Annual Report 2014 - 2015 Letter of Transmittal
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Queensland South Native Title Services ANNUAL REPORT 2014 - 2015 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion Minister for Indigenous Affairs Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 15 October 2015 Dear Minister, I am pleased to present the 2014 - 2015 Annual Report for Queensland South Native Title Services Limited (QSNTS). This report is provided in accordance with the Australian Government’s Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet 2013 - 2015 terms and conditions relating to the native title funding agreements under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth), s203FE(1). The report includes independently audited financial statements for the financial year ending 30 June 2015. Thank you for your ongoing support of the work QSNTS strives to achieve. Yours sincerely, Board of Directors, Queensland South Native Title Services Diamantina Developmental Road, south of Herbert Downs Annual Report 2014 – 2015 | i TABLE OF CONTENTS Lettter of Transmittal ..................................................................................................................................................i Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................................................01 Glossary ...................................................................................................................................................................02 Contact Details.......................................................................................................................................................03 Board Report ..........................................................................................................................................................04 CEO Report ............................................................................................................................................................07 QSNTS Overview ..................................................................................................................................................09 Performance Report ..............................................................................................................................................19 Corporate Report ...................................................................................................................................................44 Human Resources Report ...................................................................................................................................54 Financial Report .....................................................................................................................................................58 Index ..........................................................................................................................................................................84 01 | Queensland South Native Title Services GLOSSARY The person or persons authorised by the native title claim group to represent the Applicant group in matters arising under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) in relation to the native title determination application. The process (usually in the form of a meeting) that a native title claim group uses Authorisation to give permission to deal with matters arising in relation to that application, including a determination application. An application for a determination of native title, a revised determination of native title or a compensation application under s61 of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth). Claim Also referred to as a ‘native title determination application’ (NTDA) or a ‘native title application’ (NTA). The communal, group or individual rights and interests of Aboriginal Peoples and Torres Strait Islanders in relation to land and waters, where the rights and interests are possessed under the traditional law acknowledged and the Native Title traditional customs observed by the group or individual. The Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) refers to the recognition of these rights and interests by the Federal Court of Australia. The Queensland State Government and principal respondent party to a native title State of Queensland determination application. Also referred to as ‘the State’. CEO Chief Executive Officer CFO Chief Financial Officer CMT Case Management Team DPLO Deputy Principal Legal Officer DPM&C Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet ILUA Indigenous Land Use Agreement MOU Memorandum of Understanding NNTT National Native Title Tribunal NTA Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) NTDA Native Title Determination Application NTRB Native Title Representative Body NTSP Native Title Service Provider PBC Prescribed Body Corporate PLO Principal Legal Officer QSNTS Queensland South Native Title Services Annual Report 2014 – 2015 | 02 CONTACT DETAILS QSNTS Annual Report Contact Brisbane Office Media and Communications Coordinator | Jasmin Level 10, 307 Queen Street Michiels PO Box 10832, Adelaide Street Brisbane, Queensland, 4000 Annual Report Photography Photography and artwork has been generously P (07) 3224 1200 | free call 1800 663 693 submitted by QSNTS stakeholders and staff. F (07) 3229 9880 E [email protected] Cover Artwork W www.qsnts.com.au Jasmin Michiels and Suckerpunch Design Design and Layout Rockhampton Suckerpunch Design (Copyright QSNTS 2015) Level 5B, 34 East Street PO Box 46 Rockhampton, Queensland, 4700 P (07) 4921 1090 | free call 1800 663 693 F (07) 4921 1095 E [email protected] Mount Isa 31-33 Commercial Road PO Box 1948 Mount Isa, Queensland, 4825 P (07) 4743 1322 | free call 1800 663 693 P (07) 3229 9880 E [email protected] Lake Moondarra, near Mt Isa 03 | Queensland South Native Title Services BOARD REPORT On behalf of the Board of Directors, I have the pleasure of presenting the Queensland South Native Title Services 2014-15 Annual Report and yet another year of successful outcomes. This financial year has been both exciting and times placing them way above and beyond their exhausting for Queensland South Native Title duty statements. It is an honour to work beside Services. I am honoured to have continued them on such important community business. my position as Chairperson as the organisation has this year realised some impressive and Such milestones and celebrations are by no means historic achievements. the end of our contact with our clients, but the beginning of a new and exciting era. QSNTS has This year, our Directors were pleased to attend shifted some of its resources to focus on building consent determinations of the Kullilli, Butchulla, Native Title Holders’ capacity to manage and Gunggari, Boonthamurra and Budjiti Peoples. maintain sustainable native title rights and interests These respective outcomes mark significant through new mandated organisations. and emotional milestones for our Aboriginal communities as they are the result of very Registered Native Title Bodies Corporate lengthy, hard ‘fought and won’ battles and sadly, (RNTBCs) are vital to enabling continuous and but inevitably, we have since mourned the loss of autonomous management of land and waters many Elders who initiated these and successive in Australia and, to ensure their success in claims many years ago. this process, QSNTS is building on the clear community-directed outcomes of the first I must say here that each of these milestones and Prescribed Bodies Corporate Summit which was consequential celebrations are also a testament hosted by the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee to the diligence, excellence in team work and Aboriginal Corporation on their traditional land, organisational commitment of QSNTS, with many Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) late last year. hours of work by staff outside of normal operating Wambin, Kullilli country Annual Report 2014 – 2015 | 04 Again, QSNTS staff worked efficiently and Further reflecting on our good standing within the effectively to bring together directors and broader native title domain, I was privileged in this senior staff of RNTBCs from within QSNTS’s financial year to be invited by South Australian region for a two-day program, which provided Native Title Services (SANTS) to represent an opportunity for the dynamic exchange of QSNTS at the consent determination of the information, knowledge and experience, and Wangkangurru/Yarluyandi Native Title cross-border facilitated a learning experience in nation-building claim on 3rd October 2014. There, I presented tools to improve the outlook for RNTBCs and their a representative of the Applicant, Ms Joanne communities. The event was an overwhelming Lewington, with a smaller version of our obligatory success and already, we can see the positive gift for such occasions: an inscribed Aboriginal influence emanating from RNTBCs as QSNTS crafted Wathaurong Glass platter to commemorate continues to provide them with dedicated support their achievement. and individual needs-based assistance. In a broader scope, QSNTS has also continued The 2015 National Native Title Conference marked its advocacy work in this reporting period, with another success story for QSNTS in this reporting the Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson period. Centred on the theme of ‘Leadership, engaging as members of key groups, such as the legacy and opportunity’, this year’s Conference National Native Title Council and the Queensland attracted more than 740 delegates, including Representative Body Alliance. QSNTS has also over 500 Aboriginal Peoples and Torres