Thursday, 2 September 2004
Wunjina-Wungurr Wilinggin and Ngarinyin native title claim
“It has been a long struggle for these people to get recognition from the Western legal system that they are the traditional owners of their land,” Mr Calma said.
“The court case alone involved 59 days of evidence, and has taken three years to reach completion. But their struggle, like so many others, started long before native title was heard of.”
'”I hope that after all this effort native title will provide not only a symbol of recognition for the Wanjina-Wungurr Wilinggin and Ngarinyin people but also a useful tool for their ongoing economic and social development.”
“The real test for native title is whether it can respond to the needs and goals of the traditional owner group,” Mr Calma said.
“The first step is to ensure that the group has the resources and the capacity to direct their own economic and social development. Native title should provide a platform for traditional owner groups to forge a partnership with government and other stakeholders to facilitate this process.”
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner has commenced a series of consultations nation-wide to determine whether or not the present native title system provides a useful tool for traditional owner groups to meet their economic and social development goals.
A Discussion Paper outlining the basis of these consultations can be obtained from the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission website at: www.humanrights.gov.au/social_justice/index.html.
Media enquiries: Paul Oliver, (02) 9284 9677 or 0408 469 347
Last updated 2 September 2004.
