❓ A parliamentary question regarding a potential out-of-court settlement with the Wongatha native title claimants. The Minister denies any offer of payment but confirms ongoing negotiations.
AnsweredQoN 769Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the minister’s comments as reported in the Kalgoorlie Miner on 14 August that the Wongatha native title claim, which has been strangling the mining industry in the goldfields for almost 10 years now, will more than likely fail in the Federal Court. (1) Why has the Labor Party offered to pay the Wongatha native title claimants a secret out-of-court settlement, particularly in light of the fact that the claim has finally been heard by the Federal Court, which is currently considering the matter? (2) Will the minister confirm that the secret payout will be of a similar magnitude to the $15 million payout given to the native title claimants in the Burrup, who were subsequently found by the court not to have a valid native title claim? (3) If the Labor Government has this sort of money available, will the Labor Party now commit to spending it on schools, the hospital and more police for the goldfields region; and, if not, why not? (4) Will the minister ensure that the agreement is subject to native title claims being proved according to the requirements of the Native Title Act? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The preamble to the question, of course, was not part of the question. The answer that has been provided by the Deputy Premier is in these terms - (1) The Government’s policy for the settlement of native title matters gives preference to negotiation over litigation wherever possible. In accordance with this policy, a final effort is being made to achieve a negotiated settlement in the Wongatha native title claim and the State is engaging the Wongatha claimants in discussions. Under native title procedures, such discussions are confidential and without prejudice. (2) No offer has been made by the State to pay the Wongatha claimants any amount of money. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any settlement that may result from the discussions with the Wongatha native title claimants will meet the requirements of the commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.
(1) Why has the Labor Party offered to pay the Wongatha native title claimants a secret out-of-court settlement, particularly in light of the fact that the claim has finally been heard by the Federal Court, which is currently considering the matter? (2) Will the minister confirm that the secret payout will be of a similar magnitude to the $15 million payout given to the native title claimants in the Burrup, who were subsequently found by the court not to have a valid native title claim? (3) If the Labor Government has this sort of money available, will the Labor Party now commit to spending it on schools, the hospital and more police for the goldfields region; and, if not, why not? (4) Will the minister ensure that the agreement is subject to native title claims being proved according to the requirements of the Native Title Act? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The preamble to the question, of course, was not part of the question. The answer that has been provided by the Deputy Premier is in these terms - (1) The Government’s policy for the settlement of native title matters gives preference to negotiation over litigation wherever possible. In accordance with this policy, a final effort is being made to achieve a negotiated settlement in the Wongatha native title claim and the State is engaging the Wongatha claimants in discussions. Under native title procedures, such discussions are confidential and without prejudice. (2) No offer has been made by the State to pay the Wongatha claimants any amount of money. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any settlement that may result from the discussions with the Wongatha native title claimants will meet the requirements of the commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.
(2) Will the minister confirm that the secret payout will be of a similar magnitude to the $15 million payout given to the native title claimants in the Burrup, who were subsequently found by the court not to have a valid native title claim? (3) If the Labor Government has this sort of money available, will the Labor Party now commit to spending it on schools, the hospital and more police for the goldfields region; and, if not, why not? (4) Will the minister ensure that the agreement is subject to native title claims being proved according to the requirements of the Native Title Act? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The preamble to the question, of course, was not part of the question. The answer that has been provided by the Deputy Premier is in these terms - (1) The Government’s policy for the settlement of native title matters gives preference to negotiation over litigation wherever possible. In accordance with this policy, a final effort is being made to achieve a negotiated settlement in the Wongatha native title claim and the State is engaging the Wongatha claimants in discussions. Under native title procedures, such discussions are confidential and without prejudice. (2) No offer has been made by the State to pay the Wongatha claimants any amount of money. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any settlement that may result from the discussions with the Wongatha native title claimants will meet the requirements of the commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.
(3) If the Labor Government has this sort of money available, will the Labor Party now commit to spending it on schools, the hospital and more police for the goldfields region; and, if not, why not? (4) Will the minister ensure that the agreement is subject to native title claims being proved according to the requirements of the Native Title Act? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The preamble to the question, of course, was not part of the question. The answer that has been provided by the Deputy Premier is in these terms - (1) The Government’s policy for the settlement of native title matters gives preference to negotiation over litigation wherever possible. In accordance with this policy, a final effort is being made to achieve a negotiated settlement in the Wongatha native title claim and the State is engaging the Wongatha claimants in discussions. Under native title procedures, such discussions are confidential and without prejudice. (2) No offer has been made by the State to pay the Wongatha claimants any amount of money. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any settlement that may result from the discussions with the Wongatha native title claimants will meet the requirements of the commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.
