WA native title vote brave: Barnett

The WA Premier says Aboriginal groups who have backed a $1.3b native title deal covering a large part of the South West have made a "brave decision".

A $1.3 billion native title deal covering a large part of Western Australia's South West region, including Perth, would be a step towards reconciliation, Premier Colin Barnett says.

Six Noongar groups recently voted in favour of the deal, which will see them relinquish their native title rights over a 200,000sqkm area in exchange for $1.3 billion worth of land, finance and benefits over 12 years.

If the National Native Title Tribunal decides to register the agreements, it will be the largest ever native title settlement in Australian history.

"I think that was an historic step for Aboriginal people that they actually voted for it and I think it was a brave decision ... and a very clear act of self determination by the Noongar people and another significant step to reconciliation," Mr Barnett told 6PR radio on Tuesday.


Share

1 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world