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The National Native Title Tribunal today welcomed another Federal Court finding of native title, this time on pastoral lease land and adjoining rivers in the Roper River region of the Northern Territory.
Tribunal President Graeme Neate said the determination by Justice Olney yesterday in relation to most of the old St Vidgeon's pastoral lease and nearby rivers was another milestone in the recognition and protection of native title and was further confirmation that native title was here to stay.
Mr Neate said all but one of the major Court decisions since the Mabo case had found that native title existed in the areas claimed.
"There is no question that native title is here to stay. But it is also well established - including by this decision - that native title does not threaten the valid rights and interests of other citizens, including private freehold land owners and pastoral leaseholders, as well as public access rights," he said.
"The only real question is whether the remaining native title applications should be settled through pragmatic negotiation or years of costly legal action. It is ultimately a question for State and Territory governments, industry groups and indigenous people alike about how committed they are to getting practical results through mediation."
"The majority of the nation's 530 outstanding native title applications can and should be settled by mediation."
Mr Neate said the decision was the fourth finding of native title in the Northern Territory, after the Croker Island decision in July 1998, the Miriuwung-Gajerrong decision in November 1998 and the Arrernte decision in September 1999.
It was the sixteenth determination of a native title application brought by indigenous people since native title was recognised by Australian law in 1992. Six were the subject of litigation through the Federal Court while a further 10 were settled through mediation.
The St Vidgeon's application was lodged with the National Native Title Tribunal in 1994 and was referred to the Federal Court in March 1997 following unsuccessful mediation.
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