The Yunkuntyjatjara people in SA have been given compensation for damage to cultural sites prior to Native Title being granted.
The grant will provide recompense for Native Title holders of land covered by the De Rose Hill pastoral lease, an 1800 square kilometre area adjoining the APY Lands which was deemed culturally damaged.
The Chief Executive of South Australian Native Title Services, Keith Thomas, says it's an historic achievement for the state's North West region after such a long struggle.
The De Rose Hill claim was the first claim lodged in the state in 1994, the state's first Native Title determination in 2005 and also the first claim to apply for compensation in 2011.
Mr Thomas says despite being the first compensation for determination in Australia, it won't be a precedent for other compensation claims because its terms are secret.
“Certainly it's the first Consent Determination in a compensation claim, so in one respect it's setting a precedent but unfortunately not for the rest of Australia because it's a confidential settlement, in terms of the compensation payment.
"In that sense, it's not setting any precedent in terms of the compensation that has been paid, and I think all of Australia is waiting for such a precedent, so it's not going to help out there,” says Mr Thomas.
Watch the video report above for the full story.
Click on the audio tab to hear the full radio interview with SA Native Title Services CEO, Keith Thomas.
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