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Talking Queensland, December 2006
In this issue:
Local government and traditional owners move forward on native title  Satisfaction with the MoU was evident amongst the parties as they sealed the first step towards the development of an ILUA. Left to right: Cr Paul Tully, Ipswich Mayor Cr Paul Pisasale, Eddie Ruska and elder Irene Egert. Through a willingness to cooperate, Ipswich City Council and the Jagera people have achieved the first major step towards an indigenous land use agreement (ILUA) to manage native title. Representatives of the traditional owners and the council in one of Queensland 's fastest growing areas gathered in Ipswich on 27 November to sign a memorandum of understanding. The MoU sets out the framework for an ILUA over the entire city council area, which is one of 12 councils under the Jagera people's native title claim. Under the proposed ILUA the native title claimants and the council will work out how to deal with future infrastructure development, cultural heritage issues and community relations in the area. Representative of the Jagera people, Caroline Bonner, said their partnership with the council recognised their group as the traditional owners of the area and gave them a seat at the negotiating table. Ipswich Mayor, Cr Paul Pisasale, also emphasised the value of the partnership and described the agreement as a “tremendous step forward for Ipswich ”. He said he hoped other groups would follow the example they had set. Tribunal Member, Neville MacPherson, who assisted the groups in reaching the MoU, said that although the MoU was only the first step in the process, its significance should not be underestimated. “The developing relationship between the parties will lead to better protection and management of public land within the native title claim for the wider public benefit,” he said. The groups aim to develop the ILUA by the end of 2007. Bundle of rights workshops The Tribunal's Cairns Registry has been holding workshops for native title applicants in north Queensland to explain the native title process and the steps applicants are required to take to have their native title rights recognised. The workshops look at the decisions native title claim groups are required to make throughout the process and the importance of applicants being authorised to make the claim and make decisions on behalf of the group. The registry has held four workshops this financial year. Two were held in late August in Napranum and Mapoon for applicants on the Western Cape. Another was held in Cairns for the Mandingalbay Yidinji Gungandji people on 15 November and the most recent workshop was for the Dingaal claim group on 29 November in Hopevale. Connection reports, registration tests, roles of participants in the native title process, overlapping claims, evidence required and types of determinations are just some of the aspects of native title that are discussed. Staff can tailor the workshops to meet the needs of each particular claim group. Queensland Native Title Liaison Committee Taking a collaborative approach to native title, representatives of key stakeholder groups meet in the Brisbane Registry twice each year to discuss current native title issues and decide on the most effective ways to move forward. The Queensland Native Title Liaison Committee was established at a native title forum the Tribunal hosted in Brisbane , in December 2003. It includes representatives from the Federal Court, Queensland Indigenous Working Group, native title representative bodies, Queensland Resources Council, state, local and federal governments, AgForce, OIPC, Indigenous Land Corporation, Queensland Seafood Industry Association and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. The Tribunal facilitates the meetings at which committee members participate in a full and frank exchange of information from their sectors across the regions. The last committee meeting for 2006 was held on 7 December. Stakeholders focussed on the native title claims resolution review findings and the proposed amendments to native title. ILUA Activity More indigenous land use agreements (ILUAs) have been registered in Queensland than in any other state. As at 1 December 2006 there were 137 Queensland ILUAs on the Tribunal's Register, more than half of the 262 ILUAs reached Australia-wide. Parties are increasingly using ILUAs in the resolution of native title applications in Queensland . As at 1 December, the Tribunal had registered six ILUAs in this financial year. These were:
Registry Contacts (freecall 1800 640 501)
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 For definitions of specific native title words and terms see the Glossary. |
© Commonwealth of Australia 2006
