ABOUT NATIVE TITLE


The Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) was introduced following the landmark Mabo decision to recognise the prior rights and interests held by First Nations people in Australia’s lands and waters.

In 1982, Eddie Mabo and other Torres Strait Islander people decided to fight for their ancestral rights to their land.

They argued to the courts in Queensland that Australian law didn’t recognise that Indigenous people had a system of law and ownership before British settlement.

After a long battle, a decade later in 1992 the High Court ruled that Indigenous traditional title to the land had survived British settlement. The concept of ‘terra nullius’ was abolished and native title was recognised.

After the momentous Mabo Case, the Native Title Act 1993 was passed by the Australian parliament.

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Eddie Mabo remembered as the father of Native Title on Mabo Day anniversary | SBS News

“We cannot imagine that the descendants of people whose genius and resilience maintained a culture here through 50,000 years or more … will be denied their place in the modern Australian nation." Prime Minister Paul Keating, 10 December 1992

The Native Title Act established a legal framework to manage interests in lands and waters held or claimed by Indigenous and settler Australians.

The Act has methods for Indigenous groups to make an application to the Federal Court to have their native title rights formally recognised through a determination.

It also has ways for other people or organisations, like state and local governments to be involved in claims and resolve native title applications through negotiation and mediation.

Native title in South Australia

In South Australia there has been a commitment to resolve native title through negotiation and consent rather than litigation. Achieving equitable and lasting arrangements for the co-existence of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal rights and interests has been the cornerstone of South Australian approaches to resolving native title.
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Peter De Rose giving evidence on Country.

In South Australia perhaps more than any other jurisdiction, there has been commitment to resolve native title through negotiation and consent rather than litigation.

South Australia’s first determination of native title was the 2005 litigated case of De Rose Hill.

De Rose Hill was an important early test case in native title law. The De Rose Hill claimants were successful in winning this case after litigation and appeal and the case confirmed the coexistence of their rights and interests with those of pastoral lessees.

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Parry Agius and SANTS staff with the De Rose Hill claimants.
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SA Native Title Resolution initiative (SANTR)

The opportunities provided by the introduction of Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs) led to a coordinated, whole of state, inclusive approach to negotiating Native Title in 2005. This Statewide process now known as the South Australian Native Title Resolution process brings together Native Title groups with other key land and water owners and interests to negotiate Native Title and non-Native Title outcomes.

South Australia’s first consent determination

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Yankunytjatjara/Antakirinja Native Title Consent Determination event

The first native title determination reached by consent, a “consent determination” was the case of Yankunytjatjara/Antakirinja Native Title Claim Group v The State of South Australia, which was determined in August 2006.

The National Native Title Tribunal maintains current records and maps of native title areas. For full current details of Native Title Determinations and Applications in South Australia, check the National Native Title Tribunal website or Native Title Vision.

Native Title Determinations in SA

List of South Australian native title determinations by date

Short name

Case name

Determination date

Determination outcome

Ngadjuri Nation #2

Branson on behalf of Ngadjuri Nation #2 Native Title Claim v State of South Australia

06/07/2023

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Nauo People

Weetra-Height on behalf of the Nauo People v State of South Australia

15/05/2023

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Narungga Nation Native Title Claim

Sansbury v State of South Australia (Narungga Nation Native Title Claim)

14/03/2023

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Wirangu No 2 (Part B), Wirangu No 3 (Part B), Wirangu Sea Claim #2 and Nauo #3

Wilson on behalf of the Wirangu People and Weetra on behalf of the Nauo People v State of South Australia

10/02/2023

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Wirangu People - Part A

Wilson on behalf of the Wirangu People v State of South Australia (No 2)

08/12/2022

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Nukunu (Area 2)

Thomas on behalf of the Nukunu People (Area 2) Native Title Claim v State of South Australia

03/02/2022

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Oodnadatta Common Overlap Proceeding

Stuart v State of South Australia (Oodnadatta Common Overlap Proceeding) (No 4)

23/12/2021

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Barngarla (Port Augusta Proceeding)

Croft on behalf of the Barngarla Native Title Claim Group v State of South Australia (Port Augusta Proceeding) (No 5)

24/09/2021

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Arabana No 2 - Part 1

Stuart v State of South Australia (No 3)

17/03/2021

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Nukunu Part A

Turner on behalf of the Nukunu People v State of South Australia

17/06/2019

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Adnyamathanha, Ngadjuri and Wilyakali Overlap Claim

Coulthard v State of South Australia (Adnyamathanha, Ngadjuri and Wilyakali Overlap Claim)

14/12/2018

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Kaurna Peoples Native Title Claim

Agius v State of South Australia (No 6)

