MEDIA STATEMENT: Delivering on the vision of the South West Native Title Settlement
Karri Karrak Aboriginal Corporation welcomes discussion about the future of the Settlement while reaffirming the governance, investment and review mechanisms already in place to deliver long-term outcomes for Noongar people
“The strength of the Settlement lies not in creating new institutions, but in ensuring the ones Noongar people fought so hard to establish continue to grow stronger.”
Professor Stephen van Leeuwen
Chair, Karri Karrak Aboriginal Corporation
Recent public commentary regarding the Noongar2050 proposal has generated discussion about the future of the South West Native Title Settlement.
Karri Karrak Aboriginal Corporation welcomes discussion about how the Settlement can continue to evolve and deliver stronger outcomes for Noongar people. Constructive ideas and healthy debate have an important place in ensuring the Settlement continues to mature and respond to the aspirations of current and future generations.
However, it is equally important that these discussions accurately reflect the governance, institutions and opportunities that already exist under the Settlement. Noongar people deserve a conversation that begins with an accurate overview of what has already been negotiated, what has already been established and the significant work that is already underway.
The South West Native Title Settlement is not simply a financial settlement. It is a comprehensive governance framework through which Noongar people collectively exercise decision-making over land, heritage, economic participation, community development and investment. Negotiated over almost twenty years and endorsed by thousands of Noongar people across the six Agreement Groups, the Settlement established the structures required to deliver lasting outcomes for current and future generations.
It also provides for the transition to a Dedicated Noongar Trustee, ensuring the long-term management and control of the Noongar Boodja Trust ultimately rests with Noongar people.
The Noongar Future Fund is also not a future concept- it already exists. The Settlement provides for a dedicated Investment Committee responsible for monitoring investment performance and maximising the long-term growth of the Fund while protecting its capital for future generations. Through the Noongar Relationship Committee, the Noongar Regional Corporations receive regular reports on the performance of the Noongar Boodja Trust.
On the same day the Noongar2050 forum was held, representatives from every Regional Corporation were participating in the first meeting of the ILUA Review Committee. The Committee is chaired by Professor Stephen van Leeuwen, Chair of Karri Karrak Aboriginal Corporation, and has established implementation subcommittees, each chaired by the Noongar Chair of one of the six Regional Corporations. Together, these subcommittees are progressing collaborative work across economic participation, housing, community development, cultural heritage and other key implementation priorities. This work reflects the collaborative governance model envisaged by the Settlement and demonstrates that the mechanisms for continuous improvement are already in place.
Karri Karrak acknowledges that implementation of the Settlement is an ongoing journey and that there will always be opportunities to strengthen how it delivers for Noongar people. We have consistently advocated for stronger implementation of the Settlement through our advocacy regarding the Noongar Land Estate and cultural heritage reform in particular.
The Settlement was never intended to be static. It was deliberately designed to evolve through review, collaboration and increasing Noongar leadership and the governance structures, investment oversight and review mechanisms already exist to fulfil that role. Our collective responsibility is not to recreate them, but to strengthen them and continue implementing the vision that Noongar people negotiated and endorsed over two decades.
Karri Karrak remains committed to working collaboratively to ensure the South West Native Title Settlement continues to evolve and deliver meaningful outcomes for all Noongar people. Above all, our responsibility is to the Noongar community and to ensuring the Settlement fulfils the promise negotiated on behalf of current and future generations.