WA

The Birriliburu People have been recognised as exclusive native title holders of about 66,760 sq km in Western Australia’s Little Sandy Desert. The claim was lodged in 1998 and was finally resolved in a consent determination recognising:

• exclusive native title rights and interests over mainly unallocated Crown land including part of the Canning Stock Route, reserves, a general purpose lease and some mining interests; and
• non-exclusive native title rights over water, for personal, domestic and non-commercial communal purposes

The Miriuwung and Gajerrong #4 (Native Title Prescribed Body Corporate) Aboriginal Corporation, located in Kununurra, administers land on behalf of the Miriuwung-Gajerrong people. Their ownership was recognised in the Miriuwung-Gajerron #4 determination of December 2003.

This determination is one in a series of claims that was negotiated and later litigated through hthe Federal and High Court, culminating in the Ward decision by the High Court.