WA traditional owners back $1.3b deal

The biggest native title settlement in the nation's history has been backed by claimant groups in Western Australia's southwest.

Traditional owners in six claim areas have voted in favour of the $1.3 billion native title agreement after considering the state government's offer for three months.

Under the deal, Noongar people will surrender native title rights in a 200,000 square kilometre area spanning north of Perth to the Goldfields-Esperance region in exchange for $1.3 billion worth of land, finance and benefits over 12 years.

Annual funding instalments of $50 million and up to 320,000 hectares of crown land will be transferred into a trust and used to support Noongar economic and cultural development.

The state government finalised the deal with the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council, which has represented the claimant groups, in November after five years of negotiations.

Premier Colin Barnett described it as "a breakthrough agreement, a historic achievement in reconciliation".

But there are more than a few Noongar people who oppose the deal.

Protesters gathered on the steps of state parliament earlier this month, accusing those who supported the deal of being sell-outs.

The six separate Indigenous Land Use Agreements will be executed by the state government in June and filed with the National Native Title Tribunal, triggering a notification period during which objections can be lodged.

Mr Barnett said he hoped the full agreement could start to be implemented by mid-2016.

"I acknowledge there are Noongar people who have not accepted the agreement but I want to assure them this settlement will not affect their status as the traditional owners of the south-west," he said.

"It simply means they exchange their native title claims for new and certain rights over land and a big investment in their future."

CLAIM GROUPS AND TOWNS THEY INCLUDE:

Whadjuk (Perth Metropolitan)

South West Boojarah (Busselton, Pemberton, Nannup) and Harris Family (Yallingup, Margaret River)

Ballardong (York, Northam, Hyden, Kondinin)

Wagyl Kaip (Katanning, Gnowangerup, Albany)

Yued (Jurien, Moora, Lancelin, Gingin)

Gnaala Karla Boodja (Mandurah, Bunbury, Donnybrook).