In February and March 2020 we heard from Traditional Owners at 29 meetings across the Cape as to how the Cape York United #1 claim should progress.
We took the messages from Cape York back to the State and other active respondent parties to the claim. On 9 April 2020 we asked the Court to vacate the two hearings (the Separate Questions hearing in August 2020 and the Preservation of Evidence Hearing). We showed the Court how far we had progressed the claim in the first 3 months of 2020 and the significant amount of work that we would do to resolve outstanding boundary, PBC and other matters if the Court would agree to vacate the hearings.
Justice Mortimer said that “this is a very impressive outcome” and agreed to vacate the hearings. Her Honour also noted that we had proposed a “very ambitious” Workplan, which means that the CYLC team will now need to work very hard to achieve the outcomes that the people of Cape York are seeking in this claim.
While there are travel restrictions in place we are working hard to progress the ‘desktop work’ set out in the Workplan. We are also planning all our meetings with Traditional Owners to start as soon as travel restrictions are lifted and Traditional Owners are ready to meet again in person.
We look forward to seeing everyone soon – by zoom, email or phone. We can also arrange zoom teleconferences of your land trust committee or your PBC board to provide an update.
If you have any questions or would like us to meet with you, your family, your PBC or your land trust, please call the Principal Legal Officer, Kirstin Malyon or Jayd Copelin on 1800 623 548.
RECENT SUCCESSES
Significant progress made towards determination of the Cape York United #1 claim in the first 3 months of 2020.
In April the Court agreed and said there was no need for the hearings to go ahead.