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History will be made when the Federal Court makes a consent determination of native title over two Torres Strait islands on 14 June.
Chief Justice Michael Black will recognise the native title rights of the Dauwereb Peoples over Waiar and Dauar Islands.
This determination closes a chapter on native title for the Murray Islands, where native title was first recognised in Australia in the High Court's June 1992 Mabo decision. The Dauwereb are closely related to the Meriam People whose native title was recognised on Mer Island in the Mabo case. Waiar and Dauar were included in the original Mabo application but were later withdrawn over tenure uncertainties. With this determination, nine years after the Mabo decision, the native title rights of the Dauwereb will be held by the same body on Mer as that which holds the native title rights recognised by the High Court.
The National Native Title Tribunal congratulates the Dauwereb People, the Torres Strait Regional Authority and the Queensland Government for reaching the agreement that makes this consent determination possible.
Tribunal President, Graeme Neate, said that the process leading up to this day highlighted the importance of good will, mutual trust, and a good understanding of how to achieve positive outcomes under the native title system.
He also said that it highlighted the importance of the Tribunal's information-providing role.
"The Dauwereb People have a good understanding of native title because of Mabo. They've been dealing with these issues longer than anyone else.
"The Tribunal was pleased to be able to assist by providing information sessions to the Dauwereb which contributed to a stronger understanding of the native title process.
"The more the participants in native title processes, and the community generally, understand native title, the more likely it is that we will be able to achieve mutually-beneficial native title solutions that suit everyone involved," he said.
There will be a large celebration to coincide with the determination on Dauar Island on 14 June.
There are now 24 determinations that native title survives, 17 of those determinations are in Queensland.
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