Native Title claims in Western Australia

These claims fall under six broad regions. The combined area of registered and determined native title claims covers about 86 percent of WA's land mass, with some claims also covering inter-tidal zones and sea areas.
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As of February 2018, there were 58 consent determinations, 17 litigated determinations and one variation determination of native title in WA.

To assist claim management, the State is divided into six regions, with current native title applications and determinations in each listed below.

Visit the National Native Title Tribunal Registers for details of native title applications and determinations.

 

Kimberley region

There are 28 native title applications in this region.

The Kimberley region has a very active native title profile. According to the 2016 census 41.6% of the Kimberley population is Indigenous compared with the State average of 3.1%.  

Most of the 28 native title applications in this region are represented by the Kimberley Land Council. Learn more about native title representative bodies.  To date, 31 of the 86 native title determinations made in WA have been in the Kimberley region.

Fore more information, read the Guide to the Government Indigenous Land Use Agreement and Standard Heritage Agreements.

Kimberley native title claims

Claim name Registered NNTT # Fed Court #
Balanggarra #3 Registered WC2000/006 WAD6004/2000
Bindunbur Registered WC2015/007 WAD359/2013
Bindunbur #2 Not Registered WC2018/004 WAD128/2018
Boorroola Moorrool Moorool Not Registered WC2016/005 WAD598/2016
Bunuba #2 Registered WC2012/004 WAD94/2012
Edarrbur (Rubibi #18) Registered WC2015/005 WAD655/2015
Giniyjawarrni Yoowaniya Riwi Not Registered WC2017/006 WAD610/2017
Goorring Registered WC2006/001 WAD15/2006
Jabbir Jabbir Registered WC2013/007 WAD357/2013
Jaru Registered WC2012/003 WAD45/2012
Karajarri People Registered WC2012/011 WAD295/2012
Kariyarra People Registered WC1999/03 WAD6169/1998
Koongie - Elvire Registered WC1999/040 WAD6157/1998
Malarngowem Registered WC1999/044 WAD6182/1998
Mayala Registered WC1998/039 WAD6255/1998
Mayala #2 Registered WC2018/020 WAD466/2018
Mount Jowlaenga Registered WC2013/005 WAD306/2013
Mount Jowlaenga Polygon #2 Registered WC2014/005 WAD331/2014
Ngarrawanji Registered WC1996/075 WAD6107/1998
Ngurrara D1 Not Registered WC2018/013 WAD327/2018
Purnululu Registered WC19940/11 WAD6007/1998
Purnululu #2 Not Registered WC2018/017 WAD401/2018
Warlangurru Registered WC2015/001 WAD509/2015
Warlangurru #2 Registered WC2015/008 WAD744/2015
Warrwa Combined Registered WC2014/004 WAD258/2012
Warrwa Mawadjala Gadjidgar Registered WC2011/003 WAD104/2011
Yi-Martuwarra Ngurrara Registered WC2012/002 WAD25/2012
Yurriyangem Taam Registered WC2010/013 WAD268/2010

 

Pilbara region

There are 15 native title claims in the Pilbara region.

Many of the Pilbara claims are represented by the Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, the native title representative body for the region.

To date there have been five litigated determinations in the region and 14 consent determinations. See the table below for a listing of current claims in the region. 
Learn more about native title agreements in the Guide to the Government Indigenous Land Use Agreement and Standard Heritage Agreements.

Pilbara native title claims

Claim Name Registration Status NNTT # Federal Court #
Combined Thiin-Mah Warriyangka, Tharrkari, Jiwarli Registered WC2016/003 WAD464/2016
Jurruru People Registered WC2000/008 WAD6007/2000
Jurruru #2 Not Registered WC2012/012 WAD327/2012
Jurruru #3 Not Registered WC2016/001 WAD62/2016
Kariyarra People Registered WC1999/003 WAD6169/1998
Kariyarra Pipingarra People Registered WC2009/003 WAD232/2009
Kariyarra-Abydos Registered WC2014/001 WAD47/2014
Njamal #1 Registered WC1999/008 WAD6028/1998
Njamal #10 Registered WC2000/005 WAD6003/2000
Nyamal Overlap Claim Not Registered WC2018/011 WAD289/2018
Nyiyaparli Registered WC2005/006 WAD628019/98
Nyiyaparli #3 Registered WC2013/003 WAD196/2013
Palyku Registered WC1999/16 WAD6287/1998
Yaburara & Mardudhunera people Registered WC1996/89 WAD1271997
Yinhawangka Gobawarrah Not Registered WC2016/004 WAD490/2016


 

Geraldton region

There are 19 native title claims in the Geraldton region.

Pastoral access is a matter of importance in the region and many of the claims in this region are represented by the Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation. 
To date there have been five native title determinations in this region.

Learn more about native title agreements in the Guide to the Government Indigenous Land Use Agreement and Standard Heritage Agreements.

Geraldton native title claims

Claim name Registration status NNTT # Federal Court #
Gnulli Registered WC1997/028 WAD6161/1998
Gnulli 2 Not Registered WC2018/015 WAD366/2018
Hutt River Registered WC2000/001 WAD6001/2000
The Malgana Shark Bay People’s Application Registered WC1998/017 WAD6236/98
Malgana 2 Not Registered WC2018/014 WAD339/2018
Malgana 3 Not Registered WC2018/018 WAD402/2018
Mullewa Wadjari Community Registered WC1996/093 WAD6119/1998
Nanda People Registered WC2000/013 WAD6136/1998
Nanda 2 Not Registered WC2018/010 WAD286/2018
Southern Yamatji Registered WC2017/002 WAD6002/2004
Wajarri Yamatji Registered WC2004/010 WAD6033/1998
Wajarri Yamatji #2 Not Registered WC2017/004 WAD382/2017
Wajarri Yamatji #3 Not Registered WC2018/001 WAD32/2018
Wajarri Yamatji #4 Not Registered WC2018/002 WAD44/2018
Wajarri Yamatji #5 Not Registered WC2018/006 WAD157/2018
Wajarri Yamatji #6 Not Registered WC2018/016 WAD373/2018
Wajarri Yamatji (Byro Plains) Not Registered WC2018/008 WAD278/2018
Widi Mob Registered WC1997/072 WAD6193/1998
Yugunga-Nya People Registered WC1999/046 WAD6132/1998

 

Central Desert region

There are five native title claim applications and one compensation application in the Central Desert region.

All of these claims are represented by the Central Desert Native Title Services. There have been 21 native title determinations in the region. 

Learn more about native title agreements in the Guide to the Government Indigenous Land Use Agreement and Standard Heritage Agreements.

Central Desert native title claims

Claim number Registration status NNTT # Federal Court #
Gibson Desert Nature Reserve Compenstation Application Not Registered WP2012/001 WAD86/2012
Kultju Not Registered
WC2018/007		 WAD225/2018
Lappi Lappi and Ngulupi Registered WC2018/003 WAD48/2018
Manta Rirrtinya Not Registered WC2017/005 WAD453/2017
Nanatadjarra People Not Registered WC2017/003 WAD348/2017
Ngurra Kayanta Registered WC2015/003 WAD410/2012

 

Goldfields region

There are five native title claims in this region.

Native title claims in the Goldfields region

Claim number Registration status NNTT # Federal Court #
Darlot Not Registered WC2018/005 WAD142/2018
Maduwongga Registered WC2017/001 WAD186/2017
Marlinyu Ghoorlie Not Registered WC2017/007 WAD647/2017
Waturta Registered WC2018/012 WAD297/2018
Wutha Registered WC1999/010 WAD6064/1998

 

South West region

There are 12 native title claims in the South West, nine of which are represented by the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council.

The State is negotiating with South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council, the representative body endorsed under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cwlth) (NTA) on behalf of six principle native title claim groups.

See South West Native Title Settlement for information about the negotiations and proposed settlement. 

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