GITHABUL NATIVE TITLE RIGHTS
Page: 4663
The Hon. TONY CATANZARITI: My question is directed to for Minister for Lands. Can the Minister update the House on the latest formalisation of the native title rights for the Githabul people?
The Hon. TONY KELLY: Today is a historically significant day for the Githabul people in northern New South Wales. For members unfamiliar with the area, it is in the Federal seat of Page, which the dedicated and hardworking Janelle Saffin won back from the disintegrating Nationals at last Saturday's historic Federal election. As we are talking about the Federal election, I make the observation that the Federal Coalition has now appointed a former union official—Dr Brendan Nelson—as its leader. How novel!
Today, as I speak, the Federal Court is formally recognising the continuing existence of the native title rights of the Githabul people, at a celebration at Woodenbong Showground. This is a formal agreement between the Githabul people and the New South Wales Government, representing the people of New South Wales, the Casino Rural Lands Protection Board and the Woodenbong Common Trust. The agreement acknowledges the Githabul people's native title rights across some 112,000 hectares of land, covering 9 national parks and 13 State forests in the Kyogle and Tenterfield shires.
But we should acknowledge more than this agreement today: it is the end of a long process, which started in February 2004. This process, I believe, is one of the most positive examples of open negotiation leading to agreement—an agreement which, I might add, benefits all parties involved. For the Githabul people the agreement means they can have proactive input into the ongoing management of the national parks and State forests contained in the agreement. This represents an opportunity for them to strengthen their recognised spiritual and physical bond with the land, protect their cultural values and sacred sites, while further developing their skills and employment opportunities.
The agreement will not only ensure the protection of the Githabul people's culturally significant sites but will also result in the transfer of 102 hectares of land to the Githabul Corporation, on behalf of the Githabul people. For the Government and the people of New South Wales, the agreement provides an unprecedented opportunity to learn about and gain a deeper appreciation of the traditional practices and knowledge of the Githabul people, and to work together to ensure the land is sustainably managed. The people of New South Wales also benefit in two further ways. They are assured their access to the land, and the enjoyment and benefits they derive from visiting both the national parks and State forests, are secure and will be strengthened by the knowledge, love and care of the land that the Githabul people will provide as joint custodians.
On such an historically significant occasion it is paramount to thank the many people who made such an agreement possible. I salute the Githabul people for all their hard work over many years to make this agreement a reality. The Githabul people and their representatives, including New South Wales Native Title Services, and Chalk and Fitzgerald, Solicitors, should be commended for not only their vision but also their patient negotiation, which realised this vision. I also thank officers from the New South Wales Departments of Lands, Primary Industries, and Environment and Conservation. Finally I thank officers from the National Native Title Tribunal, and representatives and board members from both the Casino Rural Lands Protection Board and the Woodenbong Common Trust. As I said earlier, today's ceremony represents the end of a long process, whereby negotiation successfully led to agreement. This historic agreement benefits all parties—the Githabul people, the people of New South Wales, and the Government, which represents both parties.