(4) Will the minister ensure that the agreement is subject to native title claims being proved according to the requirements of the Native Title Act? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The preamble to the question, of course, was not part of the question. The answer that has been provided by the Deputy Premier is in these terms - (1) The Government’s policy for the settlement of native title matters gives preference to negotiation over litigation wherever possible. In accordance with this policy, a final effort is being made to achieve a negotiated settlement in the Wongatha native title claim and the State is engaging the Wongatha claimants in discussions. Under native title procedures, such discussions are confidential and without prejudice. (2) No offer has been made by the State to pay the Wongatha claimants any amount of money. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any settlement that may result from the discussions with the Wongatha native title claimants will meet the requirements of the commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The preamble to the question, of course, was not part of the question. The answer that has been provided by the Deputy Premier is in these terms - (1) The Government’s policy for the settlement of native title matters gives preference to negotiation over litigation wherever possible. In accordance with this policy, a final effort is being made to achieve a negotiated settlement in the Wongatha native title claim and the State is engaging the Wongatha claimants in discussions. Under native title procedures, such discussions are confidential and without prejudice. (2) No offer has been made by the State to pay the Wongatha claimants any amount of money. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any settlement that may result from the discussions with the Wongatha native title claimants will meet the requirements of the commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.
I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The preamble to the question, of course, was not part of the question. The answer that has been provided by the Deputy Premier is in these terms - (1) The Government’s policy for the settlement of native title matters gives preference to negotiation over litigation wherever possible. In accordance with this policy, a final effort is being made to achieve a negotiated settlement in the Wongatha native title claim and the State is engaging the Wongatha claimants in discussions. Under native title procedures, such discussions are confidential and without prejudice. (2) No offer has been made by the State to pay the Wongatha claimants any amount of money. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any settlement that may result from the discussions with the Wongatha native title claimants will meet the requirements of the commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.
(1) The Government’s policy for the settlement of native title matters gives preference to negotiation over litigation wherever possible. In accordance with this policy, a final effort is being made to achieve a negotiated settlement in the Wongatha native title claim and the State is engaging the Wongatha claimants in discussions. Under native title procedures, such discussions are confidential and without prejudice. (2) No offer has been made by the State to pay the Wongatha claimants any amount of money. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any settlement that may result from the discussions with the Wongatha native title claimants will meet the requirements of the commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.
(2) No offer has been made by the State to pay the Wongatha claimants any amount of money. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any settlement that may result from the discussions with the Wongatha native title claimants will meet the requirements of the commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.
(3) Not applicable. (4) Any settlement that may result from the discussions with the Wongatha native title claimants will meet the requirements of the commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.
(4) Any settlement that may result from the discussions with the Wongatha native title claimants will meet the requirements of the commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.
(1) Why has the Labor Party offered to pay the Wongatha native title claimants a secret out-of-court settlement, particularly in light of the fact that the claim has finally been heard by the Federal Court, which is currently considering the matter? (2) Will the minister confirm that the secret payout will be of a similar magnitude to the $15 million payout given to the native title claimants in the Burrup, who were subsequently found by the court not to have a valid native title claim? (3) If the Labor Government has this sort of money available, will the Labor Party now commit to spending it on schools, the hospital and more police for the goldfields region; and, if not, why not? (4) Will the minister ensure that the agreement is subject to native title claims being proved according to the requirements of the Native Title Act? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The preamble to the question, of course, was not part of the question. The answer that has been provided by the Deputy Premier is in these terms - (1) The Government’s policy for the settlement of native title matters gives preference to negotiation over litigation wherever possible. In accordance with this policy, a final effort is being made to achieve a negotiated settlement in the Wongatha native title claim and the State is engaging the Wongatha claimants in discussions. Under native title procedures, such discussions are confidential and without prejudice. (2) No offer has been made by the State to pay the Wongatha claimants any amount of money. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any settlement that may result from the discussions with the Wongatha native title claimants will meet the requirements of the commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.
