2016 Annual Report
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Kimberley Land Council 2015-2016 PB Kimberley Land Council 2016 Annual Report Kimberley Land Council 2016 Annual Report 1 2 Kimberley Land Council 2016 Annual Report Kimberley Land Council 2016 Annual Report 3 Kimberley Land Council 2016 Annual Report Contents Introduction and overview 4 Our mission, vision and values 5 Message from the Chairman 6 Board of Directors 8 CEO Report 9 Our organisation 14 Kimberley Land Council 14 Organisation structure 17 Strategic and operational plans 20 Human Resources 22 Performance Report 24 Native title claim updates 26 East Kimberley 26 West Kimberley 30 Desert Region 34 Looking after country 38 Land and Sea Management 38 Kimberley Ranger Network 46 Financial Statements 53 2015-2016 Financial Statments 53-79 Glossary 80 Glossary 80 2 Kimberley Land Council 2016 Annual Report Kimberley Land Council 2016 Annual Report 3 Introduction and overview Introduction and overview FIRST KLC MEETING AT NOOKANBAH, 1978 The Kimberley Land Council (KLC) was Government, the KLC is required to established in 1978 following a dispute present detailed technical information While fulfilling our between Kimberley Aboriginal people, on its functions in our Annual Report. role as a Native Title the West Australian Government and Representative Body an international mining company at This report also includes information remains the core business Noonkanbah. on other aspects of our organisation of our organisation, we to reflect the full diversity of our have expanded to included The KLC was set up by Kimberley operations. Aboriginal people as a peak regional a broad range of programs community organisation, to secure and activities that help us the rights and interests of Kimberley achieve the vision of our Aboriginal people in relation to their members land and waters and to protect their significant places. The KLC has experienced rapid growth in recent years. While fulfilling our role as a Native Title Representative Body remains the core business of our organisation, we have expanded to include a broad range of programs and activities that help us to achieve the vision of our members. As part of our Native Title Representative Body funding agreement with the Commonwealth 4 Kimberley Land Council 2016 Annual Report Kimberley Land Council 2016 Annual Report 5 Our mission and values Our mission and values NGURRARA COUNTRY Our Vision Our Mission Our Values The Kimberley Land Council is a Aims • Respect for our law and culture community organisation working for • To get back country • Respect for our elders and and with Traditional Owners of the • To look after country stakeholders Kimberley to get back country, look • Fair and transparent decision- after country and get control of the • To get control of the future making future. • To have a strong organisation • Effective and open communication Objectives • Working in partnership • Improve the cultural, social and • Trust and loyalty economic wellbeing of Kimberley • Justice and equality for Indigenous Aboriginal people people • Operate as an effective body to • Cultural diversity secure rights for and deliver the aspirations of Kimberley Traditional Owners • Develop and implement policies, strategies and activities that deliver a high-standard of services to Traditional Owners to achieve our vision • Develop and implement sound, appropriate and effective planning and review processes and documents 4 Kimberley Land Council 2016 Annual Report Kimberley Land Council 2016 Annual Report 5 Message from the Chairman Anthony Watson KLC CHAIRMAN ANTHONY WATSON It has been two years since I was and knowledge for the benefit of our is important that we remain focused on elected as Chairman/Director of the organisation and region. the preservation of Aboriginal rights. Kimberley Land Council, together with my fellow directors. The insight and energy of these Other government policies, such as the new leaders is allowing us to forge Rangeland Reform and Water for Food, During this time we have achieved a ahead with the ‘old fight’ for self- along with the Northern Development lot and I would like to share some of determination. This is a positive step White Paper, continue to threaten that journey with you, including our and has been a great strength of the Aboriginal land and economic, and successes, and some of the challenges KLC board over the past two years. cultural rights, and we must all work that lie ahead. together to find a better way forward Native title and land tenure for Indigenous people across this Firstly, I must acknowledge our senior region. leaders that we have lost in recent It appears that changes by the State times. I take this opportunity to thank Government to the Heritage Act have We want better