The National Native Title Tribunal today moved to start mediating four native title applications in Queensland's Far North to help people reach negotiated agreements.
Queensland State Manager Mr Simon Nish said the Tribunal had placed advertisements in The Cairns Post and The Courier Mail giving interest holders three months to register as parties if they wanted to join the mediation.
The applications in the Mareeba, Cook and Torres local government areas covered state land and waters only. All applications excluded private freehold land, which was not claimable.
The applications were:
- Muluridji application in the Mareeba area, including Hann Tableland National Park;
- Ankamuthi application north of Mapoon, on the Cape York Peninsula;
- Juunyjuwarra application near Munburra, in the Shire of Cook;
- Kaanju/Umpila near Moojeeba, in the Shire of Cook.
Mr Nish said native title did not threaten the valid rights and interests of other citizens, including private freehold land owners, pastoral leaseholders, and the rights of the public to access national parks.
"We are advertising these applications so that anyone with an interest in the land or waters subject to the application can be involved in discussions about whether native title exists in the area and if so, how it might be recognised and respected in a way that preserves everyone's interests," said Mr Nish.
"Any interest holder wanting to join the mediation needs to contact the Federal Court in Brisbane before 22 November 2000. The Court will then decide who to formally accept as parties and when the Tribunal should start the mediation meetings."
Mr Nish said that while mediation could take a long time, it could achieve agreements that respected everyone's rights and interests.
Mr Nish said if mediation was unsuccessful, the applications would be listed for trial in the Federal Court. |