21/03/2018

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Tjayuwara Unmuru Compensation Application

Pearson on behalf of the Tjayuwara Unmuru Native Title Holders v State of South Australia (Tjayuwara Unmuru Native Title Compensation Claim)

20/12/2017

Native title does not exist

Ngarrindjeri and Others Native Title Claim

Sumner v State of South Australia (Ngarrindjeri Native Title Claim Part A)

14/12/2017

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Dieri No. 3

Gepp-Kennedy on behalf of the Dieri People v State of South Australia

28/09/2017

Native title exists in the entire determination area

Barngarla Native Title Claim

Croft on behalf of the Barngarla Native Title Claim Group v State of South Australia

23/06/2016

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Yandruwandha/Yawarrawarrka Native Title Claim

Yandruwandha/Yawarrawarrka Native Title Claim and The State of South Australia & ors (Yandruwandha/Yawarrawarrka)

16/12/2015

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Adnyamathanha No. 1

Coulthard v State of South Australia

08/12/2015

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Adnyamathanha People Native Title Claim No. 3

Coulthard v State of South Australia

08/12/2015

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

The Wangkangurru/Yarluyandi Native Title Claim

Wangkangurru/Yarluyandi Native Title Claim and The State of South Australia & ors (Wangkangurru/Yarluyandi)

03/10/2014

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Kokatha People (Part A)

Starkey on behalf of the Kokatha People v State of South Australia

01/09/2014

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Dieri No.2 Native Title Claim

Dieri No. 2 Native Title Claim and State of South Australia

26/02/2014

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Adnyamathanha No 1 - Stage 2

Vincent Coulthard and Ors v State of South Australia and Ors

25/02/2014

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Adnyamathanha No 1 - Stage 3

Vincent Coulthard and Ors and Edward Lander and Ors v State of South Australia and Ors

25/02/2014

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Far West Coast

Far West Coast Native Title Claim and The State of South Australia & Ors (Far West Coast)

05/12/2013

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

De Rose Hill Compensation Application

De Rose v State of South Australia

01/10/2013

Native title does not exist

Tjayiwara Unmuru Native Title Claim

De Rose v State of South Australia

16/07/2013

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Arabana People

Dodd v State of South Australia

22/05/2012

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Dieri

Lander v State of South Australia

01/05/2012

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Gawler Ranges People

McNamara on behalf of the Gawler Ranges People v State of South Australia

19/12/2011

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Eringa

King on behalf of the Eringa Native Title Claim Group v State of South Australia

13/12/2011

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Eringa No. 2 and Wangkangurru/Yarluyandi

King on behalf of the Eringa Native Title Claim Group and the Eringa No 2 Native Title Claim Group v State of South Australia

13/12/2011

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

First Peoples of the River Murray & Mallee Region

Turner v State of South Australia

18/11/2011

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara

Lennon on behalf of the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara Native Title Claim Group v The State of South Australia

11/05/2011

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Adnyamathanha People No. 2

Adnyamathanha No. 1 Native Title Claim Group v The State of South Australia (No. 2) - [Adnyamathanha People No 2]

30/03/2009

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Adnyamathanha People No. 1 (Angepena Pastoral Lease)

Adnyamathanha No. 1 Native Title Claim Group v The State of South Australia (No. 2) - [Adnyamathanha People No 1 (Angepena Pastoral Lease)]

30/03/2009

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Adnyamathanha People No. 1 (Stage 1)

Adnyamathanha No. 1 Native Title Claim Group v The State of South Australia (No. 2) - [Adnyamathanha People No 1 (Stage 1)]

30/03/2009

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Eringa Part A Proceeding

Eringa, Eringa No.2, Wangkangurru/Yarluyandi and Irrwanyere Mt Dare Native Title Claim Groups v The State of South Australia - [Eringa Part A Proceeding]

11/09/2008

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Wangkangurru/Yarluyandi Part A Proceeding

Eringa, Eringa No.2, Wangkangurru/Yarluyandi and Irrwanyere Mt Dare Native Title Claim Groups v The State of South Australia - [Wangkangurru/Yarluyandi Part A Proceeding]

11/09/2008

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Irrwanyere Mt Dare Native Title Determination

Eringa, Eringa No.2, Wangkangurru/Yarluyandi and Irrwanyere Mt Dare Native Title Claim Groups v The State of South Australia - [Irrwanyere Mt Dare Native Title Determination]

11/09/2008

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

Yankunytjatjara/Antakirinja

Yankunytjatjara/Antakirinja Native Title Claim Group v The State of South Australia

28/08/2006

Native title exists in parts of the determination area

De Rose Hill

De Rose v State of South Australia

08/06/2005

Native title exists in parts of the determination area