consultation and fairer them for their service both within our stalled until after the state election in processes, so that we truly have a seat communities and at the KLC. early 2017. at the table when changes that affect our rights are being considered by Without their knowledge, guidance and The KLC Board of Directors took our government, State or Commonwealth. commitment to getting back country, concerns about these changes, and managing country and getting control others, to the hallways of Canberra Aboriginal community closures of our future, the KLC would not be and the steps of Parliament House in where it is today. Perth to demonstrate our opposition to The Western Australian Government policy decisions that erode the rights of has released a new plan for the delivery Succession planning is very important our people. of services to remote and regional for our organisation, and I am pleased Aboriginal communities. to report that we have a number of Although the proposed changes to the new and upcoming leaders among Heritage Act have been put on hold, it The revised approach comes after the us who are contributing their ideas State Government said it would rethink 6 Kimberley Land Council 2016 Annual Report Kimberley Land Council 2016 Annual Report 7 its plan to close up to 150 Aboriginal it better represents the values of our communities across WA, which would organisation, and allows us to operate have resulted in serious and long- in an efficient, fair, and transparent lasting consequences for Aboriginal manner. We have been asking for people. feedback on the new Rule Book and will keep our members updated with According to the State Government, the progress. the Resilient Families, Strong Communities document is a ‘roadmap’ Finally I am pleased to report that which will set the direction for reform a number of land title claims in the in regional and remote Aboriginal Kimberley are currently before the communities. courts and we hope that decisions will be handed down on some of these The KLC has serious concerns about claims in 2017. this new report. We believe it does not consider the costs and consequences With native title existing over 80 per of closing communities. cent of the Kimberley, we will continue with our mission to progress land This report is just another way of claims over the remaining 20 per cent. forcing our communities to close and we will continue to speak out against While it has been a challenging year, it this attack on our people’s human has also been one filled with wonderful rights. work by the Kimberley people, and for Kimberley people. The work of the KLC I would like to thank the directors and As an organisation, the KLC is making all KLC staff for their contribution to sure we continue to advance and the organisation, and to acknowledge innovate to assist Aboriginal people our members for their commitment to across the Kimberley. This includes the shared vision for the future of the looking at ways to improve the cultural, region. social and economic wellbeing of our people in line with our vision statement. We are implementing policy changes that will help the community and Anthony Watson Prescribed Bodies Corporate to manage their many responsibilities, protect their rights, and advance their economic and social well-being. This includes work on Future Acts, heritage amendments, land care management, native title, human rights and more. The board has also been reviewing the KLC Rule Book (our constitution) so that 6 Kimberley Land Council 2016 Annual Report Kimberley Land Council 2016 Annual Report 7 Board of Directors KLC Board as of 30 June, 2016 CHAIRMAN ANTHONY WATSON DEPUTY CHAIR BONNY EDWARDS CEO NOLAN HUNTER SPECIAL ADVISER JOHN WATSON SPECIAL ADVISER MARIA HAND SPECIAL ADVISER PETER MURRAY TOM BIRCH PHILLIP MCCARTHY KEITH ANDREWS BOBETTA ALBERT GORDON MARSHALL YVONNE BIRRELL TOM LAWFORD ANDREW DAYLIGHT DWESMOND WIGGAN-DANN MERLE CARTER MINETTA FARRER ISMAHL CROFT ALBERT COX ROSIE NUNJU PEARL GORDON ELIZABETH LULU CATHERINE GOONACK KATHY O'REERI FRANCIS (LULGA) DJIAGWEEN GABRIEL NODEA IRENE DAVEY EMILY CARTER 8 Kimberley Land Council 2016 Annual Report Kimberley Land Council 2016 Annual Report 9 CEO Report Nolan Hunter KLC CEO NOLAN HUNTER Our vision is to ‘get back country, Achievements the central Kimberley. This claim was look after country, and get control Native title also settled by consent between the of the future’. We have pursued that Native title rights are now recognised parties. vision vigorously over the past twelve over approximately 80 per cent of the months, achieving many outstanding Kimberley region. During the reporting In the Middle Dampier Peninsula, the practical results, whilst advocating period, two major native title claims Bindunbur native title trial started strongly for