BY TONY ILTIS

MELBOURNE — A native title claim by the Yorta Yorta people for a small portion of their traditional lands in the Murray-Goulburn region on the NSW-Victoria border was rejected by the full bench of the Federal Court on February 8.

In a statement released after the ruling, Yorta Yorta claimant Wayne Atkinson described the ruling as “obviously a disappointing one”.

The indigenous leader did see some hope in it, however, especially in a dissenting judgment by the court's chief justice. “Chief Justice Black's dissenting judgement, that the case warranted a retrial, indicates that the question of the existence of native title in the Yorta context is a long way from being satisfactorily resolved.”

“The Yorta Yorta will continue their quest for land justice”, Atkinson said. “Whether this can be achieved through the long and protracted process of the native title process, or through negotiation, is the key issue.”

He called on the Labor governments in Victoria and New South Wales to “lead the way by finding a pathway through the impasse”, adding that, “It would seem that this is now possible, particularly in light of the reconciliation process, and groundswell of support for indigenous rights.”

About 150 supporters of the Yota Yorta attended the court hearing.

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