NOTICE OF AUTHORISATION MEETING

KAURAREG PEOPLE #2 AND KAURAREG PEOPLE #3

NOTICE OF AUTHORISATION MEETING

When: Friday 20 June 2025 10am - 3pm (open for registration from 9am)

Where: Horn Island Sports Complex, Multipurpose Stadium, Nawie Street, Horn Island

This notice is for a meeting of the Kaurareg Claim Group in 2 Kaurareg People native title claims:

• Kaurareg People #2 (QUD10/2019 – formerly QUD267/2008); and
• Kaurareg People #3 (QUD24/2019 – formerly QUD362/2010).

THE KAURAREG CLAIM GROUP

The members of the Kaurareg Claim Group are invited to attend the Authorisation Meeting. The Kaurareg Claim Group for each of the Kaurareg native title claims is made up of the descendants of the following ancestors:

Makaku & Buiya, Gaugabiri (sometimes spelled Kaugapiri), Zagra Snr/Jack Prince of Wales & Kamur, Kaitap & Serei, Urui, Daiam & Duni, Baetie, Bagie, Rattler Tom, Papoose & Pau Pai Kai, Kanamuri & Neru Pearson and Panipan.

BACKGROUND TO AUTHORISATION MEETING

The Kaurareg #2 claim was made in 2008. It relates to areas below the high-water mark.

The Kaurareg #3 claim was made in 2010. It relates to areas above the high-water mark.

The Kaurareg native title claims have been involved in a Federal Court dispute resolution process for a number of years, because of overlaps between the Kaurareg claims and other native title claims brought by neighbouring Indigenous groups, and so that tenure and public works extinguishment issues raised by respondents affecting parts of the Kaurareg claim area are addressed. The November 2022 consent determination made over parts of the Kaurareg #2 claim area, and the withdrawal of other parts of the Kaurareg #2 and Kaurareg #3 claims (as reported in David v State of Queensland [2022] FCA 1430), arose from this dispute resolution process.

The Federal Court dispute resolution process has continued since then over the remaining parts of the Kaurareg claims, including for tenure and extinguishment issues affecting parts of the Kaurareg #2 and Kaurareg #3 claims. For a number of these parcels, there is now in-principle agreement (subject to authorisation) with the State of Queensland and other respondent parties on how native title can be resolved. The general location of these parcels is set out below:

Within the Kaurareg #3 claim area: Hammond Rock, Alpha Rock, Puapin (Strait Rock), Kunai Islet, Channel Rock, Kapuda, Great Woody Island, Little Woody Island, Wai Weer Islet, Tuesday Islet, Tuesday Island (No.1), Tuesday Island (No.2), parts of Palilug (Goods Island), parts of Wednesday Island, parts of Gealug (Friday Island), Cheropo Island and certain parcels on Thursday Island.

Within the Kaurareg #2 claim area: Certain parcels below the high water-mark adjacent to Thursday Island.

Details of the parcels and the proposed native title outcome for each of them will be provided at the Authorisation Meeting, and in the information package and at the information sessions (see details at the end of this notice).

The terms of the Kaurareg Applicant’s re-authorisation in July 2019 limit how the Kaurareg Applicant can negotiate to resolve tenure and extinguishment issues in the consent determination orders, without a prior decision of the Kaurareg Claim Group. The purpose of the Authorisation Meeting is to ask the Kaurareg Claim Group to consider and make any necessary decisions so that the Kaurareg Applicant can finalise negotiations for the consent determination orders. The proposed consent determination orders will be brought back to a future Authorisation Meeting for authorisation.

PROPOSED AGENDA FOR AUTHORISATION MEETING

The proposed agenda is

1. Confirm the decision-making process to be used at the Authorisation Meeting.
2. Review the parcels in the Kaurareg #2 and Kaurareg #3 claims identified for determination, and the proposed native title outcomes for these parcels (including information about extinguishment)
3. Using the decision-making process, to consider and if appropriate make decisions to authorise the Kaurareg Applicant to progress and finalise negotiations for a partial determination of the Kaurareg #2 and Kaurareg #3 claims and any necessary section 87A NTA agreement, including:
   1. whether and how to address extinguishment of native title in any of the parcels.
   2. how the native title rights and interests should be described.
   3. potential prescribed body corporate arrangements for any partial determination.
4. Update on dispute resolution process for other parts of Kaurareg #1, Kaurareg #2 and Kaurareg #3 claims.

TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION ASSISTANCE TO ATTEND THE AUTHORISATION MEETING

There is limited funding available through Gur A Baradharaw Kod Torres Strait Sea and Land Council (GBK) for travel and accommodation assistance for members of the Kaurareg claim group.

Decisions about assistance will be made in accordance with GBK’s policies. Elders and senior family members who apply for assistance will be prioritised.

To be considered for travel and accommodation assistance, please contact James Walkley at Chalk & Behrendt Lawyers and Consultants in the first instance on (02) 9231-4544 or by email at info@chalkbehrendt.com.au .

Kaurareg Claim Group members seeking travel and accommodation assistance to attend the authorisation meeting should contact James using these details by no later than 12 June 2025.

INFORMATION PACKAGE AND INFORMATION SESSIONS

An information package will be prepared for the meeting. It can be emailed or posted to members of the Kaurareg Claim Group. Please contact James Walkley ( info@chalkbehrendt.com.au or (02) 9231-4544) if you would like a copy of the information package sent to you. The information package will also be distributed and discussed at the information sessions listed below.

Information session 1 10am-1pm on 29 May 2025 in Cairns (Upolo Room, The Benson Hotel, 50 Grafton Street)

Information session 2 10am-1pm on 31 May 2025 on Horn Island (Horn Island Sports Complex, Nawie Street)

Information session 3 10am-1pm on 10 June 2025 in Townsville (Mercure Inn, 166 Woolcock Street, Currajong)