The Juru People have today been recognised as native title holders of 86 square kilometres of land and waters within Cape Upstart National Park, north of Bowen in North Queensland.
At a Federal Court of Australia hearing in Bowen, Justice Rares made a consent determination* recognising the Juru People’s non-exclusive native title rights and interests to that area.
This consent determination finalises the Juru People’s native title claim lodged in 1997. The non-exclusive rights recognised include the right to be present on the area, conduct ceremonies and carry out cultural activities on the area, and to hunt, fish and gather natural resources on the determination area for personal, domestic and non-commercial communal purposes.
Dr Gaye Sculthorpe, the National Native Tribunal Member who assisted parties to reach agreement, has congratulated all of the negotiation parties on the outcome. “The resolution of this application results in the formal recognition of the Juru People’s ancient ties to this land and water.
“The successful mediation of these claims and associated Indigenous Land Use Agreements involved the participation of numerous persons representing the Juru People, the State of Queensland, Ergon Energy Corporation, Whitsunday Regional Council and fishing interests.
“When parties are willing to work co-operatively to resolve native title, outcomes can be achieved by agreement. The agreement-making process establishes positive relationships for co-operative co-existence between native title holders and other interest holders in land and waters. This is the best approach to settling native title.”
Note: There have been 58 determinations of native title in Queensland to date; 53 of these were resolved by consent. There have been 267 Indigenous Land Use Agreements registered in Queensland.
*A determination is a decision by the Federal Court about whether native title exists in a claimed area. When parties to a claim reach agreement and the Federal Court endorses the agreement, it is a consent determination. |