| Tjupan Ngalia native title claimants and three mining companies have reached an agreement that will see the future act processes of the Native Title Act bypassed and future grants of tenements to the companies fast-tracked.
With assistance from Dr Wolf Martinick, negotiator for the Tjupan Ngalia, the agreement was reached in just three hours of negotiations.
The Tjupan Ngalia claimants have agreed to assist the companies - Austquip Pty Ltd, Hawkslade Pty Ltd and Fangio Investments Pty Ltd - in all future grants provided the companies have regard to Aboriginal culture, employment, training and business enterprise opportunities.
Claimant Kado Muir said the agreement showed workable agreements could be reached between claimants and miners within short timeframes.
"It's about talking and listening and being prepared to deal," Mr Muir said. "The agreement shows recognition and respect for each others interests."
Peter Morris, manager of Austquip, said the agreement gave the company confidence to expand its exploration activities in the north-west Goldfields and set standards for its dealings with the Tjupan Ngalia people.
"The agreement means less time will be spent on negotiations on a tenement-by-tenement basis under the Native Title Act's future act regime," Mr Morris said.
The National Native Title Tribunal encourages direct negotiations between native title claimants and miners, in advance of future act notices being issued. At present, notices are issued for each individual tenement.
The Tjupan Ngalia agreement means the companies will no longer have to enter into negotiations over future tenements with the Tjupan Ngalia as the ground rules for exploration have been set in advance.
Formal notice of the agreement will be given to the Tribunal today (Tuesday, 4 March).
Kado Muir, representing the claimants, and Mr Peter Morris, of Austquip, are available for comment.
Contact Kado Muir 0419866506 or Peter Morris on 353 4366.
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