Internet Edition Issue 3
June 2006

Editorial

Viewpoint

A new book - 'Emo and San Salvador'

World Youth Day 2008

From the Office of Justice, Ecology & Peace

KCP Magazine

The end of the beginning for Native
Title in Broome

The recent determination of the Federal Court, handed down in Broome a few weeks ago, granting Native Title rights to the Yawuru people has brought a welcome conclusion to a long process. The large crowd that gathered to celebrate the long awaited decision was a wonderful representation of the multicultural and multi-faceted community that is Broome. How fitting that the place chosen was Town Beach, overlooking the sparkling waters of Roebuck Bay; where the red pindan meets the white sand.

Justice Ron Merkel handing copies of the Native Title determination to Yawuru elders

This determination gives a level of certainty to all the parties with an interest in the Broome area, and allows negotiations to be set in train amongst all interested groups regarding future developments. Despite what some people might think and what some have said in the past, the Aboriginal people are not opposed to such developments. As the traditional owners and custodians they just want to have a say in what is appropriate and what is not. In addition, they have a reasonable and understandable desire to see their people and especially their children and grandchildren obtain a share in the prosperity that these developments bring. For the most part, they are not looking for ‘easy money’, but for real opportunities that will lead to genuine training and full-time employment, affordable housing and an improvement in health and life expectancy for their descendents; the sort of outcomes that ought reasonably accompany the increase in general living standards in the communities where they live.

It is hoped that the Shire, State Government, lease holders, the general public and the Yawuru people can now make progress with regard to future developments in the Broome area that will potentially provide these benefits for all concerned. Up to this point, the Yawuru people have been generous in their willingness to make agreements that have allowed some developments to go ahead despite the lengthy process of arriving at the Native Title decision. This generosity needs to be recognized and it is to be hoped that the other parties will be equally as generous in future negotiations.

At the same time, the comments of the presiding judge, in calling for a review of the Native Title process and an increase in the resources provided to parties making claims need to be taken seriously by Government. It is a pity that many of those who were part of the Native title claim process in the beginning and who worked so hard to achieve this result have passed away in the intervening 12 years. Nobody should have to wait this length of time to achieve justice.

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