Indigenous Land Corporation gpo box 652 Adelaide sa 5001

Native Title

The ILC is committed to assisting Native Title claimants and landholders achieve social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits generally through its land acquisition and land management programmes and specifically with constructive and flexible settlement of native title claims consistent with its Native Title Policy. The ILC will consider providing land acquisition and land management assistance where a proposed native title settlement will facilitate a full and final resolution of claims, achieve Indigenous benefits, and improve the quality of native title outcomes for Indigenous parties. In November 2013, the ILC made its first contribution to a native title settlement under the ILC Native Title Policy. The settlement was in favour of the Dja Dja Wurrung people and encompasses approximately 266,500ha of Crown Land in central Victoria. The ILC’s contribution to the settlement package has two distinct elements, with assistance from the ILC for cultural land ownership aspirations of Traditional Owners, including the acquisition of the culturally significant Mt Barker property and enterprise development support, through both land acquisition and land management funding that will deliver economic benefits to Dja Dja Wurrung people including employment and training.

The ILC received one additional formal request for assistance under the Native Title Policy in May 2014, from Victoria. The request relates to a renegotiation of a previous settlement (2007) area and as such has been identified as beyond the scope of the ILC Native Title Policy. Parties have been advised that the ILC will not contribute to the renegotiated settlement but that the native title group is encouraged to approach the ILC post settlement with regards to the Land Management Programme and opportunities for maximising the benefits flowing to the native title holders as a result of the renegotiation (see Appendix 6, page 207).

ILC support for native title is not limited to involvement in native title settlements. Through its land management and land acquisition functions, the ILC may support the realisation of the land-based aspirations of native title holders in a post-settlement context. In line with the findings and recommendations of the Deloittes Access Economics report into the Functions and Needs of Native Title Representative Bodies and PBCs, the ILC acknowledges that the majority of PBCs are inadequately resourced to effectively develop and deliver the aspirations of title holding groups.

In 2013–14, the ILC conducted the following native title-related activities:

• Received applications for property management planning and land management assistance from native title holders; 30% of new projects approved in 2013–14 involved native title holders and/or PBCs as proponents or landholders;

• Provided a major sponsorship package to 
the National Native Title Conference 
in Coffs Harbour in June 2014;

• Provided a presentation on support available 
to PBCs under ILC existing programmes in Perth on 22 November 2013 to a WA PBC workshop sponsored by the Australian Institute of 
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies;

• Attended Native Title Representative Bodies 
CEO forum hosted by the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet entitled “Co-ordinated Australian Government Support for PBCs”;

• The ILC continued to engage with Western Australia and the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council on the final settlement of the Single Noongar Native Title Claim in WA. In addition to providing advice on land tenure, land use assessment and land holding issues, the ILC has negotiated for the sale of land to the state with the proceeds to be granted to the native title holders 
in support of its Land Management Unit; and

• The ILC progressed discussion with the Yawuru native title holders (Nyamba Buru Yawuru Pty Ltd) regarding integration of pastoral operations and the divestment of Roebuck Plains Station, Roebuck Export Depot and associated land.