation plan filed with  the Federal Court if negotiations are to resolve the underlying native title claims.

The Tribunal acknowledges that negotiations will be complex for both the State and SWALSC but considers this reinforces the need for a clear negotiation schedule that is open to external appraisal.

This page will be updated as negotiations progress.

For more information speak to members of the Tribunal’s south-west case management team by phoning the WA Registry on 1800 640 501 or (08) 9268 9700.

For more information about the South West, please visit the following websites: