Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt welcomed a decision by the Native Title Registrar on Wednesday, October 17 to register the six South West Native Title Settlement Indigenous Land Use Agreements with the National Native Title Tribunal.
Mr Wyatt said the move made for a significant step towards the commencement of the South West Native Title Settlement for the Noongar community and the State of Western Australia.
The South West Native Title Settlement was designed to resolve all native title claims in the South West in exchange for about $1.3 billion in land and other benefits.
As part of the settlement, the Parliament of Western Australia passed the Noongar Recognition Act, recognising the Noongar people as the traditional owners of the South West.
The decision has followed amendments to the Native Title Act passed in 2017 which provided validation of four of the South West settlement Indigenous Land Use Agreements that were subject to a Federal Court challenge.
This will be one of the most significant native title agreements in the country, and will provide social, economic and cultural outcomes for Noongar people.
- Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt
Although the agreements have been registered, there is still the possibility that some objectors may seek judicial review in the Federal Court.
The settlement will commence only after all legal proceedings have been exhausted.
The State Government announced they and the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council would continue to work together to ensure the successful implementation of all six agreements for the Noongar community and Western Australia as a whole.
“The Noongar community has been waiting a long time, and have worked incredibly hard to see this agreement progress,” he said.
“This will be one of the most significant native title agreements in the country, and will provide social, economic and cultural outcomes for Noongar people.
“The benefits of this agreement will flow to Noongar people for generations to come.
“The settlement is for all Noongar people, and I would urge everyone to get behind the settlement to ensure that the flow of benefits to the Noongar community can commence as soon as possible.”
South West indigenous elder Les Wallam said the agreement was beneficial to communities all over WA.
“We all need to embrace it and make sure we’re all going in the same direction,” he said.
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