Comprehensive native title settlement over Geraldton and the Mid-West authorised by the community

Comprehensive native title settlement over Geraldton and the Mid-West authorised by the community
Wednesday 11 December 2019

A native title settlement over Geraldton and the Mid-West has been authorised by the Yamatji Community

A native title settlement over Western Australia's Mid-West region is one step closer, having received overwhelming support from the Yamatji Community at the authorisation meeting on December 9.

Approximately 1,000 claimants, representing the Yamatji Nation, Southern Yamatji, Hutt River, Mullewa Wadjari and Widi Mob claims, came to Geraldton over the weekend to decide the fate of the Yamatji Nation Indigenous Land Use Agreement, which resolves native title over 48,000 square kilometres of land in the region, in exchange for a broad range of State Government benefits.

Throughout last Sunday, the claimants were taken through the detail of the Agreement in preparation for Monday's authorisation meeting.

Legal advisors, the Traditional Owner Negotiating Team and State Government representatives were on hand to answer questions and to ensure that the claimants understood their commitments under the Agreement, and those of the State Government.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt was also in attendance.

On Monday, more than 500 Yamatji people voted with an overwhelming majority voting yes; one of the most successful authorisation meetings to take place in Western Australia.

It is anticipated that the Agreement will be executed in early February, then submitted to the National Native Title Tribunal for registration.

Details of the Agreement, which is under Court ordered mediation, will remain confidential until that time.

Read the media statement.

Page last reviewed 12 December 2019
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