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Landmark WA economic deal and native title

AAPNorth Coast Times

TRADITIONAL owners have celebrated a landmark economic package and native title recognition in Western Australia’s Mid West region.

An on-country Federal Court hearing was held in Geraldton on Friday for the Yamatji Nation Claim’s native title determination, while a landmark indigenous land use agreement was also signed with the state government.

“This agreement will change the relationship between traditional owners and government, and we believe it can serve as a blueprint for future agreement making,” Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Simon Hawkins said.

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“It empowers traditional owners, and provides economic and other opportunities that will assist in closing the gap.”

The $442 million package includes housing assets for lease or sale or development, investment for business and tourism development, access to water reserves and employment opportunities.

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The Yamatji Nation will have non-exclusive possession rights over parts of the former Barnong, Menai Hills and Kadji Kadji pastoral leases, land parcels near the Wanda Nature Reserve, Lucky Bay, and the Aboriginal Lands Trust areas in Carnamah, Kadathini and Eneabba.

A conservation estate will also be created.

The indigenous land use agreement follows negotiations between the state government and traditional owners that began in 2017.

The Yamatji Nation Southern Regional Agreement includes the overarching Yamatji Nation Claim and the underlying claims of Southern Yamatji, Hutt River, Mullewa Wadjari and Widi Mob.

“One of the challenges for the state will be to provide sufficient resources at their end to ensure the relationship develops and prospers in years to come,” Mr Hawkins said.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt, who attended the signing, said the wider Mid West community would also benefit from the package.

“Yamatji and Noongar people are at the forefront of treaty negotiations in Australia and will be long remembered as pioneers in this field,” he said.