The Yorta Yorta Native Title Claim hearings continued today in Melbourne,
Australia.
(The Yorta Yorta / Bangerang are claiming their traditional lands along the
Murray and Goulburn Rivers in northern Victoria and southern NSW).
Barrister for the claimants, Brian Keon-Cohen, continued his opening
address. He tabled extensive documentation in support of the Yorta Yorta
case including archaeological, anthropological, historical, and
genealogical materials outlining the claimants association with the land
from before white settlement to the present day, and statements from 30
Yorta Yorta witnesses who will be called later in the hearing.
He provided examples of the types of evidence the claimants will be relying
on, describing evidence of traditional and contemporary land use, rights of
inheritance and the complex web of relationships which bind the Yorta Yorta
together as a community.
Debate continued about issues such as the confidentiality of genealogical
and other materials. Legal representatives of the Herald Sun Newspaper
(the tabloid newspaper of the Murdoch group in Melbourne) expressed concern
about confidentiality provisions limiting publication of some materials
dealing with family relationships and indicated a desire to be heard on the
matter the following morning.
At the conclusion of the day Justice Olney convened a meeting of Counsel
from the various parties to thrash out the confidentiality issue, and other
issues such as hearing locations and facilities. A draft order concerning
confidentiality was prepared for further discussion the following morning.
Rod Hagen
rodhagen@newcontent.net.au
or rodhagen@netspace.net.au
Hurstbridge, Victoria, Australia