The Ngarla people have welcomed today’s unanimous High Court ruling which confirmed their native title rights were not extinguished by 50-year-old mining leases. In a one page statement, The High Court of Canberra found the native title rights of the Ngarla people in Western Australia could exist alongside mining leases in the area. “Were very satisfied and very happy and jubilant on behalf of the Ngarla people who have obviously fought very hard to get this outcome, said CEO of the Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, Simon Hawkins. The dispute was concerned with land situated at the former iron-ore mine at Mount Goldsworthy, located over 1000 kilometres north of Perth in the states Pilbara region. The Ngarla people first went to court to claim native title over an area of 11,000 square kilometres in 1998. Since then, its been a constant battle between the West Australian government, mining company BHP Billiton and the Ngarla people. “Well this ends the matter so theres nothing that they can do. So effectively, this is the law now and we were successful in challenging the state and others and now this is what everyone has to operate in,” said Mr Hawkins.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 14:56:10 +0000
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