ATNS - Agreements, Treaties and Negotiated Settlements project

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Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian Agricultural Company and the Waluwarra/Georgina River People
Date:	11 October 2004
Sub Category:	Memorandum of Understanding
Place:	Northwest Queensland, southwest of Mt Isa
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State/Country:	Queensland, Australia
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Alternative Names:	AACo Pastoral Agreement Headingly Station MOU Headingly Agreement
Subject Matter:	Native Title \| Pastoral Activities \| Recognition of Traditional Rights and Interests \| Cultural Heritage
Summary Information:
The Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian Agricultural Company (AACo) and the Walawarra People (the MOU) was signed on 11 October 2004. The MOU sets out arrangements for the coordination of pastoral operations and the traditional activities of the traditional owners on a 10,032 square kilometre pastoral property in north west Queensland known as Headingly.
Detailed Information:
The MOU was signed at the Maymanya Waterhole near Urandangie and acknowledges the Waluwarra/Georgina River People as the traditional owners of the area. It provides for the protection of significant sites on pastoral land and for access to country for traditional activities. The area covered by the MOU is encompassed by a native title claim over 21,253 square kilometres south west of Mt Isa extending to the Northern Territory. AACo, as Australia's largest beef producer, owns or leases 21 properties in Queensland and the Northern Territory covering some 70,000 square kilometres. Only two of these properties do not have native title claims filed over them. Negotiations towards the MOU began in October 2003 when the National Native Title Tribunal convened several mediation meetings for the purpose of developing a use and access protocol for the Headingly area, and to develop a co-existence relationship between AACo and the native title claimants. The MOU means that the Waluwarra People will be consulted about significant decisions to be made about the land. The agreement has been interpreted as a practical measure assisting in the smooth operation of pastoral property in conjunction with the recognition and protection of the rights of Indigenous groups. At the signing of the MOU, the Chief Executive and Managing Director of AACo acknowledged the important role of Indigenous people in the history of AACo, and the shared relationship between them.