❓ The Deputy Premier outlines the WA Government's preference for native title agreements over litigation, highlighting recent achievements, ongoing negotiations (Burrup), and a new agreement in the Pilbara between mining companies, the Eastern Guruma people, and the State Government.
AnsweredQoN 411Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Government’s preference for native title agreements over litigation. Have there been any developments on this front? Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for her question. Yes, indeed, the Government’s preference is to reach agreements to settle native title issues wherever possible - but not just any agreements. Agreements must be fair, durable and legally tenable. To date, we have achieved four determinations on native title by consent: Tjurabalan, Kiwirrkurra, Karajarri and, most recently, the Martu determination at Cotton Creek, at which the member for Kimberley, who is very active on native title issues, was present. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I hear an interjection from the member for Kalgoorlie about the mining industry. One of the issues for the mining industry is the processing of mineral tenement applications. They must be negotiated with land councils, which are woefully under-resourced. That is the responsibility of the Commonwealth Government. I have taken that up with the Commonwealth Government and with every other state and territory minister responsible for native title, because I know that if traditional owners are not properly resourced, their justice needs and the needs of the economy will not be well served. The member for Kalgoorlie asked, what about the State Government? I can answer that. The State Government has come to the party as well, because it has a program valued at $2.7 million to put additional future act officers into the land councils so that they can work on negotiating the issuing of these mineral tenements. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I have also put some into the department, so if I were the member for Kalgoorlie, I would accept that I was on a hiding to nothing and give up that line of interjection. We have also issued connection guidelines outlining the evidence that is necessary for the State to reach a negotiated settlement of a native title application. On the Burrup, we have been involved in complex and time-consuming negotiations. These negotiations illustrate our preferred way of doing business. We have put on the table a credible package of long-term benefits for indigenous people. Two of the three native title claimant groups on the Burrup have recognised the merits of that package and have signed up to it. We are not out of the woods on that matter yet, but we are making very good progress. I was asked whether there had been any developments. I am very pleased to say that there has been yet another development on the native title front. Late yesterday, on behalf of the State of Western Australia, I signed a historic agreement between native title claimants and mining companies to clear the way for mining and exploration in a vast area of the Pilbara. The agreement, which covers 7 276 square kilometres around Tom Price, is the first land use agreement of its type in Western Australia. It is an agreement between Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd, Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd, the Eastern Guruma people and the State Government, and it will be submitted to the National Native Title Tribunal to be registered. I congratulate the mining companies involved and the Eastern Guruma people on these negotiations. It is a win-win situation. There will be protection of Aboriginal heritage. There will be faster processing of approvals for mining development. There will be economic benefits for the Eastern Guruma people. This shows what can be achieved through the Government’s approach of negotiating native title issues in an atmosphere of goodwill.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: I thank the member for her question. Yes, indeed, the Government’s preference is to reach agreements to settle native title issues wherever possible - but not just any agreements. Agreements must be fair, durable and legally tenable. To date, we have achieved four determinations on native title by consent: Tjurabalan, Kiwirrkurra, Karajarri and, most recently, the Martu determination at Cotton Creek, at which the member for Kimberley, who is very active on native title issues, was present. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I hear an interjection from the member for Kalgoorlie about the mining industry. One of the issues for the mining industry is the processing of mineral tenement applications. They must be negotiated with land councils, which are woefully under-resourced. That is the responsibility of the Commonwealth Government. I have taken that up with the Commonwealth Government and with every other state and territory minister responsible for native title, because I know that if traditional owners are not properly resourced, their justice needs and the needs of the economy will not be well served. The member for Kalgoorlie asked, what about the State Government? I can answer that. The State Government has come to the party as well, because it has a program valued at $2.7 million to put additional future act officers into the land councils so that they can work on negotiating the issuing of these mineral tenements. