The Lama Lama s 87A agreement
14 As with the Kuuku Ya'u and Uutaalnganu determinations, the process undertaken by the CYLC with the Lama Lama native title group was methodical. The two major decision-making processes which needed closely to involve landholding groups were the processes to settle boundary descriptions, and the processes to settle group composition.
15 The Boundary Identification Negotiation and Mediation or 'BINM' process was adopted in April 2020 to deal with the reality that different groups hold different native titles in the claim area: see Kuuku Ya'u determination at [18], [25]-[26] and Uutaalnganu determination at [19], [23]-[24]. The BINM process was employed for the Northern Kaanju, Southern Kaantju, Lama Lama and Ayapathu claims. This is what Ms Malyon describes in the Malyon 2022 affidavit at [73]-[113].
16 Putative boundary descriptions for Ayapathu, Lama Lama, Northern Kaanju and Southern Kaantju were developed from desktop research by the CYLC and Dr Kwok in the middle of 2020. These descriptions were informed by consultations with the anthropologists engaged by the CYLC for neighbouring areas. The putative boundary descriptions were provided to the State on 24 July 2020 without prejudice to the applicant's position. Thereafter the CYLC facilitated consultations with the Ayapathu, Lama Lama, Northern Kaanju and Southern Kaantju groups throughout Cape York and in Cairns. This involved engaging Dr Kwok and Mark Winters (another consultant anthropologist) to consult with relevant families, elders and important individuals for a combined total of 47 days, and engaging Dr Kevin Murphy, Dr Anthony Redmond, Dr Ray Wood, Dr Frank McKeown and Dr David Thompson to consult with relevant families, elders and important individuals in the neighbouring groups for a combined total of 35 days. The consultations helped identify who should attend meetings on behalf of the four groups and their neighbours, and helped ensure that those people would attend those meetings. The consultations also helped inform the proposed descriptions for the four groups (which were eventually agreed with the State in March 2021).
17 Following the consultations, in the second half of 2020, separate 'preliminary meetings' were held for each of the Ayapathu, Lama Lama, Northern Kaanju and Southern Kaantju native title groups, at which maps of the preliminary boundaries were provided and changes were proposed by group members. Afterwards, 'boundary meetings' were held between neighbouring groups, at which the applicant, through its legal representatives, took instructions as to the final descriptions of common boundaries, ultimately to be provided to the State.
18 At each boundary meeting were the relevant consultant anthropologists, a CYLC lawyer and a CYLC anthropologist. The intention was that the boundary meetings be attended by people with ancestral connections to, and specific knowledge of country, as well as those who had cultural authority to speak for and make decisions for country, as confirmed by the consultant anthropologists. The meetings commenced with an overview by the consultant anthropologists of the available anthropological materials. The consultant anthropologists then assisted the group representatives by providing advice, translation and feedback about anthropological and genealogical matters. Group representatives also had access to the CYLC's genealogical records (subject to confidentiality), private break-out spaces, a series of maps and the State's response to the putative boundary descriptions. At the end of the meetings agreement as to boundaries by consensus was sought, and if there was agreement, it was recorded in written resolutions.
19 In the case of the Lama Lama, preliminary meetings were held on 27 August 2020 and 13 October 2020. Lama Lama group members were notified of the meetings by post and email, and meetings were also publicised on the CYLC's website and Facebook page, and community noticeboards. At these meetings, an appropriate description of the Lama Lama native title group was discussed. Further consultations about apical ancestors were held with particular families on 6 May, 10 June, and 22 and 27 September 2021, resulting in the inclusion of Jerry Crowbar as an apical ancestor.
