Tribunal moves on North hannan's housing development
| 20/05/1999 |
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The National Native Title Tribunal will move to decide whether the North Hannan's housing subdivision should go ahead after it rejected arguments that the State Government had failed to negotiate in good faith with native title applicants.
Former WA Supreme Court Judge and Tribunal Deputy President Hon. E. M Franklyn QC ruled late yesterday that the WA Department of Land Administration had negotiated in good faith with the Murdeeu, Karonie, Gubrun and Maduwongga people.
DOLA announced the proposed land release on 28 March 1996. Negotiations with native title applicants proceeded for the next two years with the Tribunal providing mediation assistance in 1998.
On 29 September 1998, the native title parties asked the Tribunal to decide the matter. The following month DOLA withdrew from mediation.
Hon. Franklyn found that negotiation in good faith did not mean that the Government had an obligation to accept the other side's position, or mean that a negotiated agreement must be reached between the parties.
The Tribunal would commence hearings next month on whether the subdivision could go ahead and, if so, under what conditions to protect the native title rights and interests of indigenous people.
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| Darren Foster |
| 08 9268 7315 |
| 0417 418 474 |
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