| The National Native Title Tribunal has referred two overlapping Broome native title applications to the Federal Court for resolution.
Registrar Chris Doepel said long term efforts to mediate between the Indigenous parties about the overlap had been unsuccessful, leaving the Tribunal with no option but to refer the matter to the Federal Court.
The applications were over seven square kilometres at Fishermen's Bend near the Broome townsite. The first application was lodged on 28 July 1995 by the Kimberley Land Council on behalf of Yawuru traditional owners. The second application was lodged on 10 August 1995 by Mr Jack Lee on behalf of the Leregon clan of the Yawuru people.
Mr Doepel said the Tribunal took every reasonable step in the mediation process to assist the parties reach an agreement.
"It is always our preference to see native title applications resolved in face to face talks," he said.
"Mediation is the best solution for all parties, whether governments, miners, pastoralists or indigenous people, as litigation through the Federal Court is a far more costly and adversarial route for everyone.
"But in this case, efforts to bring about an amalgamation of the applications had not been successful."
Mr Doepel said the State Government had written to the Tribunal in January requesting that the matter be referred to the Federal Court.
The Tribunal had now referred 28 Western Australian native title applications to the Federal Court since the start of the Native Title Act on 1 January 1994. A further 286 active applications were currently before the Tribunal for mediation.
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