Rubibi people seek recognition of land in the Kimberley
| 01/12/2004 |
The National Native Title Tribunal is advertising a native title claim over 2,934 sq km in Western Australia's Kimberley region so that people with interests in the area may have an opportunity to participate in talks about the claim.
The native title application, made by the Rubibi people, falls within the Shire of Broome and includes land in the Broome townsite and the Roebuck Plains Pastoral Lease.
The Rubibi people lodged the application to benefit from certain provisions under the Native Title Act 1993. There have been many changes to the land tenure in the area and as a result some parcels of land may now attract some of the beneficial provisions of the Act, while others cease to do so.
These beneficial provisions relate to land:
- covered by pastoral leases held by the native title claimants (s. 47);
- granted in freehold, leased or vested under legislation for the benefit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people or land held on trust or reserved expressly for the benefit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people and occupied by members of the native title claim group (s. 47A); and
- that is vacant crown land (which is not affected by certain factors) occupied by members of the native title claim group (s. 47B).
Western Australian acting state manager, Mr Athol Prior, said native title could not usually be claimed over freehold land.
'But in this case the applicants are claiming native title over freehold lots, as they believe they will attract one of the beneficial provisions,' he said.
'The Native Title Registrar did not accept this application for registration, however it may still proceed to mediation in the Tribunal and/or determination in the Federal Court.'
Any person who thinks they may have an interest in the claim has until 14 March 2005 to apply to the District Registrar of the Federal Court to become a party to the application.
Further information about the claim and how to become a party is available from the NNTT on freecall 1800 640 501.
On 29 September 2004, the Federal Court made important orders about this application. A copy of these orders is included in the notices that the National Native Title Tribunal has placed in the West Australian, the Koori Mail and the Broome Advertiser.
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| Lauren Heinritz |
| 08 9268 7466 |
| 0417 944 809 |
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