(2) Will the minister confirm that the secret payout will be of a similar magnitude to the $15 million payout given to the native title claimants in the Burrup, who were subsequently found by the court not to have a valid native title claim? (3) If the Labor Government has this sort of money available, will the Labor Party now commit to spending it on schools, the hospital and more police for the goldfields region; and, if not, why not? (4) Will the minister ensure that the agreement is subject to native title claims being proved according to the requirements of the Native Title Act? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The preamble to the question, of course, was not part of the question. The answer that has been provided by the Deputy Premier is in these terms - (1) The Government’s policy for the settlement of native title matters gives preference to negotiation over litigation wherever possible. In accordance with this policy, a final effort is being made to achieve a negotiated settlement in the Wongatha native title claim and the State is engaging the Wongatha claimants in discussions. Under native title procedures, such discussions are confidential and without prejudice. (2) No offer has been made by the State to pay the Wongatha claimants any amount of money. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any settlement that may result from the discussions with the Wongatha native title claimants will meet the requirements of the commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.
(3) If the Labor Government has this sort of money available, will the Labor Party now commit to spending it on schools, the hospital and more police for the goldfields region; and, if not, why not? (4) Will the minister ensure that the agreement is subject to native title claims being proved according to the requirements of the Native Title Act? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The preamble to the question, of course, was not part of the question. The answer that has been provided by the Deputy Premier is in these terms - (1) The Government’s policy for the settlement of native title matters gives preference to negotiation over litigation wherever possible. In accordance with this policy, a final effort is being made to achieve a negotiated settlement in the Wongatha native title claim and the State is engaging the Wongatha claimants in discussions. Under native title procedures, such discussions are confidential and without prejudice. (2) No offer has been made by the State to pay the Wongatha claimants any amount of money. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any settlement that may result from the discussions with the Wongatha native title claimants will meet the requirements of the commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.
(4) Will the minister ensure that the agreement is subject to native title claims being proved according to the requirements of the Native Title Act? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The preamble to the question, of course, was not part of the question. The answer that has been provided by the Deputy Premier is in these terms - (1) The Government’s policy for the settlement of native title matters gives preference to negotiation over litigation wherever possible. In accordance with this policy, a final effort is being made to achieve a negotiated settlement in the Wongatha native title claim and the State is engaging the Wongatha claimants in discussions. Under native title procedures, such discussions are confidential and without prejudice. (2) No offer has been made by the State to pay the Wongatha claimants any amount of money. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any settlement that may result from the discussions with the Wongatha native title claimants will meet the requirements of the commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The preamble to the question, of course, was not part of the question. The answer that has been provided by the Deputy Premier is in these terms - (1) The Government’s policy for the settlement of native title matters gives preference to negotiation over litigation wherever possible. In accordance with this policy, a final effort is being made to achieve a negotiated settlement in the Wongatha native title claim and the State is engaging the Wongatha claimants in discussions. Under native title procedures, such discussions are confidential and without prejudice. (2) No offer has been made by the State to pay the Wongatha claimants any amount of money. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any settlement that may result from the discussions with the Wongatha native title claimants will meet the requirements of the commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.
I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question. The preamble to the question, of course, was not part of the question. The answer that has been provided by the Deputy Premier is in these terms - (1) The Government’s policy for the settlement of native title matters gives preference to negotiation over litigation wherever possible. In accordance with this policy, a final effort is being made to achieve a negotiated settlement in the Wongatha native title claim and the State is engaging the Wongatha claimants in discussions. Under native title procedures, such discussions are confidential and without prejudice. (2) No offer has been made by the State to pay the Wongatha claimants any amount of money. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any settlement that may result from the discussions with the Wongatha native title claimants will meet the requirements of the commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.
(1) The Government’s policy for the settlement of native title matters gives preference to negotiation over litigation wherever possible. In accordance with this policy, a final effort is being made to achieve a negotiated settlement in the Wongatha native title claim and the State is engaging the Wongatha claimants in discussions. Under native title procedures, such discussions are confidential and without prejudice. (2) No offer has been made by the State to pay the Wongatha claimants any amount of money. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any settlement that may result from the discussions with the Wongatha native title claimants will meet the requirements of the commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.
(2) No offer has been made by the State to pay the Wongatha claimants any amount of money. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any settlement that may result from the discussions with the Wongatha native title claimants will meet the requirements of the commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.
(3) Not applicable. (4) Any settlement that may result from the discussions with the Wongatha native title claimants will meet the requirements of the commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.
(4) Any settlement that may result from the discussions with the Wongatha native title claimants will meet the requirements of the commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.
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