Chair Report
On behalf of the directors and members of NTSCORP Limited (NTSCORP), I acknowledge my Ngunnawal Elders, other Elders, native title claimants and other native title stakeholders within our representative area.
The current reporting period has seen NTSCORP forge new relationships with stakeholders and consolidate existing partnerships. In particular, NTSCORP has successfully engaged with the Federal Government, which is showing positive signs of a renewed commitment to achieving better native title outcomes for the Aboriginal people of NSW.
There have been several changes to the board. We thank and farewell outgoing member-directors: Ms Leah Armstrong, who contributed valuable expertise in business enterprise and Mr Anthony Ashby, whose knowledge and experience helped strengthen NTSCORP’s financial management structures and improve reporting.
We welcome two new member-directors: Ms Yvonne Stewart and Ms Katie Wyatt. We recognise Ms Stewart’s determination to work through the native title process to successful completion, she has a strong management background with Indigenous organisations and experience in strategic environmental management and cultural and natural history. Ms Wyatt, a business and communications consultant, has strong experience in human resources and people management and we look forward to her contribution to the board.
Ms Wyatt and Ms Stewart were recruited to ensure continuity and compliance with relevant legislation and were appointed on 2 July 2009. Positions remain vacant on the board and NTSCORP is seeking to fill these positions and to fulfil our commitment to maintain gender equality among the board members.
2007-2008 was a very successful year, during which the Githabul consent determination and the Byron Bay Bundjalung ILUAs were completed. Following this, 2008-2009 has been a year of consolidation. Several claims were advanced with the prospect of three, possibly four, major claims being completed by the end of the 2009-10 financial year. Significant results are expected to flow from the resolution of these claims, not least of which is the prospect of the advancement of native title in New South Wales. These achievements will represent the culmination of the native title strategy implemented in 2001 by the Native Title Unit, then New South Wales Native Title Services (NSWNTS) and now NTSCORP.
NTSCORP will soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) to formalise and enhance the existing working relationship between our respective organisations. This Memorandum supports our shared responsibility to the Aboriginal population of NSW and recognises that by working collaboratively we can better protect the interests and realise the aspirations of Traditional Owners.
Of great importance to all Aboriginal people across Australia is the new employment strategy: the Australian Employment Covenant, which aims to secure 50,000 sustainable jobs for Indigenous Australians. This initiative will have a real impact on reaching and maintaining high levels of Aboriginal employment across Australia. NTSCORP participated in the establishment of the Covenant through our CEO Mr Warren Mundine.
Another initiative which holds promise for NSW is the Victorian Settlement Framework, announced in early 2009. The framework provides for direct negotiations between Traditional Owners and the State, and was developed to provide a method of settling native title claims that operates outside the current system. This innovative alternative is designed to eliminate the high costs, delays, uncertainties and complexities of the current native title system. NTSCORP continues to advocate for similar alternatives to be considered by the NSW Government.
We are pleased that the Commonwealth Government has responded to the strong advocacy of NTSCORP and other representative bodies, to strengthen the native title infrastructure through new and improved funding agreements. This more focused funding approach will enable financial stability and operational accuracy, which in turn will allow NTSCORP to focus on achieving the best possible outcomes for Traditional Owners.
I would like to thank our Executive team: CEO, Mr Warren Mundine; General Counsel, Mr Damien Bidjara-Barnes; Chief Operations Officer, Dr Ken Lum, and Chief Financial Officer, Mr Allan Barraza. I also thank our staff for their hard work and dedication to native title issues. I would particularly like to thank the members and the board of directors for their continued faith in me as the chairperson of the company.
Michael Bell
Chairperson
