Governments signs agreement on native title management

29/6/00
The Western Australian Government and the Yamatji Land and Sea Council have signed a Co-operative Planning Agreement for the future management of native title in the Murchison-Gascoyne region.
Premier Richard Court described the agreement today as a progressive and constructive approach towards native title which reflected trust and good communication.
"One of the major strengths of the agreement is its simplicity," Mr Court said.
"The Government and the Yamatji Land and Sea Council have agreed simply to cooperate wherever possible to sort out native title issues in the region - this is a very constructive step forward.
"The credit must go to the Yamatji Land and Sea Council and its Executive Officer, Clinton Wolf, who said last year that the council was looking for a partnership with the Government and with business interests to assist in meeting its obligations as a land council.
"We welcomed this approach. Together we are now focussing on achieving results on native title claims.
"We are setting clear goals for how we deal with native title claims and for streamlining the granting of mineral and land titles.
"This can only be positive for Aboriginal groups, the mining and business sectors and the Government."
Under the Co-operative Planning Agreement, the State Government and the Yamatji Land and Sea Council will make every endeavour to resolve native title claims in the region, with the Federal Court a last resort only if a negotiated settlement cannot be reached.
The agreement does not involve Government recognition of native title and still requires native title claimants to produce appropriate and satisfactory evidence to justify claims.
The agreement also creates a forum to discuss other Aboriginal interests in land in the region, including Aboriginal input to conservation management and rangelands management.
Initially, the agreement will cover eight native title claims - more claims may be added in the near future.
"There is currently a backlog of about 1,000 mineral title applications in the Murchison-Gascoyne, and all should eventually benefit from the agreement," Mr Court said.
Negotiations between the Yamatji Land and Sea Council and the Ministry of Premier and Cabinet have already led to a draft Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) with the Badamia native title claimants for a claim covering an area of 36,000sq.km around Mt Magnet and Meekatharra.
If adopted, the ILUA will streamline prospecting and exploration activities within the claim area.

Media reference: Justine Whittome 9222 9475

Premier Richard Court and Yamatji Land and Sea Council representatives Oldie Kelly (left), Des Thomson, Council Chairperson Terina Radcliffe and Robin Boddington during the signing.