A two-year trend for native title parties to consent to determinations rather than to litigate has continued, according to a status report by the National Native Title Tribunal.

The Tribunal has released the fourth in a continuing series of six-monthly status reports on Australia’s native title system.

The Tribunal's March 2010 National report: native title shows a slight increase in the rate of claim resolution and in the number of claims lodged. Thirty-one applications were finalised and eight new claimant applications were made between July and December last year.

The Tribunal’s report includes national, state and territory statistics and graphs that show native title applications and trends since 1994, as well as an analysis of the obstacles and ways to overcome them.

As at 31 December 2009, 129 determinations of native title had been registered with the Tribunal, including 92 that native title exists. These cover 12.1 per cent of Australia’s land mass and large areas of sea.

Use the links on the right of this page to read the Tribunal’s report and media release.