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I have also put some into the department, so if I were the member for Kalgoorlie, I would accept that I was on a hiding to nothing and give up that line of interjection. We have also issued connection guidelines outlining the evidence that is necessary for the State to reach a negotiated settlement of a native title application. On the Burrup, we have been involved in complex and time-consuming negotiations. These negotiations illustrate our preferred way of doing business. We have put on the table a credible package of long-term benefits for indigenous people. Two of the three native title claimant groups on the Burrup have recognised the merits of that package and have signed up to it. We are not out of the woods on that matter yet, but we are making very good progress. I was asked whether there had been any developments. I am very pleased to say that there has been yet another development on the native title front. Late yesterday, on behalf of the State of Western Australia, I signed a historic agreement between native title claimants and mining companies to clear the way for mining and exploration in a vast area of the Pilbara. The agreement, which covers 7 276 square kilometres around Tom Price, is the first land use agreement of its type in Western Australia. It is an agreement between Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd, Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd, the Eastern Guruma people and the State Government, and it will be submitted to the National Native Title Tribunal to be registered. I congratulate the mining companies involved and the Eastern Guruma people on these negotiations. It is a win-win situation. There will be protection of Aboriginal heritage. There will be faster processing of approvals for mining development. There will be economic benefits for the Eastern Guruma people. This shows what can be achieved through the Government’s approach of negotiating native title issues in an atmosphere of goodwill.
I thank the member for her question. Yes, indeed, the Government’s preference is to reach agreements to settle native title issues wherever possible - but not just any agreements. Agreements must be fair, durable and legally tenable. To date, we have achieved four determinations on native title by consent: Tjurabalan, Kiwirrkurra, Karajarri and, most recently, the Martu determination at Cotton Creek, at which the member for Kimberley, who is very active on native title issues, was present. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I hear an interjection from the member for Kalgoorlie about the mining industry. One of the issues for the mining industry is the processing of mineral tenement applications. They must be negotiated with land councils, which are woefully under-resourced. That is the responsibility of the Commonwealth Government. I have taken that up with the Commonwealth Government and with every other state and territory minister responsible for native title, because I know that if traditional owners are not properly resourced, their justice needs and the needs of the economy will not be well served. The member for Kalgoorlie asked, what about the State Government? I can answer that. The State Government has come to the party as well, because it has a program valued at $2.7 million to put additional future act officers into the land councils so that they can work on negotiating the issuing of these mineral tenements. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I have also put some into the department, so if I were the member for Kalgoorlie, I would accept that I was on a hiding to nothing and give up that line of interjection. We have also issued connection guidelines outlining the evidence that is necessary for the State to reach a negotiated settlement of a native title application. On the Burrup, we have been involved in complex and time-consuming negotiations. These negotiations illustrate our preferred way of doing business. We have put on the table a credible package of long-term benefits for indigenous people. Two of the three native title claimant groups on the Burrup have recognised the merits of that package and have signed up to it. We are not out of the woods on that matter yet, but we are making very good progress. I was asked whether there had been any developments. I am very pleased to say that there has been yet another development on the native title front. Late yesterday, on behalf of the State of Western Australia, I signed a historic agreement between native title claimants and mining companies to clear the way for mining and exploration in a vast area of the Pilbara. The agreement, which covers 7 276 square kilometres around Tom Price, is the first land use agreement of its type in Western Australia. It is an agreement between Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd, Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd, the Eastern Guruma people and the State Government, and it will be submitted to the National Native Title Tribunal to be registered. I congratulate the mining companies involved and the Eastern Guruma people on these negotiations. It is a win-win situation. There will be protection of Aboriginal heritage. There will be faster processing of approvals for mining development. There will be economic benefits for the Eastern Guruma people. This shows what can be achieved through the Government’s approach of negotiating native title issues in an atmosphere of goodwill.
Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I hear an interjection from the member for Kalgoorlie about the mining industry. One of the issues for the mining industry is the processing of mineral tenement applications. They must be negotiated with land councils, which are woefully under-resourced. That is the responsibility of the Commonwealth Government. I have taken that up with the Commonwealth Government and with every other state and territory minister responsible for native title, because I know that if traditional owners are not properly resourced, their justice needs and the needs of the economy will not be well served. The member for Kalgoorlie asked, what about the State Government? I can answer that. The State Government has come to the party as well, because it has a program valued at $2.7 million to put additional future act officers into the land councils so that they can work on negotiating the issuing of these mineral tenements. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I have also put some into the department, so if I were the member for Kalgoorlie, I would accept that I was on a hiding to nothing and give up that line of interjection. We have also issued connection guidelines outlining the evidence that is necessary for the State to reach a negotiated settlement of a native title application. On the Burrup, we have been involved in complex and time-consuming negotiations. These negotiations illustrate our preferred way of doing business. We have put on the table a credible package of long-term benefits for indigenous people. Two of the three native title claimant groups on the Burrup have recognised the merits of that package and have signed up to it. We are not out of the woods on that matter yet, but we are making very good progress. I was asked whether there had been any developments. I am very pleased to say that there has been yet another development on the native title front. Late yesterday, on behalf of the State of Western Australia, I signed a historic agreement between native title claimants and mining companies to clear the way for mining and exploration in a vast area of the Pilbara. The agreement, which covers 7 276 square kilometres around Tom Price, is the first land use agreement of its type in Western Australia. It is an agreement between Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd, Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd, the Eastern Guruma people and the State Government, and it will be submitted to the National Native Title Tribunal to be registered. I congratulate the mining companies involved and the Eastern Guruma people on these negotiations. It is a win-win situation. There will be protection of Aboriginal heritage. There will be faster processing of approvals for mining development. There will be economic benefits for the Eastern Guruma people. This shows what can be achieved through the Government’s approach of negotiating native title issues in an atmosphere of goodwill.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: I hear an interjection from the member for Kalgoorlie about the mining industry. One of the issues for the mining industry is the processing of mineral tenement applications. They must be negotiated with land councils, which are woefully under-resourced. That is the responsibility of the Commonwealth Government. I have taken that up with the Commonwealth Government and with every other state and territory minister responsible for native title, because I know that if traditional owners are not properly resourced, their justice needs and the needs of the economy will not be well served. The member for Kalgoorlie asked, what about the State Government? I can answer that. The State Government has come to the party as well, because it has a program valued at $2.7 million to put additional future act officers into the land councils so that they can work on negotiating the issuing of these mineral tenements. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I have also put some into the department, so if I were the member for Kalgoorlie, I would accept that I was on a hiding to nothing and give up that line of interjection. We have also issued connection guidelines outlining the evidence that is necessary for the State to reach a negotiated settlement of a native title application. On the Burrup, we have been involved in complex and time-consuming negotiations. These negotiations illustrate our preferred way of doing business. We have put on the table a credible package of long-term benefits for indigenous people. Two of the three native title claimant groups on the Burrup have recognised the merits of that package and have signed up to it. We are not out of the woods on that matter yet, but we are making very good progress. I was asked whether there had been any developments. I am very pleased to say that there has been yet another development on the native title front. Late yesterday, on behalf of the State of Western Australia, I signed a historic agreement between native title claimants and mining companies to clear the way for mining and exploration in a vast area of the Pilbara. The agreement, which covers 7 276 square kilometres around Tom Price, is the first land use agreement of its type in Western Australia. It is an agreement between Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd, Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd, the Eastern Guruma people and the State Government, and it will be submitted to the National Native Title Tribunal to be registered. I congratulate the mining companies involved and the Eastern Guruma people on these negotiations. It is a win-win situation. There will be protection of Aboriginal heritage. There will be faster processing of approvals for mining development. There will be economic benefits for the Eastern Guruma people. This shows what can be achieved through the Government’s approach of negotiating native title issues in an atmosphere of goodwill.
Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I have also put some into the department, so if I were the member for Kalgoorlie, I would accept that I was on a hiding to nothing and give up that line of interjection. We have also issued connection guidelines outlining the evidence that is necessary for the State to reach a negotiated settlement of a native title application. On the Burrup, we have been involved in complex and time-consuming negotiations. These negotiations illustrate our preferred way of doing business. We have put on the table a credible package of long-term benefits for indigenous people. Two of the three native title claimant groups on the Burrup have recognised the merits of that package and have signed up to it. We are not out of the woods on that matter yet, but we are making very good progress. I was asked whether there had been any developments. I am very pleased to say that there has been yet another development on the native title front. Late yesterday, on behalf of the State of Western Australia, I signed a historic agreement between native title claimants and mining companies to clear the way for mining and exploration in a vast area of the Pilbara. The agreement, which covers 7 276 square kilometres around Tom Price, is the first land use agreement of its type in Western Australia. It is an agreement between Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd, Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd, the Eastern Guruma people and the State Government, and it will be submitted to the National Native Title Tribunal to be registered. I congratulate the mining companies involved and the Eastern Guruma people on these negotiations. It is a win-win situation. There will be protection of Aboriginal heritage. There will be faster processing of approvals for mining development. There will be economic benefits for the Eastern Guruma people. This shows what can be achieved through the Government’s approach of negotiating native title issues in an atmosphere of goodwill.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: I have also put some into the department, so if I were the member for Kalgoorlie, I would accept that I was on a hiding to nothing and give up that line of interjection. We have also issued connection guidelines outlining the evidence that is necessary for the State to reach a negotiated settlement of a native title application. On the Burrup, we have been involved in complex and time-consuming negotiations. These negotiations illustrate our preferred way of doing business. We have put on the table a credible package of long-term benefits for indigenous people. Two of the three native title claimant groups on the Burrup have recognised the merits of that package and have signed up to it. We are not out of the woods on that matter yet, but we are making very good progress. I was asked whether there had been any developments. I am very pleased to say that there has been yet another development on the native title front. Late yesterday, on behalf of the State of Western Australia, I signed a historic agreement between native title claimants and mining companies to clear the way for mining and exploration in a vast area of the Pilbara. The agreement, which covers 7 276 square kilometres around Tom Price, is the first land use agreement of its type in Western Australia. It is an agreement between Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd, Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd, the Eastern Guruma people and the State Government, and it will be submitted to the National Native Title Tribunal to be registered. I congratulate the mining companies involved and the Eastern Guruma people on these negotiations. It is a win-win situation. There will be protection of Aboriginal heritage. There will be faster processing of approvals for mining development. There will be economic benefits for the Eastern Guruma people. This shows what can be achieved through the Government’s approach of negotiating native title issues in an atmosphere of goodwill.
We have also issued connection guidelines outlining the evidence that is necessary for the State to reach a negotiated settlement of a native title application. On the Burrup, we have been involved in complex and time-consuming negotiations. These negotiations illustrate our preferred way of doing business. We have put on the table a credible package of long-term benefits for indigenous people. Two of the three native title claimant groups on the Burrup have recognised the merits of that package and have signed up to it. We are not out of the woods on that matter yet, but we are making very good progress. I was asked whether there had been any developments. I am very pleased to say that there has been yet another development on the native title front. Late yesterday, on behalf of the State of Western Australia, I signed a historic agreement between native title claimants and mining companies to clear the way for mining and exploration in a vast area of the Pilbara. The agreement, which covers 7 276 square kilometres around Tom Price, is the first land use agreement of its type in Western Australia. It is an agreement between Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd, Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd, the Eastern Guruma people and the State Government, and it will be submitted to the National Native Title Tribunal to be registered. I congratulate the mining companies involved and the Eastern Guruma people on these negotiations. It is a win-win situation. There will be protection of Aboriginal heritage. There will be faster processing of approvals for mining development. There will be economic benefits for the Eastern Guruma people. This shows what can be achieved through the Government’s approach of negotiating native title issues in an atmosphere of goodwill.
