This media statement is listed on behalf of the National Native Title Council of which the GLSC is a member

The Budget funding increase of $50m over four years for native title is a welcome acknowledgement by the Federal Government of the significance of land to Aboriginal culture and that resolving claims is taking way too long.  

The $45.8 million increase to Native Title Representative Bodies goes some way towards meeting the serious shortfall of resources facing NTRBs and native title service providers.  

“Past underfunding and the delays this has caused, has sapped indigenous people’s confidence in the nation’s sincerity with delivering land justice to Australia ’s first peoples.  

“The additional funds will be particularly helpful in addressing the backlog of claims and with providing a window for NTRBs and service providers to maximize opportunities for agreement making and negotiating settlement of claims outside the court process.  

“The resources allocated by government since the introduction of the Native Title Act 1993 have never been sufficient. Many claims have had to wait; many of our elders have died without ever getting a simple acknowledgement of ownership of their traditional lands,” said Mr Wyatt. 

The resolution of native title claims should also be central to the Government’s policy of ‘Closing the Gap’ between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.  Negotiating broader native title settlements can provide much needed economic and social benefits for traditional owners and their communities.  

“This Budget funding will provide some relief and allow us to more effectively address the demands and needs of the native title claims process and bring additional benefits to indigenous communities. More claims will now be able to be processed and/or settled through negotiation, avoiding the high cost and delays of the court process.  

“We call on the State and Territory Governments to now support the lead being shown by the Commonwealth and make similar funding contributions to the joint processes for the resolution of native title claims by agreement,” Mr Wyatt said.

Media Contact:        Brian Wyatt  0417 970 413            Carolyn Betts 0400 854 067