Aboriginal Affairs Minister Stephen Dawson has hailed today's event to establish the Noongar Boodja Trust for the South West Native Title Settlement as a significant event for Noongar people.
A signing ceremony was held at Government House this afternoon to establish the Noongar Boodja Trust, and appoint Perpetual Trustee Company as the initial Noongar Boodja Trustee.
The ceremony marks a new partnership between the State Government, Noongar people and Perpetual Trustee Company, to support Noongar empowerment and deliver long-term social, cultural and economic opportunities through the South West Native Title Settlement (Settlement).
The Settlement is the most comprehensive Native Title agreement negotiated in Australian history. It involves around 30,000 Noongar people and covers approximately 200,000 square kilometres of the South-West region.
A fundamental component of the Settlement is the recognition of the Noongar people as the Traditional Owners of the South-West region of Western Australia.
The Settlement will provide Noongar people with sustainable assets and options for delivering long-term economic, social and community outcomes.
The first payment of $60 million will be made to the Noongar Boodja Trust within 60 business days and start the process to transfer land assets for the Noongar Land Estate.
Other significant commitments under the Settlement will commence once the Noongar corporations are established later in 2021.
The McGowan Government, the Noongar community and Perpetual Trustee Company will work together to provide the Noongar people with significant long-term opportunities, and to establish a dedicated Noongar Trustee over the next 12 years.
For more information on the Settlement, please visit https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-the-premier-and-cabinet/south-west-native-title-settlement
As stated by Aboriginal Affairs Minister Stephen Dawson:
"I am honoured to be part of the signing ceremony at Government House today to celebrate this momentous occasion.
"The McGowan Government recognises that a key principle of the Settlement's success will be for the Noongar Nation to come together behind the Settlement, unite in establishing strong Noongar Regional Corporations, and maximise the significant opportunities to the benefit of the Noongar community.
"The Settlement will provide opportunity for the Noongar people to achieve sustainable social, economic and cultural outcomes, and the signing today enables the flow of benefits to build these opportunities.
"The McGowan Government looks forward to a collaborative partnership with the Noongar people, to ensure the Settlement benefits of the Agreement flow to the Noongar community as quickly as possible."
