Huge claim may not be all it seems
Claimant groups have voted in favour of a landmark $1.3 billion native title deal covering Western Australia's south west.
The six claimant groups involved were represented by the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council (SWLSC), which ended its formal negotiations with the West Australian Government in November.
The deal has been described as one of Australia's most comprehensive, and includes a benefits package worth more than $1.3 billion.
SWLSC chief executive Glen Kelly said there were just a few steps left before the funds can flow.
“We've got a little bit of work to do on the legal side but hopefully we'll be able to get all of that finished by the end of the year,” he said.
“We're really looking forward to its implementation because we think there's great empowerment in there for the Noongar people and great prosperity to be had.”
The settlement would see native title over the south-west of the state exchanged for the formal recognition of the Noongar people as the traditional owners of Noongar country, land, funds and investments.
It means about 320,000 hectares of land would be handed over to Noongar ownership, and payments of $50 million would be made into a Noongar Future Fund over 12 years.
A number of new Indigenous corporate bodies will be set up to direct the funds to support regional cultural programs.
“Initially the priorities will be around language and culture, things like language and connection to country, so it will have a massive and revitalising affect on Noongar people and culture and the corporations will be the conduit for that,” Mr Kelly said.
“It's really very exciting, the agreement when it starts will usher in a new time of prosperity for Noongar people, we're really looking forward to it.”
Proponents of the deal have accused proponent of selling their heritage and culture to the Government.
Herbert Kenneth Bropho told the ABC that the vote was rigged.
“SWALSC has been doing a bodgie deal for the 'yes' vote,” he said.
“SWALSC was picking and choosing the family members that were allowed in the meeting, they had a bus load of people going to the meeting who was the 'yes' vote.
“SWALSC and the Government need to be fair and go back into the voting poll again.”
He said the deal will not have its intended effect.
“You'll have a lot of homeless people, you'll have people in the streets, you'll have a lot of homeless people in the country areas living on the outskirts of the city areas and the ditches,” he said.
“A lot of people are starting to move to the city from the country and filling up Perth's parks.”