05 Feb 2019

Johnston Withers wins native title claim for the Adnyamathanha People of the Flinders Ranges

MSI's Adelaide law member is delighted to announce its recent win for a native title claim for the Adnyamathanha People of the Flinders Ranges.

Richard Bradshaw and Graham Harbord are proud to have represented the Adnyamathanha People of the Flinders Ranges in South Australia for over 20 years in relation to their Native Title Claim. Their work has involved extensive negotiations with the State Government, other third parties such as mining companies and other Aboriginal claimant groups. As a result of those negotiations, the Federal Court made determinations that native title existed for the Adnyamathanha People in various parts of the Native Title Claim area, in March 2009, February 2014 and December 2015. On Friday 14 December 2018, the Federal Court determined native title existed for the Adnyamathanha People over the last remaining part of the Adnyamathanha Claim, representing about 16,000sqkm. A unique feature of this determination is that the Court also determined that the Ngadjuri People and the Wilyakali People held native title over parts of this area as well. The final determination of native title is the culmination of years of patient, complex negotiations, research and collating of evidence. The determination now establishes a foundation for the Adnyamathanha, along with the Ngadjuri and the Wilyakali to protect heritage on their country and to benefit future generations of their society.