Status:
This bill was first introduced to the Legislative Assembly on 25 November 2015 and the Second Reading Speech occurred on the same day. This Bill has passed both houses.
Stated purpose:
This bill provides for the implementation of certain provision of the native title settlement reached between the State and Noongar people in the south west of the State.
Native title implications:
The passage of this bill is a precondition to the commencement of the settlement under 6 indigenous land use agreements (ILUAs) entered into with the Noongar people. These ILUAs provide a comprehensive package of benefits to the Noongar people as compensation for the surrender, loss, or impairment of any native title rights and interests in relation to land and water in the south west. In particular, the bill provides for the implementation of the Land Base Strategy for the establishment of the Noongar Land Estate, and for the grant of land access licences.
The Noongar Land Estate is allocated to the Noongar Boodja Trust to be held in trust for the Noongar people. This will include up to 20,000 hectares of freehold land and up to 300,000 hectares of Crown land. Land access licences will be granted to the six Regional Corporations that are to be established to represent the relevant Noongar people under each settlement ILUA. The access licences will allow those people to access and undertake customary activities on certain unallocated Crown land and unmanaged reserves.
For further information see the Explanatory Memorandum.