The Wire

“Treaty”, Yothu Yindi’s huge 1992 hit, was highly effective in publicising the lack of, and need for, a treaty between those who traditionally belong to the land, and those who white law recognises as owning it. Flash forward to 2004 – and a nation wide treaty doesn’t seem any closer. But that hasn’t stopped traditional land owners – who, through the national native title tribunal, have been doing it the hard way: making agreements one by one. Yesterday an agreement was signed in Queensland between the Waluwarra / Georgina River people and the Australian Agricultural Company, Australia’s largest beef producer. Will FarrelI spoke to Marlene Beechley, chairperson of the Waluwarra Corporation, about the landmark agreement, and also Ruth Wade member of the Native Title Tribunal.