I was asked whether there had been any developments. I am very pleased to say that there has been yet another development on the native title front. Late yesterday, on behalf of the State of Western Australia, I signed a historic agreement between native title claimants and mining companies to clear the way for mining and exploration in a vast area of the Pilbara. The agreement, which covers 7 276 square kilometres around Tom Price, is the first land use agreement of its type in Western Australia. It is an agreement between Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd, Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd, the Eastern Guruma people and the State Government, and it will be submitted to the National Native Title Tribunal to be registered. I congratulate the mining companies involved and the Eastern Guruma people on these negotiations. It is a win-win situation. There will be protection of Aboriginal heritage. There will be faster processing of approvals for mining development. There will be economic benefits for the Eastern Guruma people. This shows what can be achieved through the Government’s approach of negotiating native title issues in an atmosphere of goodwill.
I congratulate the mining companies involved and the Eastern Guruma people on these negotiations. It is a win-win situation. There will be protection of Aboriginal heritage. There will be faster processing of approvals for mining development. There will be economic benefits for the Eastern Guruma people. This shows what can be achieved through the Government’s approach of negotiating native title issues in an atmosphere of goodwill.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: I thank the member for her question. Yes, indeed, the Government’s preference is to reach agreements to settle native title issues wherever possible - but not just any agreements. Agreements must be fair, durable and legally tenable. To date, we have achieved four determinations on native title by consent: Tjurabalan, Kiwirrkurra, Karajarri and, most recently, the Martu determination at Cotton Creek, at which the member for Kimberley, who is very active on native title issues, was present. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I hear an interjection from the member for Kalgoorlie about the mining industry. One of the issues for the mining industry is the processing of mineral tenement applications. They must be negotiated with land councils, which are woefully under-resourced. That is the responsibility of the Commonwealth Government. I have taken that up with the Commonwealth Government and with every other state and territory minister responsible for native title, because I know that if traditional owners are not properly resourced, their justice needs and the needs of the economy will not be well served. The member for Kalgoorlie asked, what about the State Government? I can answer that. The State Government has come to the party as well, because it has a program valued at $2.7 million to put additional future act officers into the land councils so that they can work on negotiating the issuing of these mineral tenements. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I have also put some into the department, so if I were the member for Kalgoorlie, I would accept that I was on a hiding to nothing and give up that line of interjection. We have also issued connection guidelines outlining the evidence that is necessary for the State to reach a negotiated settlement of a native title application. On the Burrup, we have been involved in complex and time-consuming negotiations. These negotiations illustrate our preferred way of doing business. We have put on the table a credible package of long-term benefits for indigenous people. Two of the three native title claimant groups on the Burrup have recognised the merits of that package and have signed up to it. We are not out of the woods on that matter yet, but we are making very good progress. I was asked whether there had been any developments. I am very pleased to say that there has been yet another development on the native title front. Late yesterday, on behalf of the State of Western Australia, I signed a historic agreement between native title claimants and mining companies to clear the way for mining and exploration in a vast area of the Pilbara. The agreement, which covers 7 276 square kilometres around Tom Price, is the first land use agreement of its type in Western Australia. It is an agreement between Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd, Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd, the Eastern Guruma people and the State Government, and it will be submitted to the National Native Title Tribunal to be registered. I congratulate the mining companies involved and the Eastern Guruma people on these negotiations. It is a win-win situation. There will be protection of Aboriginal heritage. There will be faster processing of approvals for mining development. There will be economic benefits for the Eastern Guruma people. This shows what can be achieved through the Government’s approach of negotiating native title issues in an atmosphere of goodwill.
