By National Native Title Tribunal President Graeme Neate
Achievement and change have been features of native title in Australia and the work of the National Native Title Tribunal in 2009.
Tribunal President Graeme Neate.
This year the Tribunal helped facilitate 11 consent determinations that native title exists, registered 40 indigenous land use agreements (ILUAs) and made 128 future act determinations.
Amendments were made to the Native Title Act with the objective of improving opportunities for timely and effective negotiated settlements.
The amendments began operating on 18 September and the Tribunal is working closely with the Federal Court, which now has greater responsibility for managing claims, to help parties reach outcomes by agreement.
Other amendments are being considered by the Australian Parliament to create a new native title process for the delivery and construction of public housing and infrastructure in communities on indigenous held land.
Facilitating timely and effective native title and related outcomes underscores the Tribunal’s work and it is satisfying to look back on 2009 at many highlights.
Most of the determinations that native title exists were made after mediation by the Tribunal between the parties.
These included South Australia’s biggest determination, over more than 41,000sq km for the Adnyamathanha People; determinations in WA’s Pilbara and the Gascoyne for the Nyangumarta and the Thudgari people; three determinations over land and waters in Cape York, Queensland, for the Kuuku Ya’u, Wik and Wik Way and Kowanyama people; and a determination over about 475ha for the Girramay People, near Cairns.
The combined Dulabed Malanbarra Yidinji application is scheduled to be made near Cairns in Queensland this month.
ILUAs were associated with many of the determinations and, on 17 November, the Tribunal registered the 400th ILUA.
Among ILUAs registered this year was the internationally-significant Murchison Radio-astronomy observatory ILUA in WA, registered on 13 November, for the $100 million radio telescope project, the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder.
The Tribunal looks forward to continuing to work with clients and stakeholders to achieve timely and effective native title and related outcomes in 2010.
On behalf of all Tribunal members and staff, I wish you all the very best for a safe and happy festive season.
See the links on this page for more about Tribunal achievements in 2009. |