The West Australian government has dismissed as "ridiculous" claims that people may be locked out of Perth's parks and beaches because of a Federal Court ruling granting native title over the city.
Source:
AAP
25 Sep 2006 - 12:00 AM  UPDATED 24 Feb 2015 - 12:16 PM

However, state premier Alan Carpenter maintains the ruling is "highly inconsistent" with previous judgments and says his government is still considering an appeal.

Federal Court judge Murray Wilcox last week granted the Noongar people native title over more than 6,000 square kilometres of Perth and its surrounds.

Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock and West Australian Liberal senator Alan Eggleston said the ruling could block non-indigenous people from accessing the city's beaches, parklands and waterways.

But Mr Carpenter says that will not happen. "Philip Ruddock's comments were ridiculous," he told reporters.

"It's the sort of thing we used to hear in WA 10 years ago - we've gone past all that.”

Mr Carpenter said he would prefer not to appeal the ruling but may do so because of its legal inconsistencies. He will be briefed by the state’s legal team before deciding what to do.

The federal government is also considering an appeal.