I thank the member for her question. Yes, indeed, the Government’s preference is to reach agreements to settle native title issues wherever possible - but not just any agreements. Agreements must be fair, durable and legally tenable. To date, we have achieved four determinations on native title by consent: Tjurabalan, Kiwirrkurra, Karajarri and, most recently, the Martu determination at Cotton Creek, at which the member for Kimberley, who is very active on native title issues, was present. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I hear an interjection from the member for Kalgoorlie about the mining industry. One of the issues for the mining industry is the processing of mineral tenement applications. They must be negotiated with land councils, which are woefully under-resourced. That is the responsibility of the Commonwealth Government. I have taken that up with the Commonwealth Government and with every other state and territory minister responsible for native title, because I know that if traditional owners are not properly resourced, their justice needs and the needs of the economy will not be well served. The member for Kalgoorlie asked, what about the State Government? I can answer that. The State Government has come to the party as well, because it has a program valued at $2.7 million to put additional future act officers into the land councils so that they can work on negotiating the issuing of these mineral tenements. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I have also put some into the department, so if I were the member for Kalgoorlie, I would accept that I was on a hiding to nothing and give up that line of interjection. We have also issued connection guidelines outlining the evidence that is necessary for the State to reach a negotiated settlement of a native title application. On the Burrup, we have been involved in complex and time-consuming negotiations. These negotiations illustrate our preferred way of doing business. We have put on the table a credible package of long-term benefits for indigenous people. Two of the three native title claimant groups on the Burrup have recognised the merits of that package and have signed up to it. We are not out of the woods on that matter yet, but we are making very good progress. I was asked whether there had been any developments. I am very pleased to say that there has been yet another development on the native title front. Late yesterday, on behalf of the State of Western Australia, I signed a historic agreement between native title claimants and mining companies to clear the way for mining and exploration in a vast area of the Pilbara. The agreement, which covers 7 276 square kilometres around Tom Price, is the first land use agreement of its type in Western Australia. It is an agreement between Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd, Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd, the Eastern Guruma people and the State Government, and it will be submitted to the National Native Title Tribunal to be registered. I congratulate the mining companies involved and the Eastern Guruma people on these negotiations. It is a win-win situation. There will be protection of Aboriginal heritage. There will be faster processing of approvals for mining development. There will be economic benefits for the Eastern Guruma people. This shows what can be achieved through the Government’s approach of negotiating native title issues in an atmosphere of goodwill.
Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I hear an interjection from the member for Kalgoorlie about the mining industry. One of the issues for the mining industry is the processing of mineral tenement applications. They must be negotiated with land councils, which are woefully under-resourced. That is the responsibility of the Commonwealth Government. I have taken that up with the Commonwealth Government and with every other state and territory minister responsible for native title, because I know that if traditional owners are not properly resourced, their justice needs and the needs of the economy will not be well served. The member for Kalgoorlie asked, what about the State Government? I can answer that. The State Government has come to the party as well, because it has a program valued at $2.7 million to put additional future act officers into the land councils so that they can work on negotiating the issuing of these mineral tenements. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I have also put some into the department, so if I were the member for Kalgoorlie, I would accept that I was on a hiding to nothing and give up that line of interjection. We have also issued connection guidelines outlining the evidence that is necessary for the State to reach a negotiated settlement of a native title application. On the Burrup, we have been involved in complex and time-consuming negotiations. These negotiations illustrate our preferred way of doing business. We have put on the table a credible package of long-term benefits for indigenous people. Two of the three native title claimant groups on the Burrup have recognised the merits of that package and have signed up to it. We are not out of the woods on that matter yet, but we are making very good progress. I was asked whether there had been any developments. I am very pleased to say that there has been yet another development on the native title front. Late yesterday, on behalf of the State of Western Australia, I signed a historic agreement between native title claimants and mining companies to clear the way for mining and exploration in a vast area of the Pilbara. The agreement, which covers 7 276 square kilometres around Tom Price, is the first land use agreement of its type in Western Australia. It is an agreement between Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd, Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd, the Eastern Guruma people and the State Government, and it will be submitted to the National Native Title Tribunal to be registered. I congratulate the mining companies involved and the Eastern Guruma people on these negotiations. It is a win-win situation. There will be protection of Aboriginal heritage. There will be faster processing of approvals for mining development. There will be economic benefits for the Eastern Guruma people. This shows what can be achieved through the Government’s approach of negotiating native title issues in an atmosphere of goodwill.