The Act allows the Victorian Government to make agreements with Traditional Owners to recognise their relationship to land and provide for certain rights on Crown land and other benefits.
In return for entering into a settlement agreement, Traditional Owners must
agree to withdraw any native title claim they have pursuant to the Commonwealth Native Title Act 1993, and to not make a claim in the future.
Traditional Owner groups may still pursue a formal determination of native title under the Native Title Act 1993, through the Federal Court process if they wish.
The Agreement area extends from West Gippsland, near Warragul, east to the Snowy River and north to the Great Dividing Range. It also extends 200 metres offshore. The determination of native title under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) covers the same area. Both the Agreement and the Native Title determination only affect Crown land within this area.
The Agreement outlines:
– transfer of Aboriginal title over ten national parks and reserves to the Gunaikurnai people to be jointly managed with the State
– rights for the Gunaikurnai people to access and use Crown land for traditional purposes, including hunting, fishing, camping and gathering, in accordance with existing laws
– funding for the Gunaikurnai to invest in economic development and cultural strengthening opportunities and to meet their obligations under the settlement.
– an undertaking to develop protocols to recognise the Gunaikurnai people and strengthen the Gunaikurnai culture.