20 Boundary meetings were held for the Lama Lama native title group with the Ayapathu native title group, with the Kuku Thaypan native title group and with the Olkola Traditional Owner group on 20-21 April 2021, with the Kuku Thaypan and Marrett River Traditional Owner groups on 6-7 May 2021, and with the Kuku Thaypan Traditional Owner group on 23 July 2021. Following these meetings, the State requested further information about the south-eastern boundary of Lama Lama, which neighbours the Kuku Warra. Further boundary meetings occurred on 22 and 23 February 2022 between the Lama Lama native title group and the Kuku Warra native title group, including members of the Bagaarmugu clan, who were on the CYLC's contact database. Further notification of these meetings occurred online, via Facebook, and via key spokespeople, as well as by delivery of additional meeting notices in Cooktown, Mossman and Wujal Wujal. The meetings, which included discussions of Jerry Crowbar's inclusion in the group descriptions for Lama Lama and Kuku Warra, resulted in an agreed boundary on 23 February 2022.
21 Another issue related to the boundary with the Umpila native title group, which was unable to be agreed after mediation conducted by the CYLC on 2 March 2020, 2-4 February and 7-8 April 2021, and further mediation conducted by the Court on 8 June, 6 September and 27 October 2021. Following a judicial case management hearing, the applicant and the State developed an approach whereby the area of the Lama Lama claim not subject to a dispute with Umpila would proceed to consent determination in July 2022, whilst the disputed area would be reserved for a contested hearing by the Court. This approach involved the CYLC and a consultant anthropologist consulting with the Lama Lama native title group, including about the inclusion of Frank Port (Nangkayunumu) as a Lama Lama apical ancestor in any consent determination, regardless of whether the disputed area would ultimately be recognised as Lama Lama or not. The Lama Lama native title group unanimously resolved that Frank Port should be included in the group description regardless of the outcome of the disputed area.
22 The s 87A agreements were settled and authorised after the BINM process was complete. In the Malyon 2022 affidavit, Ms Malyon deposes to the notification of meetings to discuss, and subsequently authorise, the s 87A agreement for the Lama Lama determination. The Lama Lama authorisation meeting was conducted on 12 April 2022, and resolutions were passed by majority to authorise the s 87A agreement.
23 At a wider level, the Cape York United #1 applicant's authority to enter into the Lama Lama s 87A agreement stems from the re-authorisation process between April and September 2021. Ms Malyon describes this process in her 2021 affidavit, and the Court describes and approves it in Kuuku Ya'u determination at [30]-[37] and Uutaalnganu determination at [28]-[35].
24 In Kuuku Ya'u determination at [38]-[50] and Uutaalnganu determination at [36]-[48], I explained why I considered it appropriate to make orders under s 84D(4) of the Native Title Act to deal with any uncertainty arising from differences between the claim group description in the original Cape York United #1 application and those in the proposed determinations at a more local level, both as regards the Court's power to make a determination and the way in which a claim can be authorised.
25 In those determinations, I agreed with the State's submission that the weight of authority supports the view that the Native Title Act affords flexibility to shape the content of the ultimate determination of native title, provided there is compliance with s 94A and s 225 of the Act. However, orders were made under s 84D(4) out of an abundance of caution and to avoid any doubt about the validity of the consent determinations. At [50] in Kuuku Ya'u determination and [48] in Uutaalnganu determination, I said:
It is plainly in the interests of the administration of justice to do so, in circumstances where the overall Cape York United #1 claim is gargantuan, and has already consumed seven years' worth of resources, mostly sourced from public funds. Substantial, dedicated and methodical efforts have been made to comply with the requirements of the Native Title Act in each step along the way to these first two determinations. Despite significant factual and legal challenges, the two key parties have navigated a consensual path to the recognition of native title for the Kuuku Ya'u and Uutaalnganu (Night Island) groups. All other respondents have been consulted and given opportunities to participate in the process as it has progressed. They have been included in steps in the complex timetables. All consent to the Kuuku Ya'u and Uutaalnganu (Night Island) determinations. If ever there was a situation in the Court's native title jurisdiction where a favourable exercise of discretion by the Court is appropriate to ensure resolution of a claim to which all parties agree, this is that situation.
26 In each of the present four determinations, the Cape York United #1 applicant proposed that similar orders be made. The State agreed with that proposal. For the reasons given in the extract above, I continue to consider such orders are appropriate.