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: I hear an interjection from the member for Kalgoorlie about the mining industry. One of the issues for the mining industry is the processing of mineral tenement applications. They must be negotiated with land councils, which are woefully under-resourced. That is the responsibility of the Commonwealth Government. I have taken that up with the Commonwealth Government and with every other state and territory minister responsible for native title, because I know that if traditional owners are not properly resourced, their justice needs and the needs of the economy will not be well served. The member for Kalgoorlie asked, what about the State Government? I can answer that. The State Government has come to the party as well, because it has a program valued at $2.7 million to put additional future act officers into the land councils so that they can work on negotiating the issuing of these mineral tenements. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I have also put some into the department, so if I were the member for Kalgoorlie, I would accept that I was on a hiding to nothing and give up that line of interjection. We have also issued connection guidelines outlining the evidence that is necessary for the State to reach a negotiated settlement of a native title application. On the Burrup, we have been involved in complex and time-consuming negotiations. These negotiations illustrate our preferred way of doing business. We have put on the table a credible package of long-term benefits for indigenous people. Two of the three native title claimant groups on the Burrup have recognised the merits of that package and have signed up to it. We are not out of the woods on that matter yet, but we are making very good progress. I was asked whether there had been any developments. I am very pleased to say that there has been yet another development on the native title front. Late yesterday, on behalf of the State of Western Australia, I signed a historic agreement between native title claimants and mining companies to clear the way for mining and exploration in a vast area of the Pilbara. The agreement, which covers 7 276 square kilometres around Tom Price, is the first land use agreement of its type in Western Australia. It is an agreement between Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd, Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd, the Eastern Guruma people and the State Government, and it will be submitted to the National Native Title Tribunal to be registered. I congratulate the mining companies involved and the Eastern Guruma people on these negotiations. It is a win-win situation. There will be protection of Aboriginal heritage. There will be faster processing of approvals for mining development. There will be economic benefits for the Eastern Guruma people. This shows what can be achieved through the Government’s approach of negotiating native title issues in an atmosphere of goodwill.
Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I have also put some into the department, so if I were the member for Kalgoorlie, I would accept that I was on a hiding to nothing and give up that line of interjection. We have also issued connection guidelines outlining the evidence that is necessary for the State to reach a negotiated settlement of a native title application. On the Burrup, we have been involved in complex and time-consuming negotiations. These negotiations illustrate our preferred way of doing business. We have put on the table a credible package of long-term benefits for indigenous people. Two of the three native title claimant groups on the Burrup have recognised the merits of that package and have signed up to it. We are not out of the woods on that matter yet, but we are making very good progress. I was asked whether there had been any developments. I am very pleased to say that there has been yet another development on the native title front. Late yesterday, on behalf of the State of Western Australia, I signed a historic agreement between native title claimants and mining companies to clear the way for mining and exploration in a vast area of the Pilbara. The agreement, which covers 7 276 square kilometres around Tom Price, is the first land use agreement of its type in Western Australia. It is an agreement between Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd, Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd, the Eastern Guruma people and the State Government, and it will be submitted to the National Native Title Tribunal to be registered. I congratulate the mining companies involved and the Eastern Guruma people on these negotiations. It is a win-win situation. There will be protection of Aboriginal heritage. There will be faster processing of approvals for mining development. There will be economic benefits for the Eastern Guruma people. This shows what can be achieved through the Government’s approach of negotiating native title issues in an atmosphere of goodwill.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: I have also put some into the department, so if I were the member for Kalgoorlie, I would accept that I was on a hiding to nothing and give up that line of interjection. We have also issued connection guidelines outlining the evidence that is necessary for the State to reach a negotiated settlement of a native title application. On the Burrup, we have been involved in complex and time-consuming negotiations. These negotiations illustrate our preferred way of doing business. We have put on the table a credible package of long-term benefits for indigenous people. Two of the three native title claimant groups on the Burrup have recognised the merits of that package and have signed up to it. We are not out of the woods on that matter yet, but we are making very good progress. I was asked whether there had been any developments. I am very pleased to say that there has been yet another development on the native title front. Late yesterday, on behalf of the State of Western Australia, I signed a historic agreement between native title claimants and mining companies to clear the way for mining and exploration in a vast area of the Pilbara. The agreement, which covers 7 276 square kilometres around Tom Price, is the first land use agreement of its type in Western Australia. It is an agreement between Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd, Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd, the Eastern Guruma people and the State Government, and it will be submitted to the National Native Title Tribunal to be registered. I congratulate the mining companies involved and the Eastern Guruma people on these negotiations. It is a win-win situation. There will be protection of Aboriginal heritage. There will be faster processing of approvals for mining development. There will be economic benefits for the Eastern Guruma people. This shows what can be achieved through the Government’s approach of negotiating native title issues in an atmosphere of goodwill.
We have also issued connection guidelines outlining the evidence that is necessary for the State to reach a negotiated settlement of a native title application. On the Burrup, we have been involved in complex and time-consuming negotiations. These negotiations illustrate our preferred way of doing business. We have put on the table a credible package of long-term benefits for indigenous people. Two of the three native title claimant groups on the Burrup have recognised the merits of that package and have signed up to it. We are not out of the woods on that matter yet, but we are making very good progress. I was asked whether there had been any developments. I am very pleased to say that there has been yet another development on the native title front. Late yesterday, on behalf of the State of Western Australia, I signed a historic agreement between native title claimants and mining companies to clear the way for mining and exploration in a vast area of the Pilbara. The agreement, which covers 7 276 square kilometres around Tom Price, is the first land use agreement of its type in Western Australia. It is an agreement between Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd, Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd, the Eastern Guruma people and the State Government, and it will be submitted to the National Native Title Tribunal to be registered. I congratulate the mining companies involved and the Eastern Guruma people on these negotiations. It is a win-win situation. There will be protection of Aboriginal heritage. There will be faster processing of approvals for mining development. There will be economic benefits for the Eastern Guruma people. This shows what can be achieved through the Government’s approach of negotiating native title issues in an atmosphere of goodwill.
I was asked whether there had been any developments. I am very pleased to say that there has been yet another development on the native title front. Late yesterday, on behalf of the State of Western Australia, I signed a historic agreement between native title claimants and mining companies to clear the way for mining and exploration in a vast area of the Pilbara. The agreement, which covers 7 276 square kilometres around Tom Price, is the first land use agreement of its type in Western Australia. It is an agreement between Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd, Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd, the Eastern Guruma people and the State Government, and it will be submitted to the National Native Title Tribunal to be registered. I congratulate the mining companies involved and the Eastern Guruma people on these negotiations. It is a win-win situation. There will be protection of Aboriginal heritage. There will be faster processing of approvals for mining development. There will be economic benefits for the Eastern Guruma people. This shows what can be achieved through the Government’s approach of negotiating native title issues in an atmosphere of goodwill.
I congratulate the mining companies involved and the Eastern Guruma people on these negotiations. It is a win-win situation. There will be protection of Aboriginal heritage. There will be faster processing of approvals for mining development. There will be economic benefits for the Eastern Guruma people. This shows what can be achieved through the Government’s approach of negotiating native title issues in an atmosphere of goodwill.
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