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Notice of Authorisation Meeting – For a Native Title Determination Agreement – Western Yalanji Native Title Group – Cape York United # 1 Native Title Claim (QUD673/2014)

May 6, 2026

NOTICE OF AUTHORISATION MEETING

FOR A NATIVE TITLE DETERMINATION AGREEMENT

WESTERN YALANJI NATIVE TITLE GROUP

Cape York United # 1 Native Title Claim (QUD673/2014)

TUESDAY 26 MAY 2026
CAIRNS

This notice is to advise that Cape York Land Council (CYLC) will convene a decision-making Authorisation Meeting on behalf of the Cape York United #1 (CYU#1) Claim Applicant for the Western Yalanji Native Title Group to consider whether to authorise a proposed native title agreement under s.87A of the Native Title Act 1993 for a determination of native title over the area shaded in blue shown on the map below.

Date: Tuesday 26 May 2026
Time: 9:30am – 3:30pm (Registration from 9am)
Venue: Rydges Esplanade Resort, Pandanus Room, 209-217 Abbott Street, Cairns

Section 87A Authorisation Meeting

A determination of native title involves a decision of the Federal Court. A determination of native title means that the Federal Court determines (1) who holds native title; (2) what the native title rights are; (3) the area to which the native title rights apply after any determination is made; and (4) which corporation will represent the members of the determined native title group.

If the meeting on Tuesday 26 May 2026 decides to authorise the proposed s.87A native title agreements, each determination will then be sought in the Federal Court. The Court may list a hearing for consent determination on Friday 14 August 2026 for the areas shaded in blue and identified as the “Proposed Western Yalanji Determination Area”.

A copy of the proposed s.87A native title agreements for determinations of native title for the areas shown on the map will be available at the meeting on Tuesday 26 May 2026. At the request of the Applicant in the CYU#1 Claim, CYLC staff and consultants will be in attendance at the meeting to be available to explain matters such as the meaning and effect of the proposed agreements. Any person attending the meeting will be able to ask questions about the proposed agreements and state their views about the proposed agreements.

PURPOSE OF PRE-AUTHORISATION INFORMATION MEETING

The purpose of this Authorisation Meeting is for the Western Yalanji Native Title Group to decide whether to approve the proposed s.87A native title agreement for a consent determination of native title for the area shown on the map below.

The meeting will be asked to consider and make decisions about the following:

  1. agree and adopt a decision-making process;
  2. agree to the proposed s.87A agreement for a determination of native title; and
  3. agree to either:
    1. incorporate a new corporation to be the prescribed body corporate (PBC) to represent the native title holders identified in the proposed s.87A agreement for a determination of native title, and so:
      1. make a decision (1) to approve the rules of the new corporation, (2) to identify who will be the initial directors and contact person for the new corporation, and (3) to authorise one or more named persons to apply to the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations to register the new corporation; and
      2. agree to nominate the new corporation, once it is registered, to be PBC for the Western Yalanji People;

OR

  • (b) on certain conditions, nominate an existing corporation to be the PBC for the Western Yalanji People, and so:
    1. make a decision (1) to specify the existing corporation to be the PBC, and (2) direct the identified corporation to take steps to make itself eligible to be appointed as the PBC by amending its rules, and to ensure it is representative of Western Yalanji People (by accepting new membership applications, holding new elections for directors or other matters); and
    2. agree to nominate the identified existing corporation, once it has complied with the directions made by the meeting in 3(b)(i) above, to be the PBC for Western Yalanji People; and
    3. in the event that the identified existing corporation has not complied with the directions made by the meeting in 3(b)(i) above by Monday 27 June 2026, incorporate a new corporation as set out in 3(a) above, which corporation will be nominated to be the PBC for Western Yalanji People; and
  1. authorise the Principal Legal Officer of CYLC to nominate the proposed corporation in writing to the Federal Court for it to be the PBC under ss.56 or 57 of the NTA for the proposed determinations of native title.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND?

All members of the Western Yalanji Native Title Group as described below are invited and eligible to attend the pre-authorisation information meeting.

The Western Yalanji Native Title Group are the descendants by birth or adoption in accordance with traditional law and custom, of one or more of the following apical ancestors (listed alphabetically):

  1. Alena Ida (mother of Bernard Castors)
  2. Biddy Mango (aka Biddy Looney)
  3. Billy (father of Jimmy Riley and others)
  4. Buiku Buiku
  5. Bula Burton
  6. Charlie Curraghmore
  7. Charlie Fox
  8. Charlie Jubilee
  9. Charlie Lee Cheu
  10. Danyulgulga Lizzie
  11. Dianna (Dinah) (sister of Mary (Maggie) Anderson)
  12. Dolly (mother of Alice Roberts and others)
  13. Dolly (mother of Charlotte Palmer and others)
  14. George Dodd (aka George Maytown)
  15. Hilda (mother of Jessie Pauletta Davis and others)
  16. Jack Burton
  17. Jangga Dolo (aka George Maytown)
  18. Jimmy (father of Jack Lawyer and others)
  19. Jimmy Snider
  20. Johnnie Cake (aka Johnny Stewart)
  21. Jukumu George Pegus
  22. Kitty (mother of Jimmy Riley and others)
  23. Maggie (mother of Dave Crowley and others)
  24. Maggie (mother of George Sibley Snr and others)
  25. Maggie (mother of James Andrew Mossman and others)
  26. Mary (Maggie) Anderson
  27. Molly (mother of Annie Green and Dolly Walker)
  28. Mother of Rosie Simpson nee Murray
  29. Mujilabu Sandy Tippo (aka Deppo King)
  30. Nellie (mother of Doris Choikee and others)
  31. Ngamu Minkidji
  32. Ngamu Yarrkin Mitchell Earl
  33. Ngamukaia Billy Carroll
  34. Palmer McLean (aka Old Palmer)
  35. Railu aka Mary
  36. Rob Miller Snr
  37. Rosie (Ross) Palmer
  38. Ruby Barney Maytown (aka Ruby Meldrum)
  39. Sambo (father of Dave Crowley and others)
  40. Wautalunggu Maggie
  41. Wur’purdam (aka Ngarrabulga)

To enquire as to whether you are a member of the Western Yalanji Native Title Group as described above and are eligible to attend, please contact CYLC Anthropologist Hannah Nott by email HNott@cylc.org.au or on free call number 1800 623 548.

If you have any queries about the purpose of the meeting, please contact CYLC Deputy Principal Legal Officer Louise Keepa by email LKeepa@cylc.org.au or on the free call number.

For all other enquiries, please contact CYLC Senior Business Support Officer Clementine Rushford by email CRushford@cylc.org.au or on the free call number.

IMPORTANT

Attendance, Travel Assistance & Teleconferencing

For travel assistance, to confirm your attendance or for any general queries about the meeting, please contact Clementine Rushford at CYLC on free call number 1800 623 548 or by email CRushford@cylc.org.au. Note that there is limited funding available for travel assistance and requests must be made by Friday 15 May 2026. Teleconferencing facilities will also be made available at the meeting. If you would like CYLC to arrange a teleconference from your location into the meeting, whether you live at the location of the meeting or elsewhere, please contact Clementine Rushford at CYLC. CYLC is committed to providing every opportunity for eligible persons to